Best Background Colors for Job Hunting Photos: 3 Pro Picks

Job-Hunting ID Photos #Job-Hunting ID Photo #ID Photo #Photo Studio #Job Hunting

June 20, 2022November 6, 2026 Chiharu

Have you ever thought about the background color of your ID photo?
Many people probably just pick one without much thought.

These days you can choose colorful backgrounds or even add gradients, so choosing a background is one of the key points of an ID photo.
It would be a shame to pick one at random.

In this article, we introduce 3 recommended background colors for job hunting photos (the ID photos used for résumés and application forms in Japan's job-hunting process, known as shukatsu), along with the reasons for each.

Recommended Color 1: White
Recommended Color 2: Blue & Light Blue
Recommended Color 3: Gray
Summary

① White

A job-hunting ID photo with a white background

White is the most classic choice for a background.

White gives a fresh, clean impression.

That article covers what HR staff pay attention to, and a white background helps convey one of those points: a clean, neat appearance.

White also makes the person stand out.

In job hunting especially, people usually wear dark clothes such as black, navy, or gray, so the contrast with white is strong. The result is a photo that draws the eye to you.

With a white background, watch out for your face looking too bright and blown out (overexposed), or looking detached from the background. These can be fixed with lighting adjustments and retouching, but doing it all by yourself is not easy.

At a studio, the staff can take care of those adjustments for you, so you can relax.

② Blue & Light Blue

A job-hunting ID photo with a blue background

Blue is a color that conveys sincerity and seriousness.

For an ID photo background, we recommend a light blue.

Avoid dark blue, as it can make your complexion look dull.

Light blue or sky blue brightens your overall impression and adds a sense of cleanliness and freshness.

With blue, an effect is sometimes added to the background to help the person stand out.

The most common one is a gradient.

Gradient backgrounds are common in job hunting, so you can use them without any problem. Even if the requirements say "no background" (plain background), it's fine!

However, if you also plan to use the photo for a Japanese driver's license or passport, be careful!

A gradient may not be accepted for those, so we recommend a solid color.

③ Gray

A job-hunting ID photo with a gray background

Gray gives a solid, calm impression.

It is often preferred by people who find white a little too bright.

As with blue, we recommend a light gray for an ID photo background.

A light gray makes the whole photo look brighter than a dark gray does, and your complexion looks healthier too.

A mid-tone gray also rarely blends into or clashes with other colors, which makes it a perfect color for making the person stand out.

It gives a calm, mature impression, so it is especially recommended if that is the image you want to convey.

Summary

In this article, we introduced three colors: white, blue/light blue, and gray.

All of them are standard, conventional colors, so you can use them with confidence for applications in any industry.

At 19Studio, we offer white, light blue, and gray backgrounds.
Choose the color you like best to suit your image and skin tone.

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.