LinkedIn is a popular social media platform used primarily for professional networking and career development. With over 722 million users worldwide, LinkedIn allows professionals to create profiles summarizing their work histories, skills, education, and accomplishments. An important part of a LinkedIn profile is the profile photo, which gives other users their first impression of you. However, many LinkedIn users have experienced issues with LinkedIn unexpectedly cropping or resizing their profile photos. This can be frustrating, as a poorly cropped photo may convey an unprofessional image that does not accurately represent you. In this article, we will explore the reasons why LinkedIn may crop your profile photo and provide tips on how to avoid cropped LinkedIn photos.
Why Does LinkedIn Crop Photos?
There are two main reasons why LinkedIn may crop your profile photo:
To Create Uniformity Across Different Profile Layouts
LinkedIn dynamically generates profile pages to optimize them for different platforms and devices. For example, the profile layout on desktop is different from mobile. To ensure your photo looks consistent across all profile versions, LinkedIn standardizes photos by cropping them into a square aspect ratio. This allows your photo to fit seamlessly into the circular profile picture icon on mobile and various parts of the profile layout on desktop.
To Highlight Your Face/Headshot Area
LinkedIn aims to crop photos around the headshot area to feature your face prominently. This creates a uniform look across all user profile photos, focuses attention on you, and prevents other people or background objects from distracting viewers.
Common LinkedIn Photo Cropping Issues
While LinkedIn’s rationale for cropping makes sense in theory, in practice the automated cropping can go awry in several ways:
Chopping Off Your Head or Body Parts
If the cropping algorithm misidentifies your head or fails to detect your full body, it may chop off parts of your head/neck or cut your body off at an odd, unflattering angle. This looks obviously flawed and unprofessional.
Poor Framing
The crop may frame your headshot in a less-than-ideal composition. For example, too much space above your head, an asymmetrical crop, or centering on your neck instead of face. This also conveys a sloppy, amateurish impression.
Lost Context/Meaning
For photos depicting you engaged in an activity or with other people, an overzealous crop may remove valuable context. Cropping out your tennis racket or fellow conference speakers loses the meaning behind your photo.
Unexpected Zooms
Resizing a horizontal photo to fit a square may zoom in and crop out the edges. This zoom effect may create an awkward close-up crop.
How to Avoid LinkedIn Photo Cropping Issues
To prevent LinkedIn from cropping your profile picture incorrectly, here are some tips:
Upload a Photo With an Ideal Composition
Carefully select and compose your profile photo with cropping in mind. Frame your headshot similar to LinkedIn’s crop – a close-up of your face and upper shoulders/chest area. Leave more space above your head rather than sides.
Use a Square Photo
Upload a photo already cropped into a square aspect ratio. This removes LinkedIn’s need to dynamically resize your photo. Just be sure the original square crop looks good.
Adjust the Cropping During Upload
When uploading your profile photo, LinkedIn allows you to preview the crop and make adjustments. Drag the photo, zoom in/out, and pan to optimize the crop before saving changes.
Try Different Resolution Photos
Higher resolution photos give LinkedIn’s algorithm more pixels to work with, potentially improving auto cropping accuracy. Try uploading your photo in different sizes to see if it makes a difference.
Use LinkedIn’s Photo Editing Tools
Adjust your uploaded photo within LinkedIn using the builtin photo editing tools. The “Apply facial recognition” feature may improve cropping around your headshot.
Upload Your Photo as Your Cover Image
Add your preferred headshot as your cover image for more control over the framing. Your profile picture will sit over your cover photo as a smaller circle.
Request Profile Photo Change
If your profile picture becomes improperly cropped, request LinkedIn Customer Service to manually change it back to your original uncropped photo.
Cropping Photo Dimensions on LinkedIn
Here are the photo dimensions and requirements for LinkedIn’s profile picture and cover image:
Profile Picture Dimensions
| Photo Type | Dimensions |
| Square photo | 400 x 400 pixels (minimum) |
| Non-square photo | 400 pixels on longest side (minimum) |
– Minimum size: 200 x 200 pixels
– Recommended size: 400 x 400 pixels
– Photo shape: Square or rectangular (1:1 to 4:5 aspect ratio)
– File size: 8 MB maximum
– File types: JPG, PNG, TIFF
Cover Image Dimensions
| Photo Type | Dimensions |
| Computer display | 1584 x 396 pixels |
| Mobile display | 1176 x 312 pixels |
– Minimum size: 1160 x 303 pixels
– Recommended size: 1584 x 396 pixels
– File size: 8 MB maximum
– File types: JPG, PNG, TIFF
Tips for Taking a Good LinkedIn Profile Photo
To get the best results from your LinkedIn profile photo:
Style Tips
– Dress professionally as you would for a job interview.
– Wear solid colors that contrast well with the background.
– Make sure your clothes are neatly pressed with no distracting patterns.
– Face the camera directly with good posture and a pleasant smile.
– Maintain good grooming with neat, professional hairstyle and minimal jewelry.
– Avoid heavy make-up or filters that look artificial.
Composition Tips
– Shoot head-on or slightly angled, not side profile.
– Frame your head and shoulders vertically centered in the photo.
– Look directly into the camera lens with a level head position.
– Ensure your entire face and both shoulders are visible in the frame.
– Leave more space above your head than below your chin.
– Blur or remove busy backgrounds that divert attention.
Photo Quality Tips
– Use a high-resolution camera or smartphone camera.
– Make sure the photo is in focus and properly exposed.
– Avoid shadows or awkward lighting falling on your face.
– Pick a background that contrasts well with your skin tone and clothes.
– Take photos outdoors on a bright, overcast day for best lighting.
Conclusion
LinkedIn automatically crops profile pictures to create uniformity across their platform. However, glitchy cropping can sabotage your profile with unprofessional, distorted photos. By understanding LinkedIn’s cropping logic, adjusting photo composition, and using their built-in editing tools, you can properly tailor your profile photo to avoid unwanted cropping issues. Display your best professional image on LinkedIn with a stellar headshot that conveys confidence and credibility.