How do you turn a photo into a LinkedIn photo?

Having an appropriate profile photo on LinkedIn is important for projecting a professional image and ensuring you make a good first impression on connections and potential employers. However, choosing the right photo and formatting it correctly for LinkedIn can be tricky. Here are some tips to help you turn a regular photo into an effective LinkedIn profile photo.

Pick an appropriate photo

Not every photo is well-suited for a professional networking site like LinkedIn. When choosing a photo, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Use a current, high-quality headshot of just you. Group shots, landscapes, or out-of-date photos don’t convey professionalism.
• Dress professionally as you would for an interview. Avoid casual wear like t-shirts, tank tops, or ripped jeans.
• Pick a photo where you’re smiling and looking directly at the camera. You want to appear friendly and approachable.
• Choose a neutral background without distracting elements. A solid color wall or backdrop is ideal.
• Make sure the lighting is flattering. Avoid shadows, harsh lighting, or red eye.

Having a professionally taken headshot is ideal, but you can also take one yourself with a smartphone or camera if you use optimal lighting and framing.

Check the resolution

LinkedIn profile photos must be at least 400 x 400 pixels. A higher resolution image will look sharper on high resolution screens.

To check the resolution:

1. Right click on the photo file
2. Select “Properties” and look at the details
3. The photo dimensions will be listed in pixels
4. If either dimension is below 400 pixels, you’ll need to use photo editing software to increase the size

Increasing the resolution of an image can cause pixellation and reduced image quality. For best results, start with a high resolution photo that meets LinkedIn’s requirements.

Crop to square proportions

LinkedIn profile pictures must be square – the same height and width. But most photos are rectangular. To make it square:

1. Open the photo in an editing program like Microsoft Photos, Preview, or an online editing tool
2. Select the crop tool, usually represented by a square icon or dotted lines
3. Manually adjust the crop area into a square
4. Adjust which part of the photo is visible in the crop area
5. Save the changes

Cropping may cut some parts of the photo out. Place your face and upper body in the crop area so they remain clearly visible.

Edit the background

For a clean, professional look, you may want to edit out or obscure any busy backgrounds in your photo. Options include:

• Blurring – Apply a gaussian or radial blur to make the background less defined
• Replace – Selectively replace the background with a solid color fill
• Cut out – Use the lasso or magic wand to select yourself and cut or delete the background

Test different options to find what looks best. Make sure to blend any artificial backgrounds naturally.

Adjust lighting and color

Proper lighting and coloring can make a photo look cleaner and more professional. Try making these edits:

• Brightness/contrast – Increase the contrast slightly to make details and facial features stand out more
• Temperature – Adjust the warmth to compensate for any color casts from lighting
• Saturation – Boost the saturation a little to make colors appear more vivid
• Whiteness – Increase whiteness to reduce any yellow or red tones

Don’t overedit – small adjustments are all you need. Use the history function to toggle changes on and off to compare.

Retouch and enhance

Minor retouching can selectively improve a photo. But use discretion – you still want to look like yourself!

Possible improvements include:

• Smoothing skin and reducing shine/oiliness
• Minimizing the appearance of blemishes and lines
• Whitening teeth and eyes
• Sharpening detail in hair, eyes, jewelry, etc.
• Slightly increasing vibrancy of clothing, makeup, etc.

Avoid overusing filters – they can look artificial. As you make edits, zoom in to ensure they appear natural.

Save and export

Once you finish optimizing the photo, export a high quality version to upload to LinkedIn:

1. Save the edited photo as a copy – don’t overwrite the original
2. Choose JPEG or PNG format for best results
3. Select the maximum quality setting on export
4. Name it something like “FirstName_LastName_LinkedIn”

Double check that the exported photo is still 400 x 400 pixels or larger before uploading it.

Upload to LinkedIn

To update your profile picture on LinkedIn:

1. Go to your profile page
2. Hover over your current photo and click the camera icon
3. Select “Upload photo”
4. Choose the photo file you exported from your computer
5. Crop and adjust the photo as needed
6. Click “Save”

Your new LinkedIn profile picture will now be visible to your connections. Periodically update it to maintain a professional presence.

Tips for taking a LinkedIn photo

If you don’t have an existing photo that will work for LinkedIn, schedule a time to take one. Here are some best practices:

• Use a DSLR camera if possible for maximum image quality
• Shoot outdoors on a cloudy day for soft, even lighting
• Turn your body at a slight angle rather than straight on
• Take some shots smiling, some without – choose what looks best
• Wear professional attire in solid colors that complements your skin tone
• Make sure your hair is styled neatly off your face
• Bring multiple outfit options if you want variety
• Take lots of shots and review them later to pick a favorite

You can also have a friend or family member take a photo using their smartphone. Use good lighting, framing, and a simple background.

Photo editing tools

Here are some free photo editing programs you can use:

Many default image editing apps like Preview and Microsoft Photos also include basic cropping, color, and lighting tools.

Photo editing on mobile

You can also edit photos on your smartphone or tablet. Popular mobile editing apps include:

Many smartphone cameras also have built-in selfie enhancement features you can use when taking your photo.

Tips for editing

Here are some tips to follow when editing your LinkedIn profile photo:

• Start with a high quality image for best results
• Always edit a copy – don’t alter the original photo
• Make small, subtle adjustments instead of drastic changes
• Use the zoom tool to view small details as you edit
• Toggle edits on and off to compare the before and after
• Match any background additions to the original lighting and color
• Blend edits into the surrounding area to look natural
• Ask a friend for a second opinion to spot check your changes

Take your time and periodically take breaks while editing to maintain perspective.

Common LinkedIn photo mistakes

Avoid these common LinkedIn profile picture mistakes:

• Blurry or pixelated resolution
• Cropped off head and neck
• Looking away from the camera
• Hair covering part of your face
• Distracting background
• Too casual (t-shirts, tank tops, etc)
• Party scenes with alcohol
• Selfies from an unflattering angle
• Outdated photos more than a few years old
• Group shots with other people
• Filters or other excessive editing

Stick to headshots of just you, dressed professionally, with a neutral background, and edits that look natural.

Conclusion

Optimizing your profile photo is an important part of making a good first impression on LinkedIn. With the right photo editor and a few simple edits, you can turn any portrait into a professional profile picture. Pay attention to image quality, cropping, background, lighting, color, and subtle retouching. Taking a new headshot specifically for LinkedIn is ideal. Follow online size and formatting requirements, and update your photo regularly to always put your best face forward. With an engaging, friendly, high quality profile photo, you’ll start building connections on LinkedIn in no time.