Should LinkedIn pictures be formal?

Whether your LinkedIn profile picture should be formal or not is a common question among professionals looking to optimize their profiles. With over 800 million users, LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for networking and promoting your professional brand. Your profile picture is one of the first things people notice, so making a good impression is key. However, there are pros and cons to both formal and casual pictures that are worth considering.

The purpose of your LinkedIn profile

Before deciding on a profile photo, think about the purpose of your LinkedIn presence. For most users, LinkedIn is used for:

• Networking and making new professional connections
• Job searching and getting recruited
• Promoting your skills, achievements, and personal brand
• Following industry trends and people
• Showcasing your work and achievements

Your main reasons for having a LinkedIn account should guide your choice of profile photo. If you use LinkedIn strictly for job hunting, a formal headshot is likely the safest option. If you mainly share ideas and network within your industry, a more casual photo may align better with your brand.

Benefits of a formal profile photo

There are some clear advantages to using a formal, professional-looking headshot as your LinkedIn photo:

• Gives a polished, corporate impression
• Shows you are serious and professional
• Inspires trust and credibility
• Looks authoritative and commanding
• Aligns with a job hunting mindset
• Less likely to be rejected or judged

A formal photo presents you as competent, employable, and as someone who fits into a corporate setting. Recruiters are more likely to connect with people who look professional and authoritative. Unless you work in a very casual industry, a serious headshot is rarely a bad option.

Benefits of a casual profile photo

While formal photos are safe, casual shots also have benefits:

• Shows your personality and soft skills
• Makes you look more approachable
• Aligns with a personal brand or industry culture
• Creates a feeling of trust and authenticity
• Shows confidence to be yourself
• More likely to stand out in search

Depending on your goals and industry, a casual photo may better reflect your actual personality and personal brand. Creative professionals often prefer casual shots that showcase their style. A friendly photo can also facilitate networking by making you look more approachable.

Guidelines for formal LinkedIn photos

If you opt for a formal look, keep these tips in mind:

• Wear professional attire like a suit jacket, collared shirt or blouse
• Look directly at the camera with good posture
• Have a clean, simple background like an office wall
• Use classic posing with hands folded or at your sides
• Maintain a neat, conservative hairstyle
• An expressionless or slightly smiling face looks most formal
• Get the photo taken by a professional photographer if possible

The overall goal is to look polished, respectable, and employable. Neutral colored business attire and a clean backdrop are ideal for projecting professionalism.

Here are examples of appropriate formal LinkedIn photos:

Guidelines for casual LinkedIn photos

Casual photos allow more flexibility but should still follow some guidelines:

• Choose natural facial expressions and body language
• Wear stylish, neat, clean clothing appropriate for your industry
• Consider action shots of you engaging in a work activity
• Use interesting indoor or outdoor settings related to your profession
• Photos taken by others tend to look more natural than selfies
• Avoid inappropriate hand gestures, costume-like clothing, messy backgrounds

The goal is to look approachable yet professional. Posed portraits, activity shots, or warm images that convey your personality are suitable options.

Here are examples of appropriate casual LinkedIn photos:

Examples of inappropriate LinkedIn photos

Some photo options are clearly unsuitable for LinkedIn profiles:

LinkedIn is intended for professional networking, so casual snapshots, party photos, or images with unusual visual effects usually aren’t appropriate. The photo should contribute to your professional personal brand.

Tips for formal LinkedIn photos

To maximize the impact of a formal profile photo:

• Invest in getting your photo taken by a professional photographer. This ensures optimal image quality, lighting, and framing.
• Dress as formally as you would for an important corporate job interview. For most industries, this means formal business attire.
• Maintain good posture by keeping your chin parallel to the ground and shoulders back. This projects confidence.
• Use a very subtle smile – if any expression at all – to look pleasant but serious.
• Make sure the background is a solid color wall or blurred office setting. Messy backgrounds look unprofessional.
• Check for glare on glass lenses if wearing glasses. Glare can obscure your eyes.
• Keep jewelry and accessories minimal. Let your face, hair, and clothing take center stage.

With attention to detail, a formal photo can reinforce your professional brand and appeal to potential employers.

Tips for casual LinkedIn photos

To maximize the impact of a casual profile photo:

• Choose a photo taken in the last 1-2 years so your look is current.
• Make sure your clothing flatters you but is appropriate for your industry and role.
• Use natural facial expressions and body language. Avoid looking overly posed or stiff.
• Try an activity shot that shows you engaged in your profession. This creates an authentic vibe.
• Select colorful, interesting backgrounds related to your work when possible. Outdoor shots are especially engaging.
• Crop out other people. The focus should be entirely on you.
• Avoid selfies when you can. Have someone else take your photo.

Well-composed casual photos add personality but still look put together. Show your actual work life and interests.

Should you ever change your LinkedIn photo?

There are a few circumstances when you may want to update your LinkedIn profile picture:

• You’ve significantly changed your appearance through aging, new hairstyles or beards, weight changes, etc.
• You want to adjust your personal brand image.
• Your role or industry has changed.
• Your photo quality is very poor.
• You notice lower engagement rates with your profile.

As a general rule, profile photos should be updated every 2-3 years. You want current photos that reflect how you look today. But frequent changes can seem odd to your connections, so stick with the same photo for a substantial period of time before making adjustments.

Key takeaways

• Formal LinkedIn photos project professionalism, while casual photos show personality.
• Your industry and goals for using LinkedIn should guide your photo choice.
• Both types require high-quality, composed images free from distractions.
• Formal photos call for business attire in professional settings.
• Casual photos allow for warm expressions and work-related environments.
• Inappropriate photos include messy settings, provocative attire, and irrelevant situations.
• Update your photo every 2-3 years or if your look changes significantly.

The most important factor is choosing a photo that presents you in the best possible light and aligns with your brand. With the right photo, your profile is sure to make a great impression.

Conclusion

Your LinkedIn profile photo is your chance to make a strong first impression on the professional community. Although formal headshots are universally acceptable, casual pictures that reflect your personality and work can also be effective. Avoid inappropriate photos that damage your brand. Seek feedback from colleagues when selecting the best option. With an appealing, high-quality photo that fits your goals, you will maximize the impact of your LinkedIn presence.