Having a professional LinkedIn profile picture is crucial for making a good first impression and standing out from the crowd. With over 740 million members on LinkedIn, it’s important that your photo represents you in the best possible light. But how do you know if your LinkedIn photo is good enough? There are several key factors to consider when evaluating if your profile picture is helping or hurting your personal brand.
Resolution and Image Quality
The first thing to check is whether your LinkedIn profile picture is high quality and high resolution. Low resolution, pixelated images look unprofessional and lazy. Aim for an image that is at least 400×400 pixels, with an ideal photo size being around 500×500 pixels. The image should be clear, in focus, with sufficient lighting and no distracting backgrounds. Make sure the photo wasn’t taken with a low-quality camera phone in bad lighting conditions. Investing in a professional headshot is recommended to get a crisp, polished profile photo.
Cropping and Framing
Proper cropping and framing of your profile photo is essential. The photo should be cropped in close to clearly show your face, shoulders and upper chest. Make sure your entire head and hair are fully visible in the frame. The cropping should be tight enough to focus on you without extraneous background details. Your eyes should be directly facing the camera at eye level. Avoid cropping that cuts off part of your head or face. Focus the emphasis on your face for ideal results.
Facial Expression and Eye Contact
Your facial expression in your LinkedIn profile picture conveys a great deal about your personality and professionalism. A warm, friendly smile is recommended to look approachable, likable and confident. Avoid weird smiles that look off-putting or cocky. Maintaining eye contact with the camera also helps engage the viewer. A serious demeanor lacking expression can come across as cold or stern. Keep a pleasant, natural expression for best results. Closed mouth smiles tend to work better than open mouthed grins.
Pose and Positioning
The pose and angle you use for your profile photo impacts how you are perceived. Facing the camera straight on with good posture projects confidence and authority. Tilting your chin slightly down while looking up at the camera can eliminate unflattering shadows under the eyes and nose. Keep your shoulders back to maintain an open, relaxed stance. Hands should be out of the shot to avoid distracting the viewer. The photo should capture your head and shoulders only for optimal focal point.
Attire and Styling
Dress professionally for your LinkedIn profile photo. Style your hair neatly and leave out hats or sunglasses that cover your face. While your best business attire is not mandatory, avoid looking overly casual. A nice blouse or collared shirt portrays put-together polish. Make sure your clothes are pressed and steer clear of distracting patterns or bold colors that overpower your face. Keep jewelry minimal and formal. Your focus should be on showcasing an approachable professional image.
Consistent Branding
For consistency across your professional digital presence, use the same profile photo on LinkedIn that you do on other social media networks or professional websites. Having different photos on all your platforms confuses people. Maintaining one professional headshot that represents your personal brand reinforces recognition and trust with your audience. Just make sure the consistent photo meets all the criteria for an excellent LinkedIn profile picture.
Lighting
Proper lighting can make or break your LinkedIn profile photo. Avoid shadows across your face or overly bright overexposed backgrounds. Soft, even lighting from both sides flatters facial features the best. Outdoor shade, light streaming through windows or professional photography lights work well. Overhead lighting tends to be unflattering. The goal is illuminating your face clearly without harsh shadows, glare or red eye from a flash.
Background
Simplify your background to keep the focus solely on you. Busy, distracting backgrounds compete with your face, detracting from your personal brand. A solid neutral color wall is ideal. If outdoors, ensure the setting is not distracting but enhances your photo. Avoid cluttered offices or random objects in the background. You want to stand out, not your surroundings. Keep it simple and clean.
Color and Contrast
Warm neutral earth tones and blues tend to be most flattering for skin tones and bring out your facial features. Avoid wearing matching colors to your background which can wash you out. High contrast between your face and background helps you stand out distinctly. Soft colored clothing and muted cool toned backgrounds work well for this contrast. Don’t wear anything too bright, neon or busy. The goal is keeping the emphasis solely on your face.
Headshot or Selfie?
Professional headshots almost always look sharper than selfies. Investing in photography with quality cameras, lighting and positioning pays dividends in showing your best self. The cost is well worth it for this important marketing image. While DIY pictures from your smartphone can work in some cases, they tend to be lower quality without the skills of a photographer. However, a professionally done selfie photo with great lighting could be an option too.
No Distractions
Avoid any distracting jewelry, accessories, clothing patterns, or background objects that pull the viewer’s eye away from your face. Keep props like coffee mugs, gadgets or awards out of the shot. Have your hair pulled back neatly away from your face. Eliminate clutter for a clean, focused look. Even small distractions can draw attention away from your professional brand, so minimize anything in your photo that isn’t you or required attire.
Personalization
While maintaining a consistent brand image, minor updates can freshen up your profile photo over time. As your hair length or style changes, you can do minor retakes. Just try to keep the overall framing, angle, expression and tone aligned with your existing photo. Don’t veer too drastically into different clothing, poses or facial expressions. Small refinements help keep the photo current but consistent with your brand.
Ask for Feedback
Having a second opinion helps provide an objective outside perspective on your profile photo. Ask coworkers, colleagues, friends or professional connections if your LinkedIn picture represents you in the best possible light. Does the image look high quality, approachable and professional? Take feedback constructively to refine the photo accordingly. The photo should instill confidence and approachability at first glance.
Check Photo Visibility
Ensure your profile photo clearly visible in the small circular thumbnail image used to preview your profile all over LinkedIn. Some photos don’t translate well into the preview circle. Look at your thumbnail image to make sure your face is still the focal point and the image quality translates. Optimize for recognizability even in this smaller format.
Align with Your Audience
Tailor your photo backdrop, attire and style to align with your target employers and audience on LinkedIn. Conservative industries may prefer more formal business attire, while creative fields allow more casual dress. Show your authentic self while fitting the mold expected in your profession. Steer clear of anything potentially offensive or controversial. Put your best foot forward to appeal to your connections.
Test Different Options
Try taking multiple high quality photos and testing different options as your profile picture for a few weeks at a time. Use LinkedIn’s analytics in your account to see which profile photo receives the most profile views and engagement. Let data guide you to the most appealing image. Minor variations in cropping, expression and angle can impact results.
Update Regularly
Plan to refresh your LinkedIn profile photo at least every two years, or more frequently as your appearance changes. Keeping the photo current helps you remain recognizable and relevant with your network. Outdated photos diminish your personal brand over time. Update based on age, changes in hairstyles or looks, and evolving career status.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn profile photo is your first impression and an important personal branding tool. Invest time and effort into having a high quality, professional headshot that flatters you and meets industry expectations. Seek objective feedback and keep the photo updated in alignment with your brand. With the right photo, you can make a great impression and enhance your credibility.
Factor | Ideal | Not Ideal |
Resolution | 400×400 pixels or larger | Pixelated, blurry, low resolution |
Cropping | Close on face and shoulders | Cutting off head or body parts |
Expression | Warm, friendly smile | Bizarre or off-putting |
Lighting | Soft, even, flattering | Harsh shadows, uneven, dark |
Background | Simple solid color | Distracting objects or setting |
Attire | Business professional | Extremely casual |
Angle | Straight on | Odd tilted angles |
Headshot or Selfie? | Professional headshot | DIY selfies |