Having a professional photo on your LinkedIn profile is highly recommended, but is it an absolute must? There are differing opinions on whether you can get away with not having a profile photo or if it will negatively impact your LinkedIn presence. In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of having a LinkedIn profile picture and help you decide if it’s worth investing time in getting a professional headshot.
The Benefits of Having a Profile Photo
Here are some of the main advantages of having a photo on your LinkedIn profile:
- It makes your profile more engaging and approachable – LinkedIn is first and foremost a social network, so a photo puts a face to your name and personalizes your brand.
- It builds trust and credibility – People like to do business with people they know and can recognize. A professional photo makes you seem more legitimate.
- It makes you more memorable – An image alongside your name makes you much more likely to be remembered by connections and potential employers or clients.
- It shows confidence – Posting a professional headshot demonstrates self-assurance and the fact that you’re not afraid to put yourself out there.
- It improves your visibility in search – LinkedIn’s algorithm gives a boost to profiles with photos, so you’re more likely to stand out in results.
- It completes your profile – A photo is part of a 100% complete profile, which earns you a badge that indicates you have a robust presence.
According to LinkedIn’s research, profiles with photos receive up to 21 times more views than those without. It’s the easiest thing you can do to give your profile a lift and make yourself stand out in a sea of faceless names and blank image placeholders.
The Downsides of Not Having a Photo
While it’s not strictly required to have a profile photo, there are some drawbacks you risk by excluding one:
- You may be perceived as less trustworthy – People wonder what you have to hide if you don’t visibly identify yourself.
- You lose out on extra visibility in search results – Without a photo you won’t get the search boost that pictures provide.
- You appear less personable and approachable – A blank silhouette avatar doesn’t give off a warm, friendly vibe.
- You miss out on opportunities – Many recruiters and hiring managers immediately skip over profiles without photos.
- You damage your personal brand – Your profile seems incomplete and less professional without a headshot.
- You don’t stand out – It’s harder for connections to remember you if they can’t associate you with a face.
While these potential issues don’t mean it’s impossible to have a successful LinkedIn presence without a photo, they do illustrate the advantages you gain by having one. Even a basic headshot is better than no photo at all in most cases.
Tips for Choosing a Strong LinkedIn Profile Photo
Not all LinkedIn photos are created equal. To get the maximum impact, you’ll want to select a strong professional headshot and avoid mistakes that can make your photo work against you. Here are some best practices:
- Invest in a quality headshot – Hire a photographer to take a high-res portrait framed close on your face and shoulders.
- Dress professionally – Wear office attire in neutral colors that convey authority and competence.
- Smile naturally – A warm, authentic smile makes you seem approachable.
- Look directly at the camera – Eye contact makes you appear confident and trustworthy.
- Ensure optimal lighting – Have the photo taken in bright, evenly distributed light to avoid shadows.
- Pick a plain background – A cleanly blurred or solid color backdrop keeps the focus on you.
- Maintain eye contact – Keep your gaze directed straight ahead to engage the viewer.
- Avoid casual snapshots – Don’t use impromptu photos or fun filters unrelated to your professional brand.
Stick to these tips and you’ll have a profile photo that presents you in the best possible light, unlike casual selfies or group shots that can inadvertently create a bad impression.
Examples of Good LinkedIn Profile Pictures
To give you a better idea of professional profile photo dos and don’ts, here are some examples:
DO:
- Portrait shot in office attire
- Friendly smile looking directly at camera
- Professional lighting and background
- Appearance neat and tidy
DON’T:
- Casual selfie or blurred snapshot
- Distracting background like a vacation scene
- Glasses glare obscuring your eyes
- Expression that seems bored or unfriendly
- Clothing with logos or text
- Sideways glance away from the camera
- Unprofessional lighting or shadows
You want the image to check as many “DO” boxes as possible while avoiding any “DON’T” pitfalls. Spend time selecting or taking a profile photo that presents you at your professional best.
Should You Ever Use a Different Profile Image?
While your standard headshot should be appropriate for most occasions, there are some instances where altering your profile image could be advantageous:
- Job hunting – Temporarily changing your photo to a more corporate headshot or an image reflecting your desired career can help you stand out to recruiters.
- Events or conferences – Swapping in a picture taken at a recent business function can highlight your participation and networking.
