It’s my opinion that strong patterns should be avoided on the day of the shoot. Most of the time, they only serve to distract. You want the viewer of the headshot to see your facial expression, not the expression of your clothing, so wear something that only adds to the tone you’re trying to convey.
Avoid sleeveless tops, as bare arms highlight the contrast between the tone and color of your arms in contrast to your face. You also risk showing your armpits in certain poses, and that is best avoided unless it’s a style statement and fits with the tone you’d like to convey for your company.
This is important for group or team images. Just like you would create for a family portrait, you must keep the color tones within the same family for cohesiveness. 2 people wearing orange or red shirts will stand out in the group wearing darker blues or tans.
Ladies: Keep it simple, cover the arms, solids are best, and wear clothing that celebrates who YOU are.
Gentlemen: Keep it simple as well. Jackets are great when the shirts beneath look pressed and not revealing a white tee shirt. If you are wearing a tie, the same rules apply for simplicity and complimentary to the outfit.