Choosing the right professional background picture for your LinkedIn profile is an important part of making a good first impression and presenting yourself effectively on the platform. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site and a key place for connecting with employers, colleagues, and business opportunities. Your profile picture acts as your digital first impression and contributes greatly to shaping how others perceive you professionally. Taking the time to select an appropriate, high-quality headshot that aligns with your personal brand can help you stand out and look polished and put-together on the site.
When considering what makes a good LinkedIn profile photo, you’ll want to think about aspects like image quality, framing, expression, appearance, and branding. The ideal photo will check off all the right boxes in terms of looking professional, approachable, confident, and reflective of your professional identity. With so many users and profiles on LinkedIn, you want your photo to help you make a positive impression that encourages connections to learn more about your background and skills.
What are the key elements to consider for a professional LinkedIn photo?
Here are some of the main elements to evaluate when selecting a professional profile picture for LinkedIn:
Image Quality
The quality and clarity of the image itself is a top priority. Given that profile pictures appear very small on the platform, you want to make sure your photo is high-resolution and free from blurriness or pixelation. Having an outdated, fuzzy photo can undermine your professionalism and make your profile seem out of date. Investing in a professionally taken headshot is ideal, but high-quality photos taken on an SLR camera or smartphone camera can also work. Just be sure the resolution is at least 400×400 pixels.
Framing and Cropping
LinkedIn profile pictures are square, so the framing and cropping of your photo file is very important. Your head and shoulders should fill up most of the frame, with your face being the main focus. Be sure your head is centered and level in the photo. Cropping should cut off just above the head and mid-chest to keep the emphasis on your face. Don’t crop too tightly or have too much headroom above your head.
Facial Expression
You want a pleasant, natural facial expression for your LinkedIn profile picture. A slight smile is recommended to convey approachability and confidence. Avoid expressions like a broad grin that seem unnatural. Keep your eyes open and looking directly at the camera. Your mouth should be closed or have a hint of a smile. Eye contact helps make a connection with viewers.
Appearance
Dress professionally for your headshot in standard business attire like a suit, blouse, or collared shirt. You want to look polished and put-together. Make sure your hair is styled neatly as well. While personal style can certainly come through, avoid bold patterns or distracting accessories that take the focus away from your face. Keep makeup and jewelry minimal and classic.
Background
A neutral background without distractions works best for LinkedIn photos. Plain white, beige, grey, or black backgrounds help the focus stay on you. Make sure there is good separation between you and the background using lighting and depth of field. Avoid busy backgrounds or those with bright colors that compete with you visually.
Branding
Consider if there are any extra touches that can reinforce your personal brand or industry. For example, an educator may have books on a shelf behind them, while a business professional may opt for a more traditional office setting background. Just keep the background minimal and subtle. Props can feel gimmicky if overdone.
Lighting
Proper lighting is also key for a professional LinkedIn photo. Soft, even lighting from the front minimizes shadows and bright spots. Overhead lighting is often most flattering. Natural lighting near a window can also work well depending on the setting. Avoid mixed color temperatures that lend a yellow or blue cast. The focus should be on you, not the lighting.
What common LinkedIn photo mistakes should you avoid?
In addition to the best practices for taking a professional profile photo, there are some common mistakes people make that you’ll want to avoid:
Blurry or pixelated photos
Low-quality, blurry, or pixelated photos are unprofessional and suggest you don’t have attention to detail. Invest in a high-resolution, professionally taken photo when possible.
Distracting backgrounds
Busy backgrounds divert attention away from you. Keep it simple with a solid, neutral backdrop.
Informal attire
Dress professionally as you would for an interview. Avoid casual clothes or sloppy styles.
Outdated photos
Using old photos with different hairstyles or fashion conveys outdatedness. Keep your photo current.
Selfies
Selfies or amateur photo booth pictures tend to look informal. Use a professionally photographed headshot.
Extreme close-ups
Zooming in too closely can distort facial features. Keep some space around your head and shoulders.
Group shots
Group photos cause confusion on who the profile belongs to. Your solo headshot should take the spotlight.
Odd facial expressions
Overly broad smiles or unusual expressions seem unnatural. A pleasant subtle smile is best.
