A LinkedIn headshot is an important part of establishing your professional brand on the platform. Your photo will be one of the first things people notice about your profile, so you’ll want to put thought into getting a high-quality headshot that presents you in the best possible light.
Should you smile in a LinkedIn photo?
The main question many people have about LinkedIn headshots is whether or not to smile. There are good arguments on both sides of this debate:
Pros of smiling:
- A smile makes you look more approachable and friendly.
- Smiling conveys confidence and positivity.
- It helps humanize your profile.
Cons of smiling:
- A big toothy grin can look unprofessional.
- Not smiling projects a more serious, solemn image.
- Some people think a smile looks artificial in a professional photo.
So should you smile or not? The consensus among professional photographers seems to be that a slight smile is ideal. A subtle, closed-mouth smile strikes a good balance between appearing friendly and approachable, while still looking polished and professional.
How to achieve a natural looking smile
Here are some tips for getting a natural looking smile in your LinkedIn photo:
- Relax your face. Tight facial muscles will look forced. Let your expression be soft.
- Think of something joyful. Recall a fond memory or imagine something that tickles you to create mirth in your eyes.
- Avoid big toothy smiles. A closed-mouth grin looks more professional for a headshot.
- Take a few practice shots and review them. Adjust until your smile looks and feels natural.
- Try smiling with your eyes. The corners of your eyes will crinkle slightly when you smile naturally.
It can help to practice smiling in front of a mirror. Note if your expression looks strained or unnatural. Try relaxing your cheeks, eyes and mouth until you achieve a pleasant but subdued smile.
Other facial expression tips
Aside from your smile, keep these tips in mind for your overall facial expression:
- Maintain good posture. Standing or sitting up straight will prevent slouching and scowling in your photo.
- Angle your face slightly. Turning your face a little to the side looks more natural than staring straight at the camera.
- Relax your jaw. Allow your mouth to rest gently closed without clenching your jaw muscles.
- Avoid odd expressions. No smirking or raising your eyebrows as this can look peculiar.
- Keep your expression consistent in every frame to ensure you have good options to choose from.
Enlist a friend or the photographer to review your test shots with you. Have them look for tense muscles or unusual expressions that should be corrected.
Lighting
Proper lighting is essential for an attractive LinkedIn portrait. Here are some lighting tips:
- Avoid shadows. Position lighting to minimize shadows on your face. Fill lighting can counter shadows.
- Diffuse harsh lighting. Softboxes, reflectors or diffusers can make harsh lights more flattering.
- Avoid overhead lighting. Top-down lighting casts unflattering shadows under facial features.
- Use natural light. Photograph near a window for attractive natural light. Just avoid direct backlighting.
- Use a flash diffuser if forced to use the camera flash. This softens the harsh direct light.
Ideally, the lighting should illuminate your face evenly. Pay attention to catchlights in the eyes to ensure the lighting is not too dim or making your eyes appear dark.
Background
The ideal backdrop for your LinkedIn photo is a neutral tone that doesn’t distract from you. Here are background tips:
- Solid wall. A smoothly painted wall in a muted color makes for an uncluttered background.
- Plain fabrics. Hanging a sheet or blanket in a neutral solid color creates a clean backdrop.
- Avoid busy patterns that compete for attention. Keep backgrounds simple.
- Soft focus. Use depth of field to softly blur the background.
- Watch the framing. Leave some space around your head/shoulders so the background doesn’t crowd you.
A professional photographer will have backdrop options available. For DIY photos, look for neutral walls or hang a sheet to achieve a clutter-free background.
Posing and framing
Proper posing and framing helps you look your best in photos. Follow these tips:
- Posture. Sit or stand up straight to convey confidence.
- Head tilt. Turn your head slightly rather than straight on.
- Lean forward slightly to be more engaged with the camera.
- Chin down a little. This elongates your neck in photos.
- Camera angle. Position the camera slightly above eye level.
- Crop to flatter. Tighter shots can be more appealing for portraits than full body.
Take some shots from different distances and angles to see what is most flattering. Get feedback from others on which poses and framing are most attractive.
Grooming and styling
Complete your look with proper grooming and professional styling choices:
- Neat, professional hairstyle. Get a trim and style your hair neatly.
- Simple makeup (for women). Subtle makeup enhances without distracting.
- Clean shave (for men). Clean up facial hair for a tidy look.
- Limit jewelry/accessories. Avoid loud accessories and stick to professional attire.
- Good hygiene. Shower, style your hair, and have clean teeth before your shoot.
The focus should be on you, not your clothing or accessories. Dress professionally but let your face, smile and expression shine.
Working with a professional photographer
Professional photographers have technical skills and artistic eye for taking great photos. Consider hiring a pro for your LinkedIn headshot and:
- Ask to see examples of their professional headshot work to assess their style.
- Select a package that includes multiple poses/outfits to get more options.
- Communicate expectations for what you need prior to the shoot.
- Let them guide the process, but speak up if you want adjustments.
- Remember, you are the client. Request changes or reshoots if needed.
A pro photographer will know how to make you look your very best. Investing in high quality headshots is worth it for your personal branding and LinkedIn presence.
Taking your own LinkedIn photo
If hiring a pro isn’t in your budget, you can take your own quality headshot using these DIY tips:
- Use a tripod to stabilize the camera and prevent blur.
- Use a remote shutter release so you don’t shake the camera pressing the button.
- Optimize natural lighting near a window or take photos outdoors.
- Frame correctly. Leave space around your head/shoulders. Use portrait orientation.
- Focus on your eyes. Use autofocus or manually focus on your eyes.
Take lots of shots and review them on your camera to see which are sharpest. Zoom and crop to frame the photo correctly. Edit later to make small lighting adjustments if needed.
Photo editing and touch-ups
Use photo editing software to make adjustments to your headshot:
- Cropping and straightening. Crop tightly. Straighten crooked horizon lines.
- Brightness, contrast, color. Adjust to achieve ideal tone and color.
- Blemish removal. Use retouching tools sparingly to minimize imperfections.
- Backdrops. Change or touch-up the background if needed.
- Sharpening. A light sharpen filter can make details more crisp.
Avoid overediting your photo. Touch-ups should not distort your image. Let your natural beauty shine through.
Choosing the right LinkedIn profile photo
Review all your options and select the best photo for your profile using these criteria:
- Exposure. Choose a photo that is well-lit and not too bright or dark.
- Focus. Make sure eyes/face are pin sharp, not blurry.
- Composition. Head and shoulders should frame nicely.
- Expression. Select a natural, warm, friendly expression.
- Appearance. You should look neat, tidy and professionally dressed.
Ask trusted colleagues or friends which photo they prefer. Take feedback into account as you choose your final profile photo.
Changing up your LinkedIn photos
Plan to update your LinkedIn headshots every few years. Reasons you may want a new look include:
- Your appearance has changed significantly.
- You want photos that reflect your current job.
- Your brand or style has evolved.
- Old photos are outdated or poor quality.
- You want a background or look that better aligns with your industry.
Refreshing your headshots helps maintain an up-to-date professional presence on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
A polished LinkedIn profile photo that exudes warmth, confidence and professionalism is an important business asset. With these tips for smiling naturally, flattering lighting, proper posing, ideal background, and thoughtful photo selection, you can present your best self on LinkedIn.
Invest time and care into getting a headshot that puts your best face forward, or hire a pro who can photograph you in your most professional light. Your photo is one of the first impressions you’ll make on the platform, so take steps to make it count.