What’s the new background color for 2026 headshot photos?

What is the most popular background color for headshots for 2026? I took the time to do the research so here it is.

In 2026, dark neutrals specifically ranging from a dark charcoal to black are coming in first as the most popular colors for a business headshot. Soft whites and creams as opposed to the bright white are also popular for this year.

Having an office space as your background whether it is your actual office or a digital backdrop is a popular professional look. Using industry specific colors like Navy blue for finance, slate gray for tech, and light blue or sage green for healthcare and wellness is trending. Also, using colors that match your company brand are popular and really stand out.

Busy, mottled, or “old school” patterned, classic backgrounds, are not as popular, and have been going out of style for years. A more natural flat lighting as opposed to overdone studio lighting is also more preferred.

Also trending is having a variety of headshot looks for use on different platforms and so you can refresh your page by swapping out your image more often.

Here’s to looking current in the new year!

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