Your LinkedIn profile picture is one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn presence. It’s often the first thing people notice about your profile, and it can make a huge impact on their impression of you. Choosing a smiley picture over a serious or neutral expression can make you appear more approachable, friendly, and confident. But getting the right smile in your LinkedIn photo takes some thought. An awkward or exaggerated grin might undermine your professional image, while a subtle closed-mouth smile could look insincere. Here’s how to smile naturally in your LinkedIn profile picture.
Should you smile with teeth or without?
This is one of the most common questions around LinkedIn photo smiles. There are pros and cons to both options:
Smiling without teeth
A closed-mouth smile can look dignified and subtle. It’s useful if you want to project a calm, cool, and professional vibe. One risk is that it can come across as uptight or aloof if the smile isn’t genuine.
Smiling with teeth
An open-mouth smile shows you’re friendly, upbeat, and approachable. Flashing your pearly whites looks more energetic. But too much visible gum or a forced cheesy grin can undermine your professionalism.
Ultimately, choose what feels most natural for you. If you don’t normally smile with your teeth in photos, an open-mouth grin might look unnatural. But if you have a bright authentic smile, share it!
How big should your smile be?
You want your smile to look natural – not like you’re laughing hysterically or grimacing uncomfortably. Some tips:
- Avoid an over-the-top smile where your mouth is opened very wide. This looks more like a face you’d make at a wedding photo booth than a professional headshot.
- Don’t smile so subtly that it seems like you’re holding back or stifling a real smile. A slight upturn of the lips can look more like a smirk than a smile.
- Aim for a smile sized somewhere between a closed-mouth subtle smile and a grinning laugh. Your mouth can be open, but only wide enough to show some teeth.
The size of your smile will depend on what feels most natural for you. Look at photos of yourself smiling and pick out the most authentic, approachable smiles at a medium width.
What is the best way to capture a natural smile?
It can be challenging smiling naturally when you know a bunch of profile pictures are riding on it. Here are some tips for capturing an authentic, approachable smile in your LinkedIn photo:
- Relax first. Take a few deep breaths before your photoshoot starts to release tension.
- Think of something funny. Replay a hilarious moment or joke in your head.
- Imagine yourself smiling and laughing. This can trick your body into forming a real smile.
- Laugh at yourself. Don’t take the photoshoot too seriously – smile at the awkwardness of posing for a profile pic.
- Don’t say cheese! This tense smile looks forced. Try saying “money” instead for a more natural grin.
- Take candid shots. Have the photographer snap some natural photos in between posed shots.
- Use burst mode. With rapid-fire burst mode enabled, you’re bound to capture some genuine smiles.
The best smiles come when you’re laughing or feeling amused, not just faking it for the camera. So help yourself get into a positive, cheerful mood before your photoshoot.
Should you maintain eye contact or look away?
For your head-on LinkedIn profile shot, maintaining eye contact with the camera can make your photo more engaging. It gives the impression you’re confident, focused, and attentive. But glancing away for some shots can also capture a more candid, human moment. Mix it up with some eye contact shots and some looking at a slight angle away from the camera. Just avoid strongly averting your gaze, which can look disconnected.
Do the eyes matter as much as the smile?
Yes! Your eyes and smile should coordinate to convey a genuine, likable expression. Here are some eye tips:
- Relax your eyes. Don’t open them too wide or squint.
- Envision something pleasant to spark a natural twinkle in your eyes.
- Avoid dark undereye circles, eye bags, or redness with sufficient sleep and concealer if needed.
- Use eye drops to reduce redness or dryness that distracts from your smile.
- Avoid tensing eye muscles. Keep things around the eyes relaxed.
Aim for open, alert, friendly-looking eyes to complement your smile. Avoid looking tired, tense, or distracted.
What is the best camera angle?
The camera angle plays a big role in highlighting your best smile. Here are some angles to try:
- Eye level: Position the camera so it’s level with your eyes and head facing straight on.
- Slightly above eye level: Angling the camera slightly down can be flattering.
- Slightly off center: Rotating your head 15-20 degrees to the side can look more candid.
Some angles to avoid:
- Below eye level: Pointing a camera up distorts features in an unflattering way.
- Far side angle: Rotating your head too far side-to-side warps your face shape.
- Tilting head: Keep your head straight to avoid distorting the proportions of your face/features.
Experiment with different camera heights and head angles during your photoshoot to determine the most natural, smile-flattering shots.
Should you wear glasses or nix them?
If you regularly wear glasses or contacts, it’s best to stick with whichever you’re most comfortable in. Both eyeglasses and contact lenses work for LinkedIn photos. Ditching your glasses for the photoshoot might make your eyes feel strained or awkward. Here are some quick glasses tips:
- Clean the lenses to avoid reflections obscuring your eyes.
- Position yourself to minimize lens glare from the camera flash.
- Tilt your chin down slightly to prevent shadows from the frames on your eyes.
- Remove glasses for some shots to mix things up.
Feel confident smiling brightly in both glasses and no-glasses shots. Avoid tinted lenses or styles that hide your eyes.
Where should you look within the camera frame?
For your head-on photo, focus your gaze on the camera lens itself to make direct eye contact with the viewer. But you can look anywhere within the frame that feels most natural. Some options:
- Directly at the camera lens
- Slightly above the lens
- To the left or right of the lens
- Just above the lens into the distance
Try different eyeline directions and review the photos to see which is most flattering for your face. Just avoid letting your eyes wander too far outside the frame.
Should you opt for a serious or more lively expression?
As a general rule, maintaining a warm, friendly smile is the best route for LinkedIn photos. But more serious or neutral expressions can also work in some cases:
- For very formal professions like law, finance, or academics, a more serious look may fit better.
- If you wish to project a calm, focused, and professional rather than bubbly persona.
- To showcase a more contemplative, wise look.
But remember a smile makes you look more approachable and personable. So if in doubt, flash those pearly whites. Mixing in some upbeat smiling shots along with more serious ones gives you options to choose the top profile photo.
Should you practice your headshot smile?
Yes, practice makes perfect when it comes to nailing your LinkedIn photo smile. Try these tips:
- Look at examples of winning headshot smiles to inspire your style.
- Use selfie mode on your phone to try out different smiles and refine yours.
- Ask friends/colleagues which smiles look best and most natural.
- Do a mini self-portrait session and examine the smiling results.
Rehearsing your headshot smile before the photoshoot helps train your facial muscles so you nail it when it counts.
Conclusion
Smiling genuinely in your LinkedIn profile photo makes a great impression, while more serious looks can also work situationally. Use these tips to determine the right style of smile for you, from mouth position to camera angles. Focus on relaxing and thinking happy thoughts so your smile looks natural, not forced. Practice your smile and review plenty of options during your photoshoot to pick the top choice. Employing the ideal smiling facial expression will give your LinkedIn profile photo magnetic user appeal.
| Smile Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Closed-mouth smile | Looks subtle and dignified | May seem aloof if not genuine |
| Open-mouth smile | Appears energetic and friendly | Can look too casual if mouth open very wide |
| Serious expression | Conveys professionalism and focus | May seem unapproachable |
| Smile Tips | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Relax facial muscles | Prevents strained or awkward looks |
| Envision something funny | Triggers an authentic smile |
| Say “money” not “cheese” | “Money” produces a more natural smile |
| Use eye drops if needed | Reduces redness or dryness around eyes |
| Look at camera lens | Makes direct eye contact to engage viewers |