Having a professional, high-quality profile picture on LinkedIn is extremely important for making a good first impression and standing out from the crowd. However, many people struggle to take a flattering, appropriate photo that aligns with LinkedIn’s recommendations. Fortunately, with some simple tips and tricks, you can easily fix up your LinkedIn profile picture.
Why Your LinkedIn Profile Photo Matters
Your LinkedIn profile picture is one of the first things people will notice when viewing your profile. It helps put a face to your name and gives viewers their very first impression of you. A poor quality, unprofessional photo can actually discourage connections, potential employers, and new opportunities from coming your way. On the other hand, a great profile photo makes you look trustworthy, competent, and approachable.
In addition, profile photos are shown throughout the LinkedIn platform – in search results, connection requests, endorsements, recommendations, messages, and more. Having a stellar photo will make you stand out wherever your photo appears. It’s a quick way for people to put a face to your name and get a sense of your brand.
Considering that there are over 722 million LinkedIn members, it’s important that your photo makes you memorable amongst the crowd. Spending time to improve your photo can go a long way in boosting your professional brand and presence.
LinkedIn’s Recommendations for Profile Photos
To help members make a great first impression, LinkedIn provides the following recommendations for profile pictures:
- Use a professional headshot or upper body photo, avoiding casual selfies, group shots, or full body pictures.
- Dress professionally and appropriately, avoiding casual wear like t-shirts, tank tops, etc.
- Make sure your face is visible, lit clearly, and taking up most of the frame.
- Look directly into the camera with a friendly, approachable expression.
- Use a plain, solid color background that isn’t distracting.
- Avoid busy backgrounds that draw attention away from you.
- Use a current photo that reflects what you look like now.
- Double check that your photo is appropriate – avoid private, romantic, or informal photos.
Following these straightforward tips will ensure your photo meets LinkedIn’s standards and leaves viewers with a great first impression.
Common LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes to Avoid
To help you further understand what makes a poor LinkedIn profile picture, here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Blurry, pixelated, or low-quality photos
- Heavily edited or filtered photos
- Outdated photos from 5, 10+ years ago
- Far away shots where your face is tiny
- Selfies at an awkward, unflattering angle
- Group shots with other people
- Cropped photos where part of your face or head is cut off
- Backlit photos where your face is too dark and shadowed
- Wearing dark sunglasses that obscure your eyes
- Looking away from the camera and not making eye contact
- Distracting backgrounds like textured walls, cluttered offices, etc.
- Informal photos outdoors, at parties, on vacation, etc.
- Revealing or risque photos
Checking over these common mistakes will help you identify any issues with your current LinkedIn profile photo that need to be fixed. Even small adjustments like lighting, background, and framing can make a big difference.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Your LinkedIn Photo
If you need to overhaul your LinkedIn profile picture, follow this step-by-step guide for professional results:
Step 1: Take a New Photo
Take 10-20 photos in the same outfit/setting so you have options to choose from. Here are some best practices for taking the photos:
- Use a quality camera, not your mobile phone. Enlist a friend’s help to take candids if needed.
- Shoot against a plain, light-colored wall for a backdrop. Or use a roll of white paper.
- Face a window or use soft lighting directly on your face to avoid shadows.
- Take both horizontal and vertical options since LinkedIn now supports both.
- Get photos of your full face, upper body (chest up), and cropped headshots.
- Shoot from different angles and use a zoom for variety.
- Maintain good posture, pleasant expression, and eye contact.
Step 2: Pick the Best Photo
Next, review all of the photos side-by-side and select the best option based on these criteria:
- Facial expression – friendly, approachable, confident
- Framing – face/head take up most of photo
- Focus – face/eyes are sharp and clear
- Lighting – even, flattering, no shadows
- Angle – level head-on or slightly tilted
- Background – plain and non-distracting
- Attire – professional, work-appropriate clothing
Ask a friend or colleague for a second opinion to help choose the most suitable photo as well.
