How do I take a LinkedIn photo at home with my iPhone?

Taking a professional photo for your LinkedIn profile can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! With some simple tips and tricks, you can take a fantastic headshot right at home using just your iPhone. A quality LinkedIn photo is essential for making a great first impression and highlighting your personal brand. Investing some time into getting the perfect photo can pay dividends when networking and job searching online. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to take an elegant LinkedIn profile photo at home with your iPhone.

Why You Need a Professional LinkedIn Photo

Having an eye-catching, polished photo on your LinkedIn profile has many advantages:

• It makes your profile stand out: Recruiters and potential connections will be drawn to an engaging headshot when skimming through LinkedIn search results.
• It builds credibility: A professional, high-quality photo conveys you are detail-oriented and serious about presenting yourself well online.
• It supports your personal brand: A photo allows you to convey your personality, industry, level of experience and unique attributes.
• It encourages engagement: People are much more likely to connect and network with you if they can put a face to your name.

In short, a stellar LinkedIn photo humanizes your profile and gives you an edge in making connections and getting noticed by recruiters.

LinkedIn Photo Specifications

To ensure your DIY LinkedIn photo looks polished and meets the site’s requirements, keep these key specs in mind:

• File type: .JPG or .PNG
• Dimensions: 400 x 400 pixels minimum
• Aspect ratio: Square (equal height and width)
• File size: 8MB maximum
• Resolution: 72 ppi minimum
• Your head and shoulders should fill majority of frame
• Plain, solid color background (white, gray, beige)

The iPhone’s rear facing camera easily meets these requirements. As long as you frame the shot correctly, the end photo will be of acceptable quality to upload to LinkedIn.

How to Take a LinkedIn Photo with an iPhone

Follow these best practices to take a stellar LinkedIn profile photo at home with your iPhone:

Find a Well-Lit Area

Lighting is crucial for an attractive, visible headshot. Here are some tips for setting up optimal lighting:

• Outdoors: Shoot during the daytime when there is ample natural sunlight. Stand facing the sun so it illuminates your face.
• Indoors: Position yourself facing a window to utilize natural light. Or set up an artificial light source like a ring light or lamp to brighten your face.
• Avoid shadowy lighting and overhead light which can create unflattering shadows on your face.
• If using artificial lighting, ensure it provides even, soft illumination without harsh shadows or glares.

Proper lighting removes any dark shadows obscuring your face and brings out your best features.

Choose a Neutral Background

Having a plain, relatively blank backdrop focuses attention on you. Here are some neutral background options:

• A blank wall: Stand in front of a wall and make sure it is evenly painted without marks or textures.
• A cloth backdrop or paper: Hang up a solid colored sheet or paper behind you.
• Outside: Position yourself with open sky or grass behind you rather than busy scenery.

Avoid “busy” backgrounds with small details and patterns, which can be distracting.

Frame Your Headshot

When taking your photo, the framing should be:

• Close up: Your head and shoulders should fill up majority of the frame. Do not crop your head.
• Centered: Position your face and eyes directly in the middle of the frame.
• Straight on: Shoot straight on facing the camera rather than at an angle.
• Level horizon line: Use gridlines in your camera app to ensure the horizon line is perfectly level.

Maintaining proper framing brings focus to your face and creates a balanced, professional aesthetic.

Perfect Your Pose

Posing correctly makes a huge impact on how you look in your photo:

• Posture: Stand or sit up straight with shoulders back to convey confidence.
• Expression: Smile softly and naturally. Avoid tense or exaggerated expressions.
• Chin level: Keep your chin parallel to the ground – not too high or too low.
• Eyes: Look directly into the camera lens with a pleasant, friendly gaze.
• Hands: Lightly clasp hands together or rest them naturally on your lap. Don’t cross arms.

Finding a relaxed, approachable pose brings life to your photo.

Enlist Someone to Help

Recruiting someone to hold the camera and assist with posing takes the pressure off you. They can:

• Ensure you stay properly framed as you move and turn
• Capture multiple photos to select the best option
• Provide directions to adjust your pose and expression
• Take photos from the optimum angle and distance

Having an assistant spot-check your positioning makes taking the perfect shot much easier.

