Undo the Right Button for a Confident Tech Headshot

Why the Second Button is Your New Default

You know that stiff, formal portrait of your grandfather? The one where he looks like he’s about to give a lecture? His suit jacket is buttoned all the way up. For decades, that top-button-only rule was the standard for men’s suiting in portraits. It creates a single, rigid triangle of fabric pointing straight at the chin—authoritative, but closed off.

Your tech headshot needs the opposite. We’re aiming for confident, not commanding; approachable, not imposing. Undoing that top button changes the entire geometry of the shot. The collar opens into a soft V, mirroring the shape of a face and leading the viewer’s eye naturally to your eyes. It breaks up the block of fabric, adding a layer of dimension and ease. I’ve watched countless clients physically relax their shoulders the moment I tell them to pop that button. The body language shift is instant.

Think of it this way: one button says “policy.” Two buttons undone says “conversation.”

How to Check Your Shirt's Fit First

This only works if the shirt itself fits. A baggy collar will gape like an open mouth, and a tight one will strangle you. Before you even think about the button, do a simple three-point check.

First, the collar. With the shirt buttoned all the way, can you comfortably slide two fingers between your neck and the collar? One finger is too tight; three means it’s sloppy. Second, the shoulders. The seam should hit right at the bony point where your arm meets your torso—not hanging down your bicep. Third, the torso. You should see a gentle drape, not a pull across the chest or a billow of excess fabric.

I once had a founder show up in a crisp, new shirt. It was a size too small. When he sat down for the shot, a button near his chest strained so hard I could see the white thread stretching. We had to use a clip from my kit in the back to create the illusion of fit. Always move in the shirt before the shoot. Raise your arms. Sit down. If it fights you, change it.

The One Mistake That Makes It Look Messy

Undoing the right button creates a clean line. Undoing the wrong one creates a lopsided mess. The rule is simple: always undo the second button from the top. Not the first. Not the third. The second.

Why does this matter so much? Button the first button, undo the second. This keeps the collar points anchored and symmetrical. If you undo the first button (the top one), the entire collar structure collapses. The points flap outward, the placket (the strip of fabric with the buttons) twists, and you look like you’re coming undone. It’s a small technical choice with a huge visual payoff: controlled openness.

Here’s a real scenario. A software engineer came to me frustrated with his old headshot. He said he looked “angry.” In the photo, his top button was done, but the second was open—a common misstep. The collar was pulling awkwardly, creating a diagonal crease that pointed right to a tense jaw. We re-shot with the first button open and the second fastened. The crease vanished, his neck looked longer, and he finally looked like someone you’d ask for help.

A Quick Test with Your Phone's Camera

Don’t just take my word for it. See the difference for yourself in two minutes. Grab your phone and prop it up somewhere stable. Turn on the self-timer.

Take three photos. First, with all buttons fastened. Look at your posture. You’re probably holding your breath. Second, undo only the top button (the first one). Notice how the collar loses its shape. Third, fasten the top button and undo the second one. This is the sweet spot. Look at the line from your lapel to your shoulder. It’s clean. Look at the space around your neck. It’s free.

Which version feels more like you? I’ll bet it’s the third one. The camera doesn’t lie, and neither does that feeling in your gut when you see a photo where your clothes are working with you, not against you.

Why This Small Detail Builds Trust

You might think, “It’s just a button. Who notices?” They won’t notice the button. They’ll notice the effect. In tech, your headshot is often a first hello on a meeting invite, a speaker profile, or a team page. People scan it in less than a second, forming a gut impression.

A closed-up, top-button look subcommunicates rigidity. An open, asymmetrical mess suggests carelessness. But that perfect second-button-undone look? It signals considered ease. It says you pay attention to details but aren’t stiff about them. It’s a non-verbal cue that you’re balanced—capable and human. That builds professional trust before you’ve said a word.

So before your next shoot, or before you snap that selfie for the company directory, fasten that top button. Then reach down one and undo it. Feel the room around your neck, see the clean line in the mirror, and forget about your collar for the rest of the day. That’s the goal: one less thing to think about, so you can focus on what actually matters in the photo—your expression.

Related, and worth reading next: Headshots for Your Next Job, Not Your Last One.