Your LinkedIn profile picture is one of the first things people notice when viewing your profile. It helps form a first impression and can influence whether someone connects with you or reads further. Choosing an appropriate, professional photo is an important part of optimizing your LinkedIn presence.
Why your LinkedIn photo matters
Your LinkedIn photo serves multiple purposes:
- It puts a face to your name and makes your profile more approachable.
- It builds recognition and helps people remember you.
- It conveys aspects of your personality and professionalism.
- It encourages profile views and connection requests when optimized for search.
With photo being such a focal point, you want to make sure you select one that presents you in the best possible light. Your goal is an authentic, approachable photo that still looks polished and professional.
Do’s and don’ts for LinkedIn photos
When selecting a LinkedIn profile photo, keep these tips in mind:
Do:
- Use a high-quality, well-lit headshot of just you. The photo should clearly show your face and expressions.
- Dress professionally as you would for work. Avoid casualwear.
- Smile naturally so you appear friendly and approachable.
- Make sure your photo is current. Avoid using photos that are more than 2 years old.
- Take a new picture if needed. Professional headshots look best but aren’t required.
- Pay attention to the background. It should be neutral and not distracting.
- Check that there is sufficient contrast between you and the background.
- Maintain good posture and eye contact with the camera.
Don’t:
- Use selfies, group shots, or pictures cropped from other photos.
- Wear revealing clothing.
- Include other people or props in the frame.
- Wear sunglasses or hats that cover your face.
- Use fuzzy, pixelated, or poorly-lit photos.
- Include inappropriate or unprofessional backgrounds.
- Use old photos that don’t reflect how you look today.
Photo choices for specific situations
Beyond the general guidelines, you may need to tailor your photo selection for certain situations:
Job seekers
If you are currently searching for a job, a professional headshot is strongly recommended. Hiring managers will be viewing your profile, so you want to look polished and put-together. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for your industry and role.
Creative fields
For creative fields like design, photography, or media, you have more leeway to showcase your personality while still maintaining professionalism. A headshot reflecting your creative style is fine, just avoid anything too unorthodox.
Conservative fields
If you work in a more conservative industry like finance, law, or healthcare, stick to a traditional headshot with a plain background. Avoid stylized photos and props that could come across as distracting or unprofessional.
Research fields
For academics and researchers, a simple professional photo is recommended. Avoid trying to be overly creative. The focus should be on showcasing your accomplishments rather than your personality.
Tips for taking a good LinkedIn photo
To take a great photo for your LinkedIn profile, follow these photography best practices:
- Use diffuse lighting that is soft, even, and flattering. Outdoor shade works great.
- Avoid having bright light sources behind you that put your face in shadow.
- Face the camera directly and tilt your chin down slightly. Lift your eyebrows a bit to open up your eyes.
- Take photos from chest height or above. Avoid low angles.
- Use a high-resolution camera. Phone cameras can work well if positioned correctly.
- Focus the camera on your face and eyes. Let the background blur a bit.
- Use a longer focal length around 50 mm to minimize distortion.
- Take lots of photos and review them on a large screen before selecting one.
- Enlist someone else’s help. It’s hard to evaluate your own photo objectively.
If you don’t have access to a quality camera, consider hiring a photographer to take your LinkedIn photo. This is a worthwhile investment that will continue benefiting your personal brand for years.
Mistakes to avoid
When selecting a LinkedIn profile picture, be sure to steer clear of these common mistakes:
- Blurred or pixelated photos
- Shadows or harsh lighting obscuring your face
- Looking away from the camera
- Appearing distracted or not engaged
- Cluttered or distracting backgrounds
- Outdated hairstyles or clothing
- Unnatural smiles or expressions
- Red eyes from camera flash
- Other people visible in the photo
- Anything suggestive, unprofessional, or controversial
Double check your photo before uploading to ensure none of these issues are present. If so, take a new professional headshot. Remember, your photo represents you online so make the extra effort to get it right.
Background photo considerations
For the background of your LinkedIn profile photo, keep these guidelines in mind:
- The focus should be entirely on you – the background should be subtle.
- A neutral solid color or blurred office backdrop generally works best.
- Make sure there is enough separation and contrast between you and the background.
- Avoid cluttered or distracting backgrounds with patterns or objects.
- Do not use an outdoor background with random elements and lighting.
- The background should align with your professional persona and industry.
- If using a virtual background, make sure the effect looks realistic.
In most cases, its best to use a plain, solid color background that complements your photo while not competing for attention. If opting for an office setting, make sure it is tidy and uncluttered. Your background should reinforce your professionalism, not serve as a distraction.
Image specifications
LinkedIn has specific recommended specifications for your profile photo:
- Image format: JPEG or PNG
- File size: minimum 400 x 400 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square image)
- File size: Minimum 4 MB, Maximum 8 MB
- Head and shoulders must fill majority of image
Always upload a high-quality photo that meets these requirements. Pixelated or blurry photos will reflect poorly on your personal brand.
Social media profile consistency
For consistency, use the same profile photo across your professional social media accounts, including:
- Instagram (if a business account)
This makes it easier for people to recognize you and connect the dots across platforms. Just make sure the photo meets the requirements for each site.
