Your LinkedIn profile picture is one of the first things people will notice when viewing your profile, so it’s important to make a good first impression. With over 740 million members on LinkedIn, you want your photo to stand out while still being professional. Follow these tips on what your LinkedIn profile photo should look like to maximize your profile’s impact.
Use a Professional Headshot
Your LinkedIn profile picture should be a professional headshot, not a casual photo. This means nice clothing (work attire or business casual), good lighting, a pleasant facial expression, and looking at the camera. You want the focus to be on your face, so avoid busy backgrounds or cropped body shots. A crisp, well-lit headshot makes you look put together and gives off an air of confidence.
Dress Professionally
Wear professional work attire in a solid color or subtle pattern. For men, this means a suit and tie or collared shirt. For women, a blouse, dress, or blazer is appropriate. Avoid clothing with logos or graphics other than a small brand logo. Jewelry and accessories should be minimal and professional, avoiding anything loud or distracting. The focus should be on you, not what you’re wearing.
Check the Lighting
Good lighting is crucial for a LinkedIn headshot. Natural lighting often works best during the daytime near a window. If using indoor lighting, opt for diffused soft lighting rather than harsh direct lighting. Avoid shadows on your face or excessive backlighting where you appear silhouetted. And don’t use a flash which can create red eye and unflattering shadows. Proper lighting shows your face clearly and evenly.
Smile and Make Eye Contact
Smiling makes you appear more approachable and friendly. But keep the smile modest, no broad grins. Maintain a pleasant, neutral facial expression. Also make eye contact directly with the camera to appear engaged and accessible. This creates a connection with the viewer.
Frame Your Face
Get relatively close to the camera so your head and shoulders fill the frame. Crop out anything distracting in the background. Center your face in the picture and leave more space above your head than below your chin. Your eyes should be about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way down from the top of the photo. This framing keeps the emphasis on your face.
Style Your Photo Professionally
In addition to your appearance, styling the photo professionally is important. Here are some tips on filters, editing, size, orientation, and more.
Avoid Filters and Edits
LinkedIn profile photos should appear natural. Avoid using filters that distort color or editing the photo too heavily. Some light retouching to improve lighting and remove blemishes is fine, but don’t overdo it. You want to look like your true professional self.
Use a Landscape Orientation
Your LinkedIn profile picture should have a landscape orientation, which is wider than it is tall. Landscape photos better fit the website’s layout and use space efficiently. Portrait oriented shots can appear awkwardly narrow.
Minimum Size 400×400 Pixels
LinkedIn requires profile pictures to be a minimum size of 400×400 pixels. This ensures your photo looks high quality on high resolution monitors. Using an image smaller than the minimum 400×400 size will result in pixelation.
Ideal Size 800×800 Pixels
While LinkedIn requires a minimum 400×400 pixels, an ideal photo size is 800×800 pixels. This larger size allows your photo to display crisply on high resolution screens and avoids compression artifacts from downsizing. Use the maximum allowed image size of 8MB for best quality.
White Background Works Best
A clean white background draws attention to you and looks professional. Busy or distracting backgrounds compete with you visually. A soft blurred background can also work well. But for most professional looks, a white background is best.
Use a Consistent Photo Across Social Media
Using the same professional headshot across your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media profiles helps build your personal brand. People recognize you visually creating more trust and name recognition. Just ensure the photo conforms to each platform’s size and aspect ratio requirements.
Update Your Photo Regularly
Plan to update your LinkedIn profile picture every few years or when you significantly change your appearance. Hairstyle and hair color changes in particular can make your photo look outdated quickly. Keeping your photo current helps you put your best foot forward.
Do’s and Don’ts
Here’s a quick summary of do’s and don’ts for your LinkedIn profile photo:
Do
- Smile and make eye contact
- Wear professional attire
- Use a crisp, well-lit headshot
- Ensure good framing and composition
- Use a consistent photo across platforms
Don’t
- Use casual photos
- Wear revealing or sloppy clothing
- Use excessive filters or editing
- Have distracting backgrounds
- Use an outdated photo
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Tools to Create a Good LinkedIn Photo
Looking your professional best in your LinkedIn profile photo is crucial. Here are some tools to help:
Professional Photographer
Hiring a professional headshot photographer, especially one experienced with business portraits, virtually guarantees an excellent quality photo. Well worth the investment.
Photo Editing Software
Desktop or mobile apps like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or Snapseed allow proper editing to perfect lighting, crop, and refine photos.
Smartphone Camera
Modern smartphone cameras can take high resolution photos perfect for LinkedIn. Use accessories like tripods and ring lights for best results.
Webcam
Computer webcams offer an affordable option for DIY headshots. Using software like Photo Booth gives more control over exposure, lighting, and framing.
Smartphone Photo App
Apps like Beesy allow quick professional-looking headshots using just your smartphone. Great for taking quality self-portraits.
Conclusion
Making a strong first impression with your LinkedIn profile picture takes planning and effort. A professional headshot shows you’re detail-oriented and serious about presenting your best image. Follow these tips on clothing choices, lighting, composition, editing, and more. Small refinements make a big difference in how viewers perceive you and your personal brand. So put care into perfecting your profile photo for maximum impact.