Should You Wear Glasses in Your Headshot? A Complete Guide
It is one of the most common questions people ask before a professional headshot session: should I wear my glasses or leave them off? The answer depends on how you present yourself every day, but the execution depends on understanding glare, frame styles, and a few photographer tricks.
The simple test
1. Do people know you with glasses?
If you wear glasses 75% of the time or more, your headshot should include them. Your photo needs to match what people see when they meet you in person. Removing your glasses for the headshot creates a disconnect between the photo and reality, which defeats the purpose of having a professional headshot in the first place.
2. When to leave them off
If you only wear glasses for reading or computer work and spend most face-to-face interactions without them, skip the glasses for your headshot. The same applies if your frames are purely functional and not part of your personal brand or look. When in doubt, shoot a few frames both ways and compare.
Solving the glare problem
3. Anti-reflective coatings
Anti-reflective (AR) coated lenses dramatically reduce the white glare that ruins headshot photos. If you plan to wear glasses in professional settings long-term, investing in AR-coated lenses is worth it. Most opticians can apply the coating to your existing frames for around $30 to $100.
4. Angling techniques photographers use
Professional photographers eliminate glare by tilting your glasses very slightly downward on your nose, about two to three degrees. This small adjustment redirects reflections away from the camera without being visible in the final photo. Another technique is positioning lights higher and to the side, which moves reflections out of the lens plane. See our lighting setup guide for more on how light positioning affects headshot quality.
5. Bringing a spare pair without lenses
Some photographers recommend bringing an identical pair of frames with the lenses removed. This completely eliminates glare and distortion while keeping the look of your glasses. Ask your optician if they can pop the lenses out of an old pair. This is especially useful for studio sessions with strong artificial lighting.
Frame styles that photograph well
6. Thin metal frames vs bold plastic
Thin metal frames are nearly invisible in headshots and put all the focus on your face. Bold, thick plastic frames make more of a style statement and can become a defining feature of your headshot. Neither is wrong, but be intentional. If your glasses are a signature part of your look, let them stand out. If they are purely functional, thinner frames stay out of the way.
7. Frame color and skin tone
Dark frames (black, tortoiseshell, dark brown) create strong contrast and work well for most skin tones. They draw attention to your eyes and add structure to the upper half of your face. Lighter or translucent frames can wash out in photos, especially against light backgrounds. If your frames are very light-colored, ask your photographer to use a darker background for contrast.
Contact lenses: worth it?
8. Pros of switching to contacts for the shoot
Contacts eliminate every glasses-related concern: no glare, no reflections, no frame shadows, and no distortion at the edges of the lenses. If you already wear contacts regularly and are comfortable in them, switching for the session is a simple solution.
9. Why contacts might backfire
If you rarely wear contacts, putting them in for a headshot session can cause red, watery eyes, discomfort, and a look that does not match your daily appearance. You may also squint or blink more frequently, making it harder to capture a natural expression. Stick with what you are used to.
Retouching glasses glare
10. What editors can fix
Skilled photo editors can remove minor glare spots and small reflections from glasses in post-processing. Light, partial reflections where the eye is still partially visible are usually fixable. Professional retouching for glare removal typically costs $15 to $50 per photo.
11. What they cannot
If the glare completely covers your eyes, making them invisible behind a white or green reflection, no amount of retouching can reconstruct what is hidden. The editor would have to paint in entirely new eyes, which never looks natural. Prevention during the shoot is always better than correction afterward.
AI headshots: glasses on or off, your choice
AI headshot generators can work with or without your glasses. Upload a photo wearing them and get a glare-free professional result, or try both versions to see which you prefer, without scheduling a photographer. Upload a few selfies to AiProPortrait and receive 40+ studio-quality headshots in under 30 minutes. Plans start at $19.
