Job Hunting Basics: What to Wear for Your ID Photo (Men's Guide)

Hair, Makeup & Outfits #Job-Hunting ID Photo #Outfit #Suit #Job Hunting

March 9, 2022November 9, 2026 Chiharu

What should men wear for a job-hunting ID photo?

An ID photo is an essential part of job hunting in Japan, since it goes on your résumé and application documents.
But for such an important photo, some of you may be thinking, "I don't know what to wear!"
If that sounds like you, please read on!

A suit is the safe choice!
Pay attention to the shirt collar!
Let your tie show your personality!
Summary

A suit is the safe choice!

For your ID photo, we recommend wearing a suit.
It is the first step toward a photo you can submit to any company.

Whatever you wear, what matters most is looking clean and neat!
Clothes with noticeable creases or wrinkles, or with lint or dust on them, are a no-go.
Before you head to your photo session, check the clothes you plan to wear carefully for creases and wrinkles.

For the photo, keep all the buttons on your suit jacket undone. This keeps the jacket from pulling and gives you a clean silhouette.

Pay attention to the shirt collar!

Pay attention to the collar when choosing a dress shirt

Choose a dress shirt that fits you well to wear under your suit.
Sleeve length and shirt length matter, of course, but because an ID photo shows the area around your face, the collar needs special attention!
In interviews, too, the first thing people notice is the area around your face, so make sure your collar has no stains or wrinkles.

Did you know that collars come in different shapes?
There are many types, including the classic regular collar, the wide-spread collar with collar points set far apart (recommended for men with a larger build), and the short-point collar with a narrower opening (recommended for men with a smaller build).

One type to be careful about is the button-down shirt.
It has a strongly casual feel and is generally considered unsuitable for job hunting.
It is best to avoid it for your ID photo as well.

Let your tie show your personality!

The tie is another key item in a suit outfit.

First, here are 4 points for a polished look.

・The top shirt button is not visible
・The tie is straight
・The knot is neat
・The wide and narrow ends are well balanced

Keep these 4 points in mind to create an ID photo that makes a good impression.

Which tie knots look best?

There are many ways to tie a necktie. Here are three of them.

・Windsor knot (full Windsor)
The knot is close to an equilateral triangle and quite large.
It works best with a wide-spread collar or a shirt with a large collar.

・Half Windsor knot
The knot is slightly smaller than the full Windsor, and suits a wide-spread collar or a thick tie.

・Double knot
This knot is bulkier than the others, so it pairs best with a slim tie rather than a wide or thick one.

Choosing a knot you like may even put you in a better mood.

Summary

In this article, we introduced what we recommend wearing for your ID photo.
As we said at the start, looking clean and neat is what counts! Still, it is hard to notice lint or creases on your own suit during a shoot.
At 19 Studio, our staff check even the smallest details, so you can step in front of the camera with confidence!

Chiharu: Loves writing articles and is studying copywritingI love writing and I'm currently studying copywriting. I turn the questions our guests often ask and the things I notice in the studio into easy-to-read articles about job-hunting and ID photos, so that even first-timers can understand them.