When posting a profile picture on LinkedIn, one of the first things you’ll need to decide is which direction you should be facing in the photo. Should you face left or right? Research suggests facing right tends to be more visually appealing, but there are also several other factors to consider when determining the optimal orientation for your LinkedIn profile picture.
Facing Right Appeals More to Viewers
Studies have found that people perceive images as more aesthetically pleasing when the subject is facing or moving towards the right side of the frame rather than the left. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the “left-to-right bias.” The reason often cited for this bias is that we read from left to right in English, so we are more accustomed to movement and gaze direction flowing in that orientation. Facing right feels intuitive while facing left feels counterintuitive.
Some key research findings on the impact of left/right orientation:
- A 2014 study found that when viewing portraits and landscape paintings, participants preferred images with subjects facing/moving right rather than left.
- A study of website design found right-facing product photos increased desired for products by 11-25% compared to left-facing.
- An analysis of 150 popular advertisements found 60% featured models facing right while only 8% featured models facing left.
Based on this tendency, having your LinkedIn profile picture face the right is likely a better choice aesthetically. Viewers will inherently find it more visually appealing.
Facing Left Aligns with LinkedIn Layout
However, LinkedIn’s layout should also be considered when choosing the orientation for your profile picture. LinkedIn pages are designed so the profile picture is on the left side of the screen while the content flow is on the right.
Having your picture face left can better complement this layout by:
- Gazing into the open space makes the layout feel more open and inviting.
- Maintaining alignment with the left justified profile details.
- Creating an enclosed composition directing focus into the written content.
Facing right goes against the natural flow of the LinkedIn page. Therefore, if you want your profile picture to feel cohesive with the overall page design, facing left may work better.
Context Matters for Portrait Photos
The optimal orientation also depends on the specific photo being used. While right-facing seems to be preferred overall, context plays a role too.
If your photo captures you in a scene actively engaged with something on the left side, then facing right can feels disjointed:
| Facing Left | Facing Right |
|---|---|
 |
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Here, having the person’s gaze directed right when the visual context implies focus to the left creates an uneasy disconnect.
Similarly, holding objects like drinks, microphones, or glasses on one side or the other should be considered:
| Facing Left | Facing Right |
|---|---|
 |
 |
If compositional elements imply a leftward focus, facing right can feel compositionally imbalanced.
Asymmetric Faces
Some people’s faces are more asymmetric than others. In these cases, certain orientations may be more flattering:
- A person with a more pronounced left eye may look better facing right to even out the composition.
- Someone with a crooked smile may prefer facing the opposite direction to de-emphasize the asymmetry.
- Turning the face so the larger side is closer to the camera can minimize the perceived asymmetry.
Analyzing your own facial structure and features is worthwhile when considering left vs. right. Pay attention to which direction provides the most flattering, proportional image.
Using Angled Poses
Rather than directly facing left or right, some slight angular poses can provide visual interest while optimizing facial presentation:
| Slight Left Angle | Forward Facing | Slight Right Angle |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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A 5-15 degree angle can create a nice visual flow directing the viewer into the frame while minimizing facial asymmetry. This angled approach achieves a nuanced compromise.
Eye Contact Engages Viewers
Gazing directly at the camera lens creates a sense of eye contact with anyone looking at your profile. This can help form an instant connection and make the image feel more personable.
Having the eyes angled away can feel more detached and cold. Especially for portraits, maintaining eye contact often works best:
| Eye Contact | Eyes Angled Away |
|---|---|
 |
 |
The perceived facial connection tends to be most flattering for head-on portraits. A direct gaze provides approachability.
Being Consistent with Other Photos
When posting multiple images on your LinkedIn profile, consistency between the photos creates cohesion:
- Having all headshots facing the same direction makes your profile feel more uniform.
- Alternating left/right between pictures could feel disjointed.
- Consistency in cropping, pose, and angle also help photos flow together.
Aim for your profile picture orientation to match other photos used:
| Consistent Facing Right | Inconsistent Orientation |
|---|---|
|
|
When multiple pictures appear on your profile, having the same facing direction creates cohesion.
Potential Cultural Differences
Research on left/right orientation bias has primarily studied Western cultures where English is read left-to-right. Some evidence suggests right-facing bias may be reduced or reversed in cultures using right-to-left scripts like Arabic and Hebrew.
Similarly, some Asian cultures associate left with positive connotations of the rising sun in the east and right with negative death symbolism based on Yin/Yang philosophy.
So in some cultural contexts, facing left may be preferable or there may be no strong leaning either way. Consider your target audience and location when evaluating orientation.
Job-Related Factors
For some professions, certain orientations may be standard:
- For politicians, facing left suggests looking toward the past while right symbolizes change.
- As news anchors often face left on screen, left-facing headshots create consistency.
- Performers like musicians may mimic stage orientation, facing out toward their audience.
Think about common orientation conventions related to your industry or role when deciding on positioning.
Technical Considerations
On a technical level, LinkedIn does truncate and crop profile pictures to fit different parts of the user interface. This may cut off parts of the image depending on the original framing.
Some important technical pointers:
- LinkedIn displays pictures in circles, so square crops work best.
- Standard headshot framing is recommended to maximize visibility.
- Keep your head centered horizontally to avoid excessive cropping on either side.
Test your chosen photo at different profile thumbnail sizes to ensure key facial features remain clearly visible.
Optimizing for Different Contexts
Ultimately, the ideal orientation may differ depending on the specific use case:
- Small profile thumbnail – Facing right enhances visual appeal.
- Full screen header – Left can complement the page layout better.
- Group photos – Consistent direction maintains cohesion.
- Public figures – Connotations like left=past, right=future come into play.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, consider the various contexts your LinkedIn images will be viewed in.
Testing Different Versions
With all the factors involved, there may not be one obvious optimal orientation. The best approach is to test out multiple versions:
- Take pictures directly facing left, right, and forward.
- Try slightly angled poses between 5-15 degrees.
- Look at aesthetics, composition, and facial presentation.
- Show options to unbiased friends and colleagues for input.
Evaluating different iterations on your actual LinkedIn profile is wise. See what resonates best and gets the most positive reactions.
Conclusion
Determining the ideal orientation for your LinkedIn profile picture requires evaluating several considerations:
- Right-facing appeals more aesthetically to Western audiences.
- Left-facing complements LinkedIn’s layout structure.
- Scene context and facial asymmetry impact optimal direction.
- Eye contact and cohesion with other photos matter.
- Cultural associations may influence perceptions.
- Standard conventions exist for some professions.
- Technical factors include cropping and visibility.
- The use case context changes priorities.
With so many variables involved, experimenting with different options can help determine the best approach for your specific profile goals and audience. Testing left, right, forward, and angled variants allows you to see what positioning performs optimally. By considering all these factors, you can make an informed decision when determining which way to face your LinkedIn picture for maximum impact.