- Thought leadership content – Pairing a professional selfie with in-depth articles or long-form posts makes them more shareable.
- Company announcements – Marking career changes or milestones with a new headshot helps convey your growth.
Just be sure to keep these situational photo changes temporary and quickly switch back to your standard profile picture when they are no longer timely or relevant.
Should You Use the Same Picture Across Social Platforms?
While using the same profile photo across all your social media accounts can help unify your personal brand, slight variations tailored to each platform are often preferable:
- LinkedIn – Most formal professional headshot
- Facebook – Slightly more casual but still respectable photo
- Instagram – More playful, vibrant, or artistic image
- Twitter – Can sometimes use a logo or graphic that represents your brand
The core visual identifiers like your face, expression, posture, etc. should remain consistent, but the styling can shift subtly to align with the norms and audiences on each platform.
Profile Photo Size and Specifications
To ensure your LinkedIn profile picture looks crisp and loads quickly, you’ll need the proper sizing and image specifications:
- Minimum size: 400 x 400 pixels
- Recommended size: 800 x 800 pixels
- Maximum file size: 8 MB
- Accepted formats: JPG / JPEG, PNG, GIF
Square cropped images work best, reflecting the shape of the default LinkedIn profile photo template. Using a high quality image with adequate size and resolution ensures it will look professional without pixelating.
Should You Hire a Professional Photographer?
Getting your LinkedIn profile picture taken professionally is highly recommended but can also involve a significant investment. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if professional photography services are worth the cost:
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Overall, a professional LinkedIn headshot is one of the best investments you can make in your personal brand and online presence. But a quality DIY photo will still provide benefit if hiring a photographer is cost-prohibitive.
How Frequently Should You Update Your Profile Photo?
There’s no definitive rule for how often you need to update your LinkedIn profile picture, but here are some general guidelines:
- Every 2-3 years for a subtle refresh
- When changing companies or career paths
- After a major life event like finishing a degree
- If your appearance changes significantly
- When your existing photo appears dated
Aim to strike a balance between letting your image become obsolete and changing it so frequently that you seem disconnected from past versions of yourself.
Tips for Taking a Great DIY LinkedIn Photo
If you want to take your own LinkedIn profile photo, follow these tips for best results:
- Use a clean, solid color background
- Have a friend or tripod position the camera at eye level
- Face natural lighting and avoid shadows on your face
- Take head-on and slightly angled shots for options
- Wear professional attire in neutral, soft colors
- Experiment with both serious and slight smile expressions
- Check that your entire head and shoulders are fully visible
- Maintain good posture with chin slightly raised
- Snap multiple images in quick succession for optimal shots
- Crop image closely around your head and shoulders
With the right planning, setup, techniques and editing, you can end up with a quality DIY LinkedIn photo on par with professional services.
Common LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes to Avoid
When selecting or taking your LinkedIn profile image, beware of these common mistakes:
- Blurred or pixelated image
- Distracting background
- Cropped off top of head
- Appearing unprofessional or inappropriate
- Too casual or informal
- Obstructed face
- Not looking directly at camera
- Harsh or uneven lighting
- Outdated hairstyle or fashion
- Wearing sunglasses indoors
Actively look for and avoid these problematical elements to present yourself in the most favorable way possible.
Should You Include a Background Photo?
In addition to your profile picture, LinkedIn gives you the option to set a background photo:
- Appears behind profile picture and backdrop bar
- Helps customize the look and feel of your profile
- Enabled by LinkedIn Premium subscriptions
- Ideal for professional scenes, achievements, or branded designs
- Should complement your headshot instead of compete with it
A background photo can provide additional visual interest to your profile, but use it selectively being sure it projects the right image.
Conclusion
Having an eye-catching professional photo on your LinkedIn profile provides vital human connection that sets you apart and leaves a lasting impression. Make investing time, effort, and potentially money to get a quality headshot a high personal branding priority. Approach your profile image as carefully as you would your resume or online content to unlock the benefits it can bring.
While an empty grey placeholder won’t necessarily ruin your chances of LinkedIn success, putting your best face forward with a photo provides significant advantages you don’t want to miss out on. Apply the lessons from this article to pick or create a profile picture that elevates your personal brand and propels your career forward.