Let’s start with what you should NOT wear:

Busy patterns that distract vs. attract

Monotone can work, but not if you are matching the background

All white, I have some samples of this working very well, but it can be tricky

Ill fitting clothing, baggy or too tight are never flattering

Bare shoulders, unless you are outside on a summer day, think of a cardigan or suit coat instead

Neon colors. This isn’t the 80’s, please skip the neon

Clothing that isn’t you. If you are uncomfortable, your photo will be too

Casual wear belongs on the beach, not on a professional photo. A t-shirt can work great under a suit coat, but not everyone can pull that off

Wrinkles. Please check over your clothing to make sure it’s neat and fresh and doesn’t look like you pulled it off the pile in the back of your closet

Fabrics that are see through when light is on them, undergarments that are bright colored can show through

Undergarments that show

Glasses are great if you wear them all the time, but to avoid glare, skip them if you can

Accessories that are more of a bother then a benefit (necklaces that don’t lay well, an ill fitting tie)

Consider what the photo will be used for:

Job or medical school application? A suit or professional attire is great

Updated socials media profile? A nice sweater, pull over, blouse, button up, polo shirt or plain top that is clean and neat

Magazine article? You may want to consider something from your work such a lab coat over professional attire for variety

Dating profile? Show your personality with a hat or layers

Here are some great ideas:

Well fitting suits are great (avoid if you have to borrow one that doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn one in at least 10 years

Ties, bowties, scarves all work well (consider patterns though to be sure they aren’t distracting, plain is best unless you want to show off your personality

Plain colored tops

Textures that lay well (avoid wrinkles or stiff fabrics that don’t sit well on your body)

Color (it’s ok to have color, you don’t want to blend into the background)

Accessories, I love hats and jewelry, but don’t go too crazy if this is for a job application

Rochester, Minnesota and the surrounding area is such a beautiful part of the state and a great area to take your photos. Many locations change throughout the seasons, so be sure to check in for your photoshoot date to make sure you have the perfect spot during the time of year you are looking at.

Quarry Hill Nature Center and Park, Rochester, MN

The Quarry Hill area has so much to offer. A little known fact is that there are multiple sides to this park. Two of them are the Nature Center side and then a trail entry side called “Quarry Hill Park”. Quarry Hill has a rock quarry, an Oak Savannah, beautiful evergreen trees, bridges, pond, grasses and wild flowers. The scenery is so diverse that at any time of year you will find a great spot for photos. This is a hot spot for photographers, so it’s possible it may feel “overdone” when you get used to the more common spots. If you are looking for some unique areas, let me know and we will find the hidden gems. Winter brings easy access to a gorgeous area that we can get a lot of different looks at quickly while staying protected from the wind. Spring brings new life to the forest but may have too much mud to enjoy some spots if it’s been wet. Summer is a beautiful time full of flowers and an abundance of greens and yellows at the end of the season. Fall brings deep rust colors, reds and dark greens with less leaves and a bed of amazing pine needles.

Plummer House, Rochester, MN

Plummer house is a public park that was donated to the city by the Plummer family. This park sits high on a hill behind Mayo Clinic, St. Mary’s hospital. The park offers a variety of settings throughout the year. The house itself provides a gorgeous backdrop made with local limestone. The grounds offer numerous levels filled with flowers and the highlight of two fountains. Accessibility can be tricky to various parts of this location due to the stairs, but there is plenty to photograph on the main level. The park is open to the public and photographers when it isn’t booked by a private party. This makes the location tricky on the weekends as it is a popular wedding venue. An online calendar shows the dates it is booked so you can plan around the events. This location is also close to the studio which makes it idea to have some indoor studio portraits along with a different outdoor look. The wind is typically minimal here and there is great shade on a sunny day.

Rochester, MN Trail system

Rochester, Minnesota has 85+ miles of trails. This allows for some gorgeous scenery throughout the seasons. My favorite spring opportunity only happens for about a week in May each year and that is when the bluebells bloom. The bluebells transform the forest floor into a fairytale land straight out of a storybook.

Another favorite time of year is Daisy season. Typically the month of June you will find wild daisies scattered around. This spot is a must book each year to capture the magic of these amazing wildflowers.

Oxbow Park, Byron, MN

Sometimes leaving Rochester is a great opportunity to explore other areas. Another favorite location throughout the year is Oxbow park. The park is filled with hiking trails, a beautiful river, the Olmsted County Zollman Zoo, and the famous Nature playground. There are so many great things to see from Buffalo roaming to wildflowers, to a pond to catch frogs. For photos, we have wildflower fields, evergreen trees and a prairie filled with native grasses. There isn’t a bad season here and each change in the calendar brings out new life in nature.

Small towns in Southern Minnesota

Southeastern Minnesota offers a variety of unique small towns. Mantorville, Lanesboro, Zumbrota, Pine Island and Stewartville are just a few great areas for photos. There may be a travel fee, but it may be worth it for you to have a unique setting.

Downtown and The Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN

Downtown is a great place for photos. From unique textures to interesting buildings and ally ways. Downtown is the home of the Mayo Clinic. If you are looking for a memorable family shoot at the clinic or fun senior session with all the colors and antique offerings on Historic 3rd avenue, downtown is the place to be.

Rochester, MN Headshot photographer: What to wear guide