Tips for a Great LinkedIn Photo

Tips for a Great LinkedIn Photo

It’s usually best to face the window or other primary source of light. Make sure there is plenty of even light on your face and the primary source of light is not be behind you.
Position the camera at eye level or above when the picture is taken. If the photographer is shorter than you are, have him or her stand on a few thick books to even out your heights. Being shot from below can be unflattering to the chin and jawline.
Make eye contact with the camera as the photographer snaps the picture. Research shows making eye contact makes you seem more engaged, more likeable, and more intelligent. Murphy NA. Appearing smart: the impression management of intelligence, person perception accuracy, and behavior in social interaction. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2007 Mar;33(3):325-39. doi: 10.1177/0146167206294871. PMID: 17312315.
Smile like you mean it — including your eyes as the photographer snaps the picture.
Keep your head upright. Tilting your head sideways (bringing one ear closer to your shoulder while still looking forward), can make you look less competent. But don’t worry about a minor tilt, as the LinkedIn photo app has a feature that allows you to correct a slight tilt when you upload your photo. Note: a head swivel toward a camera on your left or right side is fine, as long as you smile warmly into the camera lens.
Have the photographer include your shoulders in the picture, and upload it without cropping. LinkedIn will automatically crop your square photo into a circle, so you need to start some extra blank space behind you to keep your head and shoulders in the round profile image.

If you're using a phone camera:

Even if you’ve mastered the art of the selfie, have someone else take your photo. The front-facing camera on your phone takes lower resolution images. Don’t use the zoom feature as it will shoot at a lower resolution.
Turn on your phone’s HDR mode, which is a mode of shooting that combines several exposures to create a single picture with more detail and a greater range of tones and colors.
Make sure the photographer keeps the phone as still as possible by holding the phone with both hands and anchoring their elbows into their sides for support.

If you still don't look at least as good in your picture as you do in real life:

Choose a soft, natural background — it’s more flattering than a stark white or solid-colored background.

Have the photographer shoot from slightly above eye level, as that can slim the face.
Try a commonly flattering angle — push your forehead slightly toward the camera.
Spend some time finding your best side by having someone to take multiple photos on both sides. Remember which is your better side and always pose accordingly.
Get help with your hair and makeup (even guys might benefit from something to take off the shine).
Hire an expert to take new pictures and/or retouch the ones you have.
Remember that your LinkedIn photo is often your first impression. It is intended to portray you as attractive and likable as possible — someone the viewer might enjoy meeting or working with. Imagine emailing someone to ask them to meet with you for a coffee chat or exploratory meeting. While they’re considering your request, they look you up on LinkedIn:
If you look approachable,warm and engaged in your picture, most people will think “Sure, I can spare some time to chat. S/he looks nice/friendly/likable/approachable.”
It may be fine to appear as serious, artistic, or unique. There’s a danger that affecting a pose of gravitas may come across as looking critical or depressed. An artistic pose may look arrogant or pretentious to others. Attempting to be unique may not translate as you intend… you get the idea

Tips for a Great LinkedIn Photo

It’s usually best to face the window or other primary source of light. Make sure there is plenty of even light on your face and the primary source of light is not be behind you.
Position the camera at eye level or above when the picture is taken. If the photographer is shorter than you are, have him or her stand on a few thick books to even out your heights. Being shot from below can be unflattering to the chin and jawline.
Make eye contact with the camera as the photographer snaps the picture. Research shows making eye contact makes you seem more engaged, more likeable, and more intelligent. Murphy NA. Appearing smart: the impression management of intelligence, person perception accuracy, and behavior in social interaction. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2007 Mar;33(3):325-39. doi: 10.1177/0146167206294871. PMID: 17312315.
Smile like you mean it — including your eyes as the photographer snaps the picture.
Keep your head upright. Tilting your head sideways (bringing one ear closer to your shoulder while still looking forward), can make you look less competent. But don’t worry about a minor tilt, as the LinkedIn photo app has a feature that allows you to correct a slight tilt when you upload your photo. Note: a head swivel toward a camera on your left or right side is fine, as long as you smile warmly into the camera lens.
Have the photographer include your shoulders in the picture, and upload it without cropping. LinkedIn will automatically crop your square photo into a circle, so you need to start some extra blank space behind you to keep your head and shoulders in the round profile image.

If you're using a phone camera:

Even if you’ve mastered the art of the selfie, have someone else take your photo. The front-facing camera on your phone takes lower resolution images. Don’t use the zoom feature as it will shoot at a lower resolution.
Turn on your phone’s HDR mode, which is a mode of shooting that combines several exposures to create a single picture with more detail and a greater range of tones and colors.
Make sure the photographer keeps the phone as still as possible by holding the phone with both hands and anchoring their elbows into their sides for support.

If you still don't look at least as good in your picture as you do in real life:

Choose a soft, natural background — it’s more flattering than a stark white or solid-colored background.

Have the photographer shoot from slightly above eye level, as that can slim the face.
Try a commonly flattering angle — push your forehead slightly toward the camera.
Spend some time finding your best side by having someone to take multiple photos on both sides. Remember which is your better side and always pose accordingly.
Get help with your hair and makeup (even guys might benefit from something to take off the shine).
Hire an expert to take new pictures and/or retouch the ones you have.
Remember that your LinkedIn photo is often your first impression. It is intended to portray you as attractive and likable as possible — someone the viewer might enjoy meeting or working with. Imagine emailing someone to ask them to meet with you for a coffee chat or exploratory meeting. While they’re considering your request, they look you up on LinkedIn:
If you look approachable, warm and engaged in your picture, most people will think “Sure, I can spare some time to chat. S/he looks nice/friendly/likable/approachable.”
It may be fine to appear as serious, artistic, or unique. There’s a danger that affecting a pose of gravitas may come across as looking critical or depressed. An artistic pose may look arrogant or pretentious to others. Attempting to be unique may not translate as you intend… you get the idea