What Your Dental Team Wears in Their Headshots Communicates More Than Their Credentials Ever Could.
A prospective patient lands on your team page. In under three seconds, they form an opinion about your practice based entirely on what they see. Before they read a single name, credential, or bio, they notice what your team is wearing. Coordinated, polished, and intentional wardrobe choices communicate professionalism, attention to detail, and the kind of care they can expect as a patient. Mismatched, wrinkled, or overly casual clothing communicates the opposite.
Wardrobe decisions for dental team headshots are different from individual professional headshots. The goal is not just to make each person look their best individually. It is to create visual cohesion across the entire team page so that every photograph feels like it belongs to the same practice, the same brand, and the same standard of care.
After 26 years photographing professionals and teams throughout Orange County and Los Angeles, Marc Weisberg has refined a straightforward approach to dental team wardrobe that works every time. Here is the complete guide to what your dental team should wear for headshots and how to coordinate across your entire staff.
The dental teams with the strongest headshots do not have the most attractive people. They have the most coordinated wardrobe plan. Cohesion beats individual style every time.
Orange County · Los Angeles · Irvine · Newport Beach
Dentist Headshots and Dental Team Photography
Magazine quality headshots for Orange County’s top dental practices.
Your image is everything.
The Scrubs Question: Clinical Credibility or Business Professional
Scrubs work for clinical content. Business professional works for brand building. The strongest dental practices photograph both and use each one strategically.
The first decision for any dental team headshot session is whether to photograph in scrubs, business professional attire, or both. Each option communicates something different, and the right choice depends on how and where the photos will be used.
When scrubs work best:
* Clinical staff in treatment room or environmental images. Hygienists and dental assistants photographed in their clinical environment look natural and credible in clean, well fitted scrubs. These images work well for social media content, the practice’s Instagram, and any placement where authenticity matters more than formality.
* Practices with a branded scrub program. If your team wears scrubs with a consistent color or embroidered logo, photographing in them creates immediate brand recognition. Choose scrubs in solid colors that complement each other. Avoid patterns and overly bright colors that distract from faces.
When business professional works better:
* Website bios, directories, and primary headshots. For the photographs that appear on your website’s team page, Google Business Profile, insurance directories, and any formal placement, business professional attire produces a more elevated result. A blazer and blouse or a dress shirt and sport coat positions the dentist and the practice as premium providers.
* Practice owners and lead dentists building a personal brand. Dentists who want to be perceived as thought leaders, speakers, or media personalities photograph best in business attire. These images cross over into non clinical contexts more naturally than scrubs ever could.
* The recommended approach. Photograph both. Start with business professional for the polished, formal headshot, then switch to scrubs for clinical and lifestyle images. This gives the practice a versatile image library that serves every marketing channel. Plan wardrobe changes into the photography day schedule in advance.
Colors That Photograph Best for Dental Teams
The camera sees color differently than your eyes do. The colors that look fine in person can clash or wash out under studio lighting. The right palette makes every team member look their best.
Color coordination across a dental team is the fastest way to create visual cohesion on the team page. This does not mean everyone wears the same color. It means selecting a palette of complementary colors that photograph well together and flatters a range of skin tones.
The colors that consistently work best:
* Navy blue. The most universally flattering and professional color in photography. Navy works on every skin tone, photographs with depth and richness, and communicates trustworthiness. If you need one safe default for every team member, navy is the answer.
* White and cream. Crisp and clean under a blazer or as a standalone blouse or dress shirt. White creates high contrast that draws attention to the face. Avoid pure white without a layering piece because it can overexpose under studio lighting.
* Charcoal and medium gray. Excellent alternatives to black that provide contrast without absorbing all the light. Gray photographs with more dimension than black and works well as a primary color for blazers and dresses.
* Soft jewel tones for accent variety. Deep teal, burgundy, forest green, or sapphire in a blouse or accent piece add visual interest across the team page without clashing. These tones photograph beautifully and prevent the team from looking too uniform or corporate.
Colors and patterns to avoid for team headshots:
* Bright neon or fluorescent colors. These reflect colored light onto the skin and create a color cast that is difficult to correct even in post production. Avoid neon scrubs, highlighter green, or electric pink.