Use Portrait Mode

Portrait mode utilizes depth effects to artistically blur the background while keeping you in sharp focus:

• On an iPhone X or later, portrait mode is enabled by swiping left in the camera app to select the depth effect button.
• Older models like the iPhone 8 Plus also offer a portrait mode to create depth of field using the dual lens camera.

The blurred background amplifies the spotlight on you for a professional look.

Take Multiple Shots

Don’t settle on just one photo! Taking multiples allows you to:

• Capture different poses and expressions
• Account for any blinks or off moments
• Adjust framing and lighting issues
• Select the best options in post

Review each shot and continue snapping new photos until you are fully satisfied.

Edit Your Photo

Editing can take your iPhone photo from good to great. Try making adjustments using editing apps like Camera+ or Adobe Photoshop Fix:

• Cropping: Zoom in and refine the framing and composition.
• Brightness/contrast: Increase brightness and enhance color/clarity as needed.
• Blemish removal: Use retouch tools to remove any temporary flaws or blemishes.
• Color correction: Adjust tones and temperature for natural looking color.

Subtle editing gives your photo more polish without looking overly filtered.

How to Look Your Best In Your LinkedIn Photo

Beyond capturing the right photo, looking your best on camera comes down to your grooming and styling:

Clothing

• Solid colors or subtle patterns are ideal. Avoid bold prints or stripes.
• Darker tones like navy, black, grey, and deep greens give a professional look.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants or skirts – no short hemlines
• Collared shirts, blouses, blazers and tailored suits project confidence.
• Minimal jewelry if any; avoid shiny, noisy pieces.

Hair

• Neat and tidy hair without any flyaways or frizziness.
• Well-maintained symmetrical cut and natural color without roots showing.
• Pull long hair back or style off your face if possible.
• Blanket securely hidden if wearing hijab or other head covering.
• Facial hair well-groomed and neatly trimmed if applicable.

Makeup

• Natural looking coverage to even out skin tone.
• Concealer as needed under eyes or on blemishes.
• Neutral eyeshadow and eyeliner for subtle definition.
• Mascara to make lashes prominent.
• Defined yet natural brows.
• Neutral pink or peach lipstick or gloss.

Accessories

• Remove eyeglasses if possible to avoid glares.
• Limit visible piercings to modest stud earrings.
• Any tattoos should be covered with clothing if possible.

By putting your best face forward, you will look confident and professional in your profile picture.

Examples of Great LinkedIn Profile Photos

Need some visual inspiration for your LinkedIn photo? Here are examples of excellent headshots:

Photo	Analysis
	Soft, natural lighting illuminates her face. Direct eye contact and smile makes her seem approachable. Beige wall makes a neutral background without distractions. Black blazer and collared shirt gives professional look. Framing places focus right on her face and upper body.
	Crisp white background puts all emphasis on him. Navy blazer conveys professionalism and authority. Good posture with chin up adds confidence. Well-groomed hair and beard gives polished look. Direct eye contact draws in the viewer.

Studying strong examples helps guide your own positioning, framing, background, posing, and styling choices.

How to Upload Your Photo to LinkedIn

Once you’ve selected the perfect DIY LinkedIn profile photo, uploading it is simple:

1. Access your profile and click on your current photo or the default profile icon.
2. Click the camera icon to upload a new photo from your computer or mobile device.
3. Browse and select your new professionally shot photo.
4. Crop the image if needed.
5. Click “Save” to apply your new photo to your profile.

Your new headshot will now be visible to anyone viewing your profile. Remember to keep your photo updated every six months or so as your appearance changes.

Conclusion

An eye-catching LinkedIn profile photo taken right from home can elevate your personal brand and make your profile stand out. With the right styling, posing, lighting techniques and editing, your iPhone is more than capable of professional-grade headshots. Invest time perfecting every detail of the shot, from your image and attire to the background and framing. By presenting the best version of yourself, your DIY photo will leave viewers with a positive and memorable impression.