Step 3: Edit and Enhance the Photo
Using photo editing software, make tweaks to maximize the quality of your chosen photo:
- Crop tightly around your head and shoulders/upper body
- Adjust lighting levels, contrast, shadows as needed
- Retouch minimal blemishes if necessary
- Sharpen details like eyes and hair
- Correct color balance or use black and white
- Touch up red-eye issues
Avoid going overboard with editing and filters – keep it natural. Resize your photo to fit LinkedIn’s recommended pixel dimensions for best quality.
Step 4: Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Finally, upload your new, professionally edited picture to your LinkedIn profile:
- Click the pencil icon to edit your profile
- Click the camera icon to change your photo
- Upload and preview your new photo
- Double check that it meets all of LinkedIn’s guidelines
- Hover over your photo and click “Make profile photo” to save changes
Updating your profile picture will refresh your look across LinkedIn. You can delete your old photo to completely replace it.
Professional Photo Editing Services
If you want your LinkedIn photo to look its absolute best but don’t have photography or editing skills, consider using a professional editing service.
Many online services provide specialized LinkedIn profile photo editing starting around $49. This includes professionally retouching your photo with optimal lighting, backgrounds, cropping, and enhancements. It’s an affordable way to get a magazine-quality headshot perfectly tailored to LinkedIn’s specifications.
Some popular LinkedIn photo editing services include:
- Pixelogist
- Ninja Outreach
- Photofeeler
- eBaqdesign
- Standout Resumes
Investing in professional editing can take your profile photo to the next level. Be sure to ask for before-and-after samples and detailed pricing upfront.
DIY Improvements for Minor Issues
If your current LinkedIn photo only suffers from minor problems, there are some quick DIY tweaks you can make to improve it:
Issue | Solution |
---|---|
Red/yellow eye | Use the red-eye removal tool in photo editing apps |
Skin blemishes | Try blemish remover tools or dab concealer on before photo |
Distracting background | Blur or crop the background tighter |
Harsh shadows | Adjust lighting levels, use fill flash, move lighting source |
Appear too “shiny” | Adjust contrast, reduce highlights |
Too much backlight | Use flash, move subject, adjust exposure |
With the right editing tools and adjustments, minor improvements can go a long way. But any major flaws are best addressed through a professional-quality photoshoot and editing service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I smile with teeth showing in my LinkedIn photo?
A slight closed-mouth smile looks friendly yet professional. A big open grin with teeth showing can come across as too casual for LinkedIn’s purposes. Use your best judgement on what level of smile suits your personal brand and industry.
What style of clothing should I wear in my LinkedIn photo?
Business formal or business casual attire is recommended, such as a suit, blazer, button-down, blouse, or sweater. Avoid casual t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, ripped jeans, etc. Dress one level above what you would wear in your typical work setting.
Should I wear glasses in my LinkedIn headshot?
If you normally wear glasses or contacts, choose whichever option makes you feel most like your true professional self. Both glasses and no glasses are perfectly acceptable. Just avoid tinted lenses or sunglasses in indoor photos.
What kind of background should I use?
A solid, plain backdrop like a wall or curtain is best. If outdoors, choose an area without distracting elements in the background. Avoid backgrounds that are textured, cluttered, or draw attention away from you.
Can I edit my photo to improve small flaws?
Light editing to adjust lighting, contrast, colors, and touch up blemishes is perfectly fine. But avoid using filters or making significant alternations that do not represent what you truly look like.
Conclusion
With LinkedIn being the top platform for professional networking and opportunities, ensuring you have an appealing, high-quality profile photo should be a priority. Following LinkedIn’s photo best practices along with style tips tailored to your industry and personal brand is key. Invest time upfront for a photoshoot and editing to showcase the best version of you.
Small tweaks to your photo’s framing, background, lighting, and editing can make a big difference. But don’t hesitate to do a complete profile picture overhaul if needed. The right photo can do wonders for making connections and landing your next big career move.