For example, maintain a consistent profile photo on both LinkedIn and Twitter, but adjust the color and cropping if needed to fit each platform.
Updating your photo over time
Plan to update your LinkedIn profile picture every few years at minimum to keep your look current. Outdated photos make a poor impression.
Good times to update your photo include:
- Starting a new job
- Taking on more senior roles and leadership positions
- Completing higher education
- Changing your appearance significantly
Schedule a professional headshot photoshoot once every 2-3 years to always have a selection of updated photos to choose from.
A/B testing photos
If unsure which photo option looks best, consider A/B testing your profile:
- Upload one photo option as your profile picture.
- Keep track of your profile views and engagement for 1-2 weeks.
- Switch to a different photo option and compare engagement for another 1-2 weeks.
- Select the photo that resulted in higher views and engagement.
This can help you choose the most effective profile photo based on actual data.
Tools to improve your photo
Here are some tools that can help optimize your LinkedIn profile picture:
- Photofeeler – Gets feedback on your photos to pick the most influential image
- Fotor – Provides auto enhancements and edits to improve your photo
- Canva – Offers templates and easy image design options
- Befunky – Lets you crop images to meet size requirements
- Adobe Photoshop – Most powerful advanced photo editing capabilities
Try using these tools to correct issues, improve lighting, adjust cropping, and enhance your photo for LinkedIn.
Professional headshot services
For the best results, hire a professional photographer to take your LinkedIn headshot. While more expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment in your personal branding.
When researching photographers, look for these capabilities:
- Experience photographing professional headshots
- Skill directing expressions and posing
- Familiarity shooting business portraits on a white background
- Provides properly edited and retouched photos
- Can deliver images formatted to LinkedIn requirements
Some locations to search for professional headshots include:
- Photography studios
- Freelance photographers
- Graphic design agencies
- Print shops and production companies
Schedule your photoshoot when you have time to prepare – get a good night’s rest, groom yourself neatly, and dress professionally. Following a photographer’s directions will also help capture you at your best.
Cost considerations
Typical costs for professional LinkedIn profile pictures include:
- Budget photoshoot: $75 – $150
- Mid-range photoshoot: $150 – $300
- Premium photoshoot: $300 – $500+
Factors impacting cost are the photographer’s level of experience, studio expenses, editing time, and amount of photos provided.
While a higher investment, premium photographers often produce the most polished, high-quality photos.
Copyright and ownership
When hiring a pro photographer, clarify usage rights upfront:
- Confirm you will retain full ownership and copyrights of the photos.
- Negotiate unlimited personal usage rights for your website, social, etc.
- Get license to modify or edit photos as needed.
Ideally, the photographs should become part of your professional portfolio you can leverage across platforms. Make sure proper licensing rights are agreed upon in advance.
Analyzing examples
Reviewing strong and weak LinkedIn profile photo examples can help you recognize effective approaches and common pitfalls to avoid.
Here are two examples to analyze:
Strong example
- High-quality image with good lighting
- Appropriate business attire
- Pleasant facial expression
- Neutral solid background
- Balanced composition
Weak example
- Harsh shadows obscuring face
- Distracting background objects
- Too casual and informal
- Appears disinterested
- Poor image quality and resolution
Use these examples as models to emulate or avoid when selecting your own LinkedIn photo.
Key takeaways
To recap, keep these essential tips in mind when choosing your LinkedIn profile picture:
- Use a professional headshot of just you with a friendly smile.
- Dress appropriately for your industry and role.
- Opt for a plain, neutral background that doesn’t distract.
- Make sure the photo is high-quality and well-lit.
- Select a current photo taken within the past 2 years.
- Maintain consistency across your other social profiles.
- Consider hiring a pro photographer for best results.
Your LinkedIn photo makes a significant impact on your personal brand. Invest the time and resources needed to get it right.
Frequently asked questions
Should I smile or look serious in my LinkedIn photo?
In most cases, a natural, friendly smile makes the best impression and appears more approachable. Avoid an overly wide grin though. For more solemn professions like law, a subtle smile or neutral expression works better.
What is the ideal photo composition?
Frame the photo straight-on with your head centered and shoulders squared. Leave more space above your head than below your chin. Maintain direct eye contact with the camera lens for an engaging look.
Can I just use my phone to take a LinkedIn photo?
You can use your smartphone camera if you have good lighting and positioning. Invest in a tripod mount and remote shutter release. Take lots of photos and select the best. But hiring a pro remains the gold standard.
What is the best background color for LinkedIn?
A light neutral background like white, gray, or beige generally works best. Avoid bold colors that may clash with skin tones or clothing. A blurred office setting is also suitable if not distracting.
Should I wear glasses in my LinkedIn photo?
If you regularly wear prescription glasses, keep them on for your photo. Avoid tinted lenses or heavy frames that obscure your face. Clean the lenses to minimize glare. Position lighting to avoid reflections.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn profile photo is one of the most important personal branding assets you have. Following professional photography best practices and investing in a high-quality headshot will maximize the impact of your image.
A profile picture that looks friendly, polished, and approachable encourages engagement while underscoring your professional capabilities. So take the time to get it right and make a great first impression.