* Busy patterns, logos, and graphics. Fine stripes create moire effects in photographs, producing a distracting shimmer. Large logos and graphics date the photo and draw attention away from faces. Solid colors or very subtle textures are always the better choice. See the wardrobe guide for additional detail.
* All black everything. A team page where every person wears black looks heavy and one dimensional. Black absorbs light and flattens the image. Use black strategically as a layering element, not as the dominant color across the team.
Orange County · Los Angeles · Irvine · Newport Beach
Dentist Headshots and Dental Team Photography
Magazine quality headshots for Orange County’s top dental practices.
Your image is everything.
Grooming and Personal Preparation for the Dental Team
Wardrobe is half the equation. Grooming is the other half. Small preparation steps in the week before the session produce noticeably better photographs for every team member.
The practice manager should distribute grooming guidelines to the team at least two weeks before the photography session. These are simple recommendations that make a measurable difference in the quality of the final images.
Grooming recommendations for the dental team:
* Haircuts and color: 7 to 14 days before the session. A fresh haircut the day before looks too new and sharp in photographs. Giving it a week to settle produces a more natural result. Hair color appointments should be 5 to 7 days prior so the tone has softened slightly.
* Facial hair: groomed the morning of. Trim and shape beards or stubble the morning of the session. Clean shaven team members should shave the morning of for the cleanest result.
* Skincare: hydrate consistently the week before. Well hydrated skin photographs significantly better than dry skin. Encourage the team to drink water consistently and use moisturizer in the days leading up to the session.
* Makeup: slightly less than normal. Studio lighting amplifies makeup. What looks natural in a mirror can appear heavy under professional lights. For women, aim for about 80% of the normal daily application. A matte foundation controls shine better than dewy formulas. For men, a matte translucent powder eliminates forehead and nose shine that studio lighting accentuates.
* Press or steam all wardrobe options. Wrinkles invisible to the eye become prominent in high resolution photographs. Every piece of clothing should be pressed or steamed the evening before and transported on hangers, not folded. Have a handheld steamer available at the session location for touch ups.
Accessories and Jewelry for Dental Team Headshots
Every accessory in a headshot either supports the image or competes with the face. For a dental team, the goal is minimal, intentional, and coordinated.
Accessories should complement the overall image without drawing attention away from the person’s face and expression. For dental teams, this means keeping it simple and intentional across the board.
What works well:
* Small stud earrings or thin necklaces. Understated jewelry adds polish without distraction. Gold or silver metallics both work well under studio lighting.
* A simple, professional watch. Avoid oversized sport watches or smartwatches with bright screens. A clean watch adds a subtle note of polish.
What to avoid:
* Large statement jewelry. Oversized earrings, chunky necklaces, and stacked bracelets compete with the face for the viewer’s attention. The headshot is about the person, not the accessories.
* Branded lanyards, badges, and name tags. Remove all branded items, conference badges, and institutional lanyards. These create visual clutter and date the photograph.
* Eyeglasses with heavy glare. Glasses are fine if they are part of the person’s daily look. Marc manages lighting angles to minimize lens glare. For heavily reflective frames, bring a backup pair or consider shooting a few frames without glasses.
Real Client Experiences
From headshot sessions and branding projects
“I hate pictures, no selfies, barely any social media, and a 12-year-old headshot. Marc immediately put me at ease, positioning me through micro-movements and directing my expression. He put me in my comfort zone so much so that I was barefoot and laughing. Don’t wait 12 years like me — Marc is a visual branding expert who brings everything to life.”
Anica McKesey
Insurance Professional
“Marc is a true craftsman with a keen eye for bringing out the best in his subjects. His portrait work tells your story in an impactful, compelling way — without words.”
David Oates, APR
Principal, PR Security Service
“We partnered with Marc Weisberg Photography for a full branding refresh, and the results exceeded all expectations. From polished headshots to dynamic lifestyle and exterior shots, Marc’s work perfectly captured and elevated our firm’s identity. Highly recommended for any organization seeking impactful, high-quality visual storytelling.”
Christopher M. Lekawa, Esq.
Partner, Grant, Genovese & Baratta, LLP
“Best headshot experience I’ve ever had. After years of generic corporate sessions, this was truly exceptional. His creativity, lighting expertise, and focused direction brought out authentic, powerful images I didn’t know I had in me.”
