You want to know the one thing that would make every headshot session 10x better?

Test your wardrobe under bright lighting before your session.

I'm not talking about holding outfits up in front of your bathroom mirror. I'm talking about actually putting on each complete look, standing under the brightest lights in your house (or outside in natural light), and taking test photos with your phone.

Here's why this matters: What looks perfect in your closet or under soft bedroom lighting can completely fall apart under professional photography lighting. That navy shirt you love? Might photograph black. That 'neutral' beige? Could wash you out completely. Those 'subtle' patterns? Suddenly look like visual chaos.

What You'll Discover When You Test:

Colors behave differently on camera. That shirt that looks rich and saturated in person might photograph flat. Or worse, certain colors make your skin look sallow, tired, or washed out under bright light.

Fit issues become obvious. That top that fits fine when you're standing still? When you sit down or move your arms (which you'll do during your session), it bunches, pulls, or gaps in ways you didn't notice before.

Details you didn't see suddenly matter. Loose threads. Pilling on the fabric. A small stain. Wrinkles that didn't seem like a big deal. Under professional lighting and high-resolution cameras, everything shows.

Your accessories might be wrong. That necklace you thought was subtle? It's catching light and creating a hot spot. Those earrings? Too big and distracting. That watch? Reflective and pulling focus.

How to Actually Test Your Wardrobe:

Step 1: Put on the complete look (top, accessories, hair styled how you plan to wear it)

Step 2: Stand in the brightest room in your house or go outside in direct sunlight

Step 3: Take phone selfies from chest-up (this is your headshot framing)

Step 4: Look at those photos critically:

• Does your face stand out or does the outfit?
• Do the colors complement your skin tone?
• Are there any distracting elements?
• Does the outfit photograph the way you expected?

Step 5: Try on your backup options and repeat

What This Simple Test Prevents:

• Showing up with clothes that don't photograph well (and wasting precious session time)
• Discovering fit issues when you're already at the shoot
• Realizing your 'safe' color choice actually drains your face
• Finding out your carefully planned look creates problems your photographer has to work around

The Reality Check:

Most actors skip this step because they think they know what works. Then they show up to their session, the photographer gently suggests they try a different top, and they realize they should have tested everything beforehand.

Your photographer can guide you during the session, but they can't fix fundamental wardrobe problems. They can't make a bad color choice suddenly work. They can't make a distracting pattern disappear. They can't make ill-fitting clothes photograph well.

Testing takes 20 minutes. Not testing can ruin your entire session.

Bonus: Send Test Photos to Your Photographer

Here's the pro move: After you test your wardrobe, send your photographer 2-3 options and ask which they recommend. Most photographers will gladly give you quick feedback, and you'll walk into your session with confidence that your wardrobe choices are solid.

Your Pre-Session Wardrobe Test Checklist:

• Test each complete look under bright lighting
• Take phone photos in headshot framing (chest-up)
• Check photos for color, fit, and distracting elements
• Try movement (sit, raise arms) to check for issues
• Send top 2-3 options to photographer for feedback
• Make any necessary wardrobe changes with time to spare
• Steam or iron final selections

Do this one thing, and I promise your session will be smoother, your photographer will thank you, and your final headshots will be exponentially better.

Trust me. I've seen what happens when actors don't test. Don't be that actor.

Need a photographer who will give you honest wardrobe feedback before your session? Check our directory for pros who actually care about helping you prepare properly.