Your LinkedIn profile photo is one of the first things hiring managers and recruiters will notice when viewing your profile, so it’s important to make a good first impression. With over 722 million users on LinkedIn, standing out from the crowd with a professional, high-quality headshot will help you connect with more opportunities. Choosing what to wear for your LinkedIn photo ultimately comes down to dressing professionally and authentically while feeling confident and comfortable. Here are some tips on what to wear, what colors and styles look best, common mistakes to avoid, and how to take a LinkedIn photo that presents you in the best possible light.
Dress Professionally
The number one rule when deciding what to wear for your LinkedIn profile photo is to dress professionally. Treat your LinkedIn headshot like a job interview photo – you want to look polished, put-together, and showcase your professionalism. Wear an outfit you would feel comfortable wearing to meet a potential employer or attend a job interview. Some specific tips:
- Wear business formal attire – This means a suit (pants or skirt) in a dark neutral color like black, navy, or gray, along with a white or light colored button down shirt or blouse. A tie or scarf can add some visual interest. Make sure the suit is well-tailored and fits properly.
- Avoid casual clothes – Don’t wear t-shirts, polos, jeans, shorts, sneakers, revealing tops, etc. You want to steer clear of anything too casual.
- Skip the accessories – Accessories like big jewelry, scarves, and hats can be distracting. Keep it simple – small earrings and a watch are okay.
- Check for wrinkles, pet hair, etc – Iron your clothes, and give them a lint roll before photographing to look neat and crisp.
- Go easy on makeup and hairstyling – Don’t overdo it, as your look should still appear natural. Neat grooming and business makeup looks most professional.
Dressing more formally shows you take your LinkedIn presence seriously. While being perfectly pressed head-to-toe isn’t entirely necessary, erring on the side of slightly more formal business attire is a safe bet for looking put-together and professional.
Choose neutral, dark colors
When deciding what to wear for your LinkedIn profile photo, sticking to neutral, dark colored clothing tends to look best on camera. Here are some tips for choosing colors:
- Solids over patterns – Solid colored clothing photographs better than busy patterns or plaids, which can be distracting and lead to an amateurish look.
- Darker shades – Darker grays, navys, blacks, and browns tend to be most professional and flattering for both men and women. They make you stand out against light backgrounds.
- Avoid brights – Steer clear of bright or loud colors like reds, yellows, and bright whites unless it’s a subtle accent color. They can overwhelm the photo.
- Use blue cautiously – While blue is a go-to professional color, lighter blues can run the risk of blending into some photo backgrounds, so opt for a deeper navy.
- No pure black or white – Avoid large sections of true black or bright white clothing, as they can look harsh on camera and blow out.
The most professional LinkedIn photos stick to a neutral dark color palette of grays, navys and blacks. Patterns and bright colors tend to look less polished.
Select comfortable, authentic styles
While dressing professionally, it’s also important to select a style you feel most confident and authentic in. Consider the following when choosing what to wear:
- Play up your best features – Are you most confident in a blazer that highlights your shoulders? Or a v-neck top that complements your face shape? Know what cuts flatter you best.
- Stick with your personal style – Even if you dress more casual day-to-day, wearing a style true to your taste will come through as most authentic. Don’t get a drastic makeover.
- Look like your best self – Think about what clothing makes you feel empowered and choose that, whether it’s your power suit or favorite dress. Confidence shows.
- Be comfortable – Make sure you can move and pose naturally in your outfit. Overly restrictive clothing can make you hold yourself awkwardly.
Having a LinkedIn photo that reflects your personal brand and makes you feel like the best version of yourself will project an assured, compelling image that resonates with your true personality.
Avoid common mistakes
When deciding what to wear for your LinkedIn profile photo, keep in mind some common mistakes to avoid:
- Too casual – Jeans, shorts, sneakers, and tees look too informal.
- Outdated styles – Make sure your outfit looks current, not like it’s stuck in decades past.
- Distracting patterns – Solids look more professional than loud prints or plaids.
- Revealing or ill-fitting – Don’t wear something overly tight, baggy, plunging, or short.
- Messy grooming – Make sure your hair and makeup look neat and tidy.
- Dated accessories – Skip anything that looks very trendy or risqué.
- Cluttered background – Keep the backdrop clean and simple so you remain the focus.
Steering clear of anything overly casual, revealing, or distracting will ensure you put your most professional foot forward in your LinkedIn photo.
How to take a great LinkedIn photo
Once you’ve selected the perfect professional outfit to wear, keep these tips in mind for taking a stellar LinkedIn profile photo:
- Get head-to-shoulder framing – Crop your image to showcase from the top of the head to mid-chest. Don’t cut off your head or show too much background.
- Look directly at the camera – Maintain eye contact with a steady gaze and warm, friendly smile to connect with the viewer.
- Ensure sharp focus – Use a high quality camera, not a grainy webcam, and check for clarity in the finished product.
- Mind the lighting – Face natural lighting and avoid shadows or overly bright backlighting that washes you out.
- Pick a plain background – A solid wall, curtain, greenery, or blurring works best. Avoid distracting scenery.
- Get multiple options – Take a series of images in different poses and outfits to have options to choose the best of the best.
Having a professional photographer that knows how to position you, direct you, and properly edit the photos can really take your LinkedIn profile image to the next level.
Examples of great LinkedIn photo outfits
To help visualize what to wear for the perfect professional LinkedIn profile picture, here are some examples of ideal outfit choices:
For Women
Outfit Type | Description |
---|---|
Classic blazer | A neutral or gray blazer over a solid blouse looks timeless and elegant. |
Business dress | A sheath dress in dark navy or black projects professionalism. |
Coordinated separates | Pairing a neutral tailored blouse with a matching skirt or pants looks put-together. |
Crisp button down | A solid button down in light blue or white conveys approachability. |
For Men
Outfit Type | Description |
---|---|
Suit and tie | A formal suit, dress shirt and coordinated tie looks instantly professional. |
Blazer and collared shirt | A tailored blazer with dress slacks and collared shirt has wide appeal. |
Neutral sweater | A dark solid sweater over a collared shirt appears polished but approachable. |
Dress shirt | A long sleeve dress shirt in blue or white conveys confidence. |
Sticking to timeless, neutral and tailored styles in dark solids will ensure you look neatly professional in your LinkedIn photo.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn profile image makes an important first impression on prospective employers and connections. Dressing professionally in a style true to yourself, framed correctly, and free of distractions or mistakes will allow you to put your best foot forward. Opt for well-fitting, timeless business attire in neutral solids that you feel confident wearing. Avoid anything overly casual, revealing, or distracting. With care taken in your presentation and image, your LinkedIn photo can help convey you as an assured, polished professional.