Uploading a professional photo to your LinkedIn profile is an important step in establishing your personal brand on the platform. With over 740 million members, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site and a great way to connect with colleagues, clients, recruiters and more. Having an updated LinkedIn photo helps put a face to your name and allows you to make a strong first impression.
Why You Should Upload a Photo on LinkedIn
Here are some key reasons why it’s recommended to upload a photo to your LinkedIn profile:
- Shows you are a real person – A photo adds a personal touch and shows readers that there’s a real person behind the profile.
- Lets others recognize you – A photo makes it easier for connections, coworkers and recruiters to recognize you.
- Builds trust and credibility – Profiles with photos appear more legitimate and tend to garner more profile views.
- Improves your visibility in search – LinkedIn profiles with photos show up higher in LinkedIn search results.
- Reflects your brand – A professional headshot allows you to project the image you want conveying to connections.
In short, adding a photo makes your profile stand out and brings it to life! It shows you’re serious about presenting a professional image on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn Photo Specifications
To ensure your photo looks sharp and clear on your profile, it’s important to upload a high-quality headshot that meets LinkedIn’s recommended specifications:
- File Format: JPG or PNG
- Size: Minimum 400 x 400 pixels
- File Size: 8 MB maximum
- Aspect Ratio: Square photo (equal height and width)
- Your face should be clearly visible
- Photo should be well-lit and high resolution
Keep in mind, your photo will be displayed in various sizes across LinkedIn. Uploading a high-quality photo (at least 400 x 400 pixels) will ensure it renders well at any size on screens and devices.
Tips for Taking a Great LinkedIn Photo
To make a strong first impression with your LinkedIn photo, follow these tips:
- Get a headshot taken professionally if possible. If taking it yourself, use a quality camera, not a smartphone.
- Wear professional attire that you would wear to work – such as a suit, dress, or collared shirt.
- Look directly into the camera with good posture and a friendly smile.
- Ensure the background is neutral. A solid color wall or blank backdrop is best.
- Check the lighting. Avoid shadows or exaggerated contrasts on your face.
- Maintain eye contact with the camera. Don’t tilt your head or look away.
- Crop the image tightly on your head and shoulders. Less background is better.
- If possible, avoid selfies or casual snapshots. Strive for a polished, professional look.
How to Upload or Change Your Photo
Uploading a photo to LinkedIn is easy and can be done in a few simple steps:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile page and hover over your existing photo (or placeholder icon). Click the “Edit photo” button that appears.
- On the Edit Photo page, click the “Upload photo” button.
- Select a JPG, PNG, BMP, or TIFF file from your computer. Click Open.
- Preview how the photo will appear in your profile.
- Click “Save”.
That’s it! Your new photo will now be visible on your profile. It may take a few minutes for the updated image to fully populate across LinkedIn.
To change your photo in the future, simply repeat the above steps. You can update your LinkedIn headshot as often as you’d like.
Additional Photo Tips
Here are some additional recommendations when uploading your LinkedIn profile image:
- For consistency, use the same photo across all your professional social media accounts and websites.
- If possible, avoid cropped logos, text, or busy backgrounds in your photo.
- Double check that your image meets LinkedIn’s file size and dimensions requirements.
- Preview how your photo looks before confirming the upload.
- Consider having a professional photographer touch up your image editing software like Photoshop.
Profile Photo Visibility Settings
After uploading your photo, you can customize who is able to see it on your profile:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile and click “View profile” to view your public profile.
- Hover over your profile photo and click the gear icon to access Visibility.
- Under “Your profile photo”, choose who can see it:
- Your Connections
- Your Connections and Members you follow
- Only You
- Click Save.
By default, your profile photo is visible to any LinkedIn member. But you can restrict it just to your connections or even keep it private for yourself if you prefer.
Mistakes to Avoid with Your LinkedIn Photo
To ensure your photo makes the right impression, avoid these common mistakes:
- Blurred or pixelated image
- Appearing distracted – maintain eye contact
- Cluttered or unprofessional background
- Cropped off forehead or chin
- Baseball cap or hat obscuring your face
- Distracting shadows or bad lighting
- Outdated hairstyles or fashion
- Selfies from odd angles
- Face hidden behind sunglasses
- Casual attire like t-shirts, tank tops, etc.
Strive for a clean, high-quality headshot that presents you in a professional light. This will maximize the impact of your LinkedIn profile photo.
Conclusion
Uploading a professional headshot photo to your LinkedIn profile has many benefits. It allows you to put your best face forward, helps build connections, improves your visibility, and makes your profile stand out in search results.
Carefully choose a high-quality, friendly photo that meets LinkedIn’s recommended specifications. Take a new headshot or have one retaken if you don’t have a suitable photo. With a polished profile picture that reflects your professional brand, you’ll make a great first impression on the world’s largest professional networking platform.