Taking a professional looking LinkedIn profile picture using your iPhone can seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think! A few simple tips on lighting, framing, editing and more can help you look polished and put together for your LinkedIn connections. Keep reading for a quick guide on taking a great LinkedIn photo with just your iPhone.
Choose the Right Location
When it comes to your LinkedIn profile picture backdrop, simple is best. Avoid busy patterns or distracting backgrounds. The focus should be on you, not what’s behind you. Some good options for LinkedIn photo backdrops include:
- A plain wall in your home or office
- An outdoor wall with simple landscaping
- A professional backdrop at a photography studio
Make sure the wall is a neutral tone and not too light or dark. Soft greys, beiges and light blues make for inviting LinkedIn profile picture backgrounds. Stay away from whites, which can look overly bright or harsh.
Also consider shooting against a window for natural, diffused lighting. Just make sure the light from the window is falling nicely on your face and not casting shadows. Face the window head on for the most flattering effect.
Use Natural Lighting
Nothing beats natural light when it comes to LinkedIn profile pictures. Shooting outdoors on a mildly overcast day is ideal for soft, even lighting without harsh shadows or squinting. A shaded area like under a tree or porch can also provide great lighting for your iPhone LinkedIn photo.
If shooting indoors, positioning near a large window works beautifully. North facing windows provide the most even natural light throughout the day. Fill any shadows on your face with a reflector or white poster board.
Avoid direct overhead lighting which can create unflattering shadows in your LinkedIn profile pic. Side lighting is best for capturing the contours of your face.
Get the Right Framing
Framing is important for an impactful yet professional LinkedIn profile picture. Have your head and shoulders fill the frame, leaving a little more space above your head than below your shoulders. Cutting off the top of your head feels awkward.
Hold your phone at eye level or slightly above to minimize distortion. Use the rear facing camera, as it has higher quality than the selfie camera.
Make sure your eyes align between the top third and halfway point of the photo. Looking too high or low in the frame can seem off-putting.
Maintain good posture by keeping your chin parallel to the ground, not tilted up or down. Relax your shoulders and angle your body slightly away from the camera for a more dynamic, less mugshot-like pose.
Perfect Your Pose
A natural, relaxed facial expression is best for LinkedIn. Avoid big smiles which can look awkward frozen in time. Instead go for a slight, closed mouth smile to appear friendly and approachable.
Have a friend take your photo instead of a selfie to get more natural expressions. Maintain eye contact with the camera for an engaging look. Keep your head straight and centered.
Minimize fidgeting and stay still during the shot to avoid motion blur. Take multiple photos to choose from afterwards. Change up your expressions slightly or turn your head a bit from side to side.
Hands can also enhance your LinkedIn photo. Rest your hands on your lap or gently clasp them. Use open, welcoming hand gestures. Avoid crossed arms or hands in pockets which seem closed off.
Dress the Part
Clothing choices matter for your LinkedIn profile picture. Dress professionally as you would for an interview. Solid colors photograph best, especially darker tones like black, navy, grey, etc.
For men, wear a nicely pressed collared shirt or blazer. For women, opt for a flattering blouse or blazer. Stay away from flashy prints or patterns that could distract. Jewelry should be simple and minimal.
Make sure your clothes are pressed and lint-free. Roll up your sleeves to add visual interest and appear more relaxed. Unbutton your jacket too.
Your hair should be neatly styled off your face. Light makeup that looks natural in photos is recommended. Shine down oily spots beforehand and apply powder if needed.
Edit Your Photo
Editing your photo after the fact can really take your iPhone LinkedIn profile picture to the next level. Even great natural lighting can use a bit of brightness and contrast adjustment.
The iPhone’s native Photos app has built-in filters and editing tools for basic adjustments. Popular third party editing apps like Snapseed also work great for LinkedIn pics.
Start by cropping your photo to the ideal composition. Then adjust brightness, contrast, sharpness and color saturation if needed. Be careful not to overedit – a natural look is best.
Whiten teeth and eyes moderately. Use the retouch tool to gently smooth over any blemishes or shine. Watch for unnatural smoothing that makes your skin look fake.
Finish with slight vignette and temperature adjustments for a pro touch. Save and export your edited photo to your camera roll to upload to LinkedIn.
Choose the Right File Size
LinkedIn profile pictures must be a minimum of 400 x 400 pixels. For best image quality, upload your photo in PNG or JPEG format at a size of 1400 x 1400 pixels.
This ensures your picture will look crisp on high resolution monitors. Take your edited iPhone photo into a resizing app to bump the size up before uploading to LinkedIn.
Optimizing the file size also keeps the photo under the 5MB size limit. Save your resized LinkedIn profile picture back to your camera roll for uploading.
Enlist Help Selecting Your Best Photo
It can be hard to objectively choose which iPhone photo is most flattering and professional for your LinkedIn profile. Enlist a friend’s help to select the winning shot.
Narrow down your top photo choices and ask for honest feedback on which is most polished yet natural. Don’t take it personally if some don’t make the cut!
You can also crowdsource opinions by posting possible profile picture options on social media. Just ask people to comment with their top pick.
Professionally taking headshots is another option if you want expert help with posing, lighting and backdrops. But your trusty iPhone can definitely get the job done with the right technique.
How to Upload Your Photo to LinkedIn
Once you’ve selected the perfect iPhone picture for your LinkedIn profile, it’s time to upload it. Here’s how to change your LinkedIn profile photo on desktop or mobile:
On LinkedIn Desktop:
- Go to your profile page
- Click the photo icon in the top right
- Choose “Change photo”
- Select your new photo file from your computer files
- Crop the photo as desired
- Click “Save”
On the LinkedIn Mobile App:
- Tap your profile icon at the top
- Tap your profile photo
- Tap “Change photo”
- Choose your new photo from your phone gallery
- Crop/edit the photo as desired
- Tap “Set as profile photo”
And that’s it! Your new professional iPhone LinkedIn profile picture should now be updated.
Change Your Photo Regularly
LinkedIn recommends refreshing your profile photo every few years as your look evolves. Or swap it out when you change jobs or hairstyles.
Taking a new profile picture whenever you update your resume is a smart practice. Keep the background and framing consistent for consistency across your profiles.
Scheduling occasional dedicated LinkedIn photo shoot sessions is worthwhile too. You’ll have fresh headshots ready to maintain an updated look as needed.
Conclusion
Taking a great LinkedIn profile photo with your iPhone is totally doable with the right approach. A flattering backdrop, natural lighting, professional styling, thoughtful posing and strategic editing creates a polished look.
Ask a friend to help select the most professional yet approachable option from your photo shoot. Then optimize the picture file size before uploading to LinkedIn.
Regularly change your profile photo to keep putting your best face forward on LinkedIn! A profile picture update is one of the easiest ways to spruce up your personal brand.