Nick Gotmere
CEO
“We have worked with Marc on several occasions. The outcome of the photos is second to none. But more impressive is his patience and care as he works with each individual. There is no sense of hurry. He is compassionate towards his subjects, and it brings a great sense of ease, especially when you are uncomfortable having your picture taken.”
Margaret R. Fleming
Fleming & Co. CPA’s
“Marc’s work continues to exceed our expectations. His recent addition of black and white portraiture brought a sophisticated, elevated aesthetic to our firm’s visual identity. We consistently trust Marc to capture our team at their best.”
Robert Hartman
Criminal Defense Attorney
“Marc is a true professional. I needed new headshots as mine were five years old. His meticulous attention to detail and collaborative approach put me completely at ease. From pre-shoot communication to final delivery, Marc provided exceptional, high-end treatment. Thank you, Marc!”
Anita Hansen
Business Coach
“I had the pleasure of getting my headshots updated with the talented Marc Weisberg. He created a professional and warm environment that made me feel so comfortable. Marc has a true eye for detail and makes the smallest adjustments during your shoot that only a true professional will recognize. My headshots came out wonderful.”
Jason O’Donnell
President, O’Donnell Real Estate
Frequently Asked Questions
* Should the entire dental team wear matching outfits? Coordinated, not matching. Matching outfits look corporate and stiff. Coordinated means selecting a shared color palette (navy, white, charcoal, and one accent tone) and letting each team member choose pieces within that palette that suit their personal style and body type. The result is visual cohesion with individual personality.
* What should front office staff wear versus clinical staff? Front office team members should dress in business professional or business casual attire since they are the first people patients see. Clinical staff can photograph in both professional attire (for the team page) and clean scrubs (for lifestyle and clinical images). Plan both looks into the session schedule.
* Can team members bring multiple outfit options? Yes, and they should. Two to three complete options per person gives both the team member and the photographer flexibility. Sometimes an outfit that looks great in person does not photograph as well under studio lighting. Having backups eliminates that risk. See the wardrobe guide for detailed planning.
* What about lab coats for the dentists? Lab coats work similarly to white coats for physicians. They communicate clinical authority and create visual consistency when multiple dentists are photographed. If the practice wants a clinical look, clean, well pressed lab coats over a professional shirt or blouse produce excellent results.
* How do we handle wardrobe for a large team of 10 or more? For large teams, assign a wardrobe coordinator (usually the practice manager) who reviews every team member’s planned outfit at least one week before the session. This prevents duplicates, catches potential issues, and ensures the overall palette works together. A quick photo review via text or email is all it takes. Learn more about coordinating a dental team photography session.
The Right Wardrobe Plan Makes Every Team Member Look Their Best and Your Practice Look Exceptional.
Twenty minutes of wardrobe coordination across your team produces a team page that patients trust immediately. Skipping that coordination produces a team page that looks like it was assembled by accident.
Your dental team’s headshots are the visual introduction to your practice. In Orange County and Los Angeles, where patients compare multiple practices online before making a decision, a cohesive and polished team page builds trust faster than any written copy. The practices that invest in coordinated wardrobe planning produce images that serve their marketing for years.
If your dental team is preparing for a headshot session, schedule a free wardrobe consultation to discuss color coordination, outfit options, and how to get the strongest results from every team member. Visit the headshot FAQ for additional questions.
Orange County · Los Angeles · Irvine · Newport Beach
Dentist Headshots and Dental Team Photography
Magazine quality headshots for Orange County’s top dental practices.
Your image is everything.
Dental practice photography service page · Why dentists need professional photography · How to prepare your dental team for a photography day · Dental headshots vs personal branding · Headshot FAQ · Wardrobe guide
Marc Weisberg is an Orange County and Los Angeles based headshot and branding photographer with over 26 years of experience serving dental practices, physicians, attorneys, and executives throughout Southern California. A former Sony Artisan of Imagery, a designation held by fewer than 50 photographers worldwide. Marc’s work has been published in The Wall Street Journal and over a dozen books on portrait photography. Marc photographs dentists and dental teams throughout Orange County, Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, and across Los Angeles.