Distracting accessories
Bold jewelry, props, or wacky glasses divert attention. Accessories should be minimal and classic.
Too casual
Pictures featuring sports wear, party clothes, etc. undermine your professionalism. Dress formally.
What style of LinkedIn photo aligns with different professions?
The most appropriate LinkedIn profile photo can vary slightly based on your profession and industry. Here are some examples of stylistic differences:
Corporate Jobs
For corporate roles like finance, marketing, sales, HR, etc. stick to very traditional headshot framing and attire. Men should wear a suit and tie, while woman can opt for a blazer or solid top. Clean, conservative backgrounds like an office work best.
Creative Fields
Creative types in industries like design, writing, or tech can show slightly more personality. Fun or edgy backgrounds can align well with your brand. Just don’t go overboard or seem unprofessional.
Academic Roles
For professors, researchers, or other academic positions, bookcases, libraries, or desk settings can reinforce your field. Scholarly frames or prop eyeglasses can also align with your image.
Healthcare Jobs
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals should wear a formal uniform or scrubs/lab coat for their photo backdrop. This conveys your experience and specialization.
Industry | Backdrop Ideas | Attire Tips |
---|---|---|
Corporate | Office, neutral wall | Suit, blazer |
Creative | Studio, urban setting | Stylish business casual |
Academic | Library, bookshelves | Scholarly apparel |
Healthcare | Clinic, lab coat | Scrubs, uniform |
What makes an ineffective LinkedIn profile picture?
There are a variety of ways a LinkedIn photo can seem unprofessional or work against your personal brand:
Appearing disheveled – Poor grooming like messy hair, wrinkled clothes, stray threads, etc. conveys carelessness. Tidy up your look.
Seeming distracted – Checking a phone, looking sideways, turning your back all reads as disinterested. Engage with the camera.
Conveying immaturity – Making silly faces, using props or filters comes across as juvenile. Project maturity.
Occluding your face – Glasses glare, hats, hands in front obstruct views of your face. Keep your eyes visible.
Overdoing it on accessories – Bold jewelry, loud makeup, and flamboyant clothes divert focus. Accessorize minimally.
Communicating informality – Casual clothes, party wear, exercise gear undermine professionalism. Dress business formal.
Showing outdatedness – Fashion, hairstyles, and quality that seem outdated make a stale impression. Select a current photo.
Appearing insincere – Forced smiles, unnatural expressions, and poses feel inauthentic. Relax and be yourself.
Conveying unintended meanings – Images with drinking, smoking, or political symbols may rub people the wrong way. Neutral is best.
Blurring personal/professional – Shots with family, weddings, etc. mix personal life into business. Stick to solo headshots.
Tips for taking your own LinkedIn profile photo
If getting a professional headshot taken isn’t feasible, you can still take a quality profile photo yourself with some DIY tips. Here are some pointers for getting great shots using your smartphone or camera:
Use a tripod – Eliminate blur from hand shake by mounting your camera or phone on a tripod.
Style your hair/makeup – Prep your hair and makeup so you look polished. Apply some shine reducers to avoid glare.
Dress professionally – Pick neutral, conservative business attire in solid colors that photographs well.
Choose a plain backdrop – Hang a sheet or stand in front of a blank wall for a neutral background.
Use natural lighting – Position yourself facing a window for attractive diffuse lighting. Avoid shadows.
Pick a flattering angle – Position the camera slightly above eye level and angle down toward you.
Focus on the eyes – Zoom in enough to make your eyes clearly visible and directly facing the camera.
Take multiple shots – Shoot a series and review them to select the most flattering, well-framed options.
Edit for color/tone – Use editing tools to adjust brightness, contrast, and color temperature to look your best.
Save a high-res file – Export and save the final image at a large file size for maximum image quality.
Conclusion
Your LinkedIn profile picture is a key component of your professional online presence. Investing some time and strategy into selecting the right headshot that aligns with your brand and industry can help you make a great impression on the platform. Keep the image professional with nice resolution, flattering lighting, appropriate wardrobe and framing. Consider the styles that best resonate with your field and aim to convey confidence and approachability. With tips on what to avoid and pointers for DIY photographs, you can display a polished, put-together profile photo that effectively complements your background.