Having an appealing yet professional background photo on your LinkedIn profile is crucial for making a good first impression. With over 740 million members on LinkedIn, standing out from the crowd and showcasing your personal brand effectively is more important than ever. But with so many background photo options to choose from, how do you select the right one?
Why does your LinkedIn background photo matter?
Your LinkedIn background photo is typically the first thing people notice when visiting your profile. It serves as a visual representation of your personal brand and can influence how others perceive you professionally. According to LinkedIn, profiles with background photos get 21 times more profile views than those without. So clearly, having an eye-catching yet appropriate background photo pays off when trying to stand out and make connections on the platform.
Beyond just getting more profile views, your background photo also gives viewers a sense of your personality and professionalism right away. It sets the tone for your entire profile and can impact whether someone clicks to learn more about you. The image you choose sends subtle signals about how you want to present yourself and your brand.
Additionally, your background photo is a great conversation starter and gives connections a jumping off point for engaging with your profile. It provides an opportunity to express your interests, industry, company culture and more through a visual medium. So leveraging it thoughtfully can definitely help in networking and relationship building.
What makes a good LinkedIn background photo?
When selecting a LinkedIn profile photo, you want to strike a balance between standing out and maintaining professionalism. Here are some tips for choosing a strong, effective background image:
- Use a high-quality, high-resolution photo – Blurry or pixelated images look unprofessional
- Display your authentic self & personality – But avoid anything inappropriate
- Tailor the photo to your industry/profession
- Feature relatable environments or subjects like an office, a relevant cityscape, etc.
- Avoid busy patterns or distracting backgrounds
- Stick to a portrait orientation – Landscape images will be distorted
- Be yourself, but put your best foot forward – Dress professionally, smile naturally, etc.
The goal is to look approachable yet credible, depending on the impression you want to make. You want viewers to come away with an understanding of who you are as a professional.
Examples of Good LinkedIn Background Photos
To get a better idea of what types of background photos work well on LinkedIn profiles, here are some strong examples:
Portrait in an office
A simple portrait in a professional office setting projects competence and establishes your industry/role. Just be sure the photo looks natural, not staged.
Speaking at an event
If you’re giving a presentation or talk, a photo of you on stage demonstrates expertise and thought leadership in your field.
Professional headshot
A polished headshot on a plain or subtle background is a classic, professional option for any industry.
Company culture/team photo
Showcasing your workplace culture or team showcases company personality and your role within an organization.
Relevant cityscape
Featuring an image of a city relevant to your location or industry helps viewers connect with your background.
Background Photos to Avoid
While you do want to express personality, there are some types of background photos that can diminish your professional brand on LinkedIn:
- Party photos, drinking, etc. – Keep things tasteful
- Provocative or risqué photos – Avoid anything potentially offensive
- Outdated photos – Use a current image from the last 1-2 years
- Selfies – Have someone else take your photo for best quality
- Students in classroom – Not relevant unless education is your industry
- Gym selfies – Come across unprofessional
- Snapchat filters – Keep it professional
The key is to avoid anything that detracts from showcasing your professional skills and expertise. You want your background photo to complement your personal brand, not distract from it.
Photo Ideas for Different Industries/Roles
Your LinkedIn background photo can be tailored to your specific industry, role or professional interests. Here are some ideas for different fields:
| Industry/Role | Photo Idea |
|---|---|
| Technology | Working at a desk with tech equipment/programming screens |
| Education | In a classroom teaching students |
| Healthcare | Wearing a labcoat or scrubs in a healthcare environment |
| Business/Finance | In front of a business skyline or shaking hands with colleagues |
| Sales & Marketing | Giving a presentation in front of a sales/marketing themed image |
| Creative Fields | At a desk drafting designs or creating artwork |
Showcasing yourself working in or engaging with environments related to your profession can help convey your skills, interests and industry quickly and visually.
Tips for Taking Your Own LinkedIn Background Photo
If you want to take your own background photo, keep these tips in mind:
- Use a quality camera, not your mobile phone. Invest in professional equipment if possible.
- Ensure adequate, flattering lighting. Natural sunlight near a window is best.
- Shoot against a plain, solid color background for best results.
- Clean up the setting and remove visual clutter/distractions.
- Dress professionally – imagine you’re meeting colleagues or clients.
- Pose naturally. Capture candid expressions, not forced smiles.
- Take many options to compare later. Alter your pose, expressions, etc.
- Consider hiring a professional photographer to really get high-quality, polished results.
Having a friend or colleague take the photo often yields better results than a selfie. But you can take your own photo with some effort – just follow the tips above.
Where to Find Free LinkedIn Background Photos
If you don’t have the ability to take your own professional background photo, you can find some great free stock images online. Here are a few places to look:
- Unsplash – Large collection of free high-resolution stock photos you can download and use.
- Pexels – Another site with thousands of beautiful, free stock photos.
- PxHere – Huge selection of photo options completely free for commercial use.
- Burst – Features categories of free stock photos for LinkedIn and other uses.
- Reshot – Specializes in free stock photos for business and professional use cases.
When searching on these sites, look for images you have the rights to reuse and tailor your search to themes that fit your industry, role and brand. Always credit the photographer when using someone else’s stock photo.
Tools to Enhance Your LinkedIn Background Photo
After selecting a strong background photo, you may want to edit or enhance it using photo editing software and tools. Here are a few options:
Adobe Photoshop
The most powerful editing software available. Use it to touch up blemishes, adjust lighting, crop images and more. But requires paid subscription.
GIMP
Free, open-source image editing software with many similar capabilities as Photoshop.
PicMonkey
User-friendly online photo editing platform with templates and design options for social media images.
Canva
Simple drag-and-drop design tool with tons of templates, fonts, graphics and layouts for enhancing images.
Befunky
Creative editor with filters, touch-up tools, collage making and more for easy photo enhancements.
Editing can help adjust brightness, reduce distractions in a photo, apply design elements like text/shapes, and overall make your background image look as polished as possible. Just don’t go overboard with excessive filtering.
Should You Pay for Premium LinkedIn Photos?
LinkedIn offers upgraded background photo options through their paid Premium accounts. This includes access to:
- 5 customizable background templates
- Getty stock image library of millions of premium photos
For most professionals, the free background photo options are sufficient for an appealing profile. But subscribing to LinkedIn Premium can provide additional high-quality stock photos at your disposal if you want more variety.
Alternatively, for under $10 you can purchase a premium stock photo from:
- Shutterstock
- iStock
- Adobe Stock
Without breaking the bank, these sites offer great professional images at affordable prices for individual purchase. So you may spend a little, but get access to the perfect background photo for your personal brand and needs.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn background photo is a crucial, but often overlooked, element that contributes to your personal brand and first impression. Selecting an appropriate, high-quality image that aligns with your professional identity takes effort but pays dividends in your networking and career growth on the platform.
Focus on projecting your authentic self while maintaining an element of formality suitable for business relationships. Tailor your photo to your specific industry and role. And leverage editing tools if helpful to polish and perfect your image.
With the right background photo that captures your brand and personality, you’ll stand out among the 740+ million LinkedIn members and maximize the impact of your profile.
