LinkedIn Headshots: The Ultimate Guide

A professional LinkedIn headshot is typically the first thing people notice when they visit your profile, or even see your comment on another post. Choosing the right headshot has a big impact on how potential clients, employers, colleagues and connections perceive you. You need an image that paints the picture of how you want to be seen by your professional peers, not just your loved ones. Here are some matters to consider when creating a compelling LinkedIn profile picture that will enhance your personal brand and increase your visibility on the platform.

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The Science Behind Why Your LinkedIn Headshot Matters

Your profile picture is often the first thing people notice when they visit your LinkedIn page. Our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text. I just love this fact, and it’s one of the reasons I’m a photographer, not a writer! Did you know that a high-quality, professional headshot can:

Increase profile views by up to 14 times
Boost connection requests by 36%
Improve your chances of being found in LinkedIn searches

Knowing all this, it’s why your LinkedIn headshot has such a profound impact. It’s not just about looking good – it’s about conveying confidence and approachability in a split second. Not to mention, it will keep someone on your profile longer, which helps the algorithm.

Smiling Asian man smiling with teeth for a LinkedIn headshots while wearing a blue shirt and blue plaid jacket

Essential Elements of Great LinkedIn Headshots

Authentic Expression

Aim for a warm, approachable expression that conveys confidence and approachability. Confidence comes from the eyes while approachability comes from the mouth. Your eyes should get slightly smaller when you smiled, and science agrees. It doesn’t matter if you’re showing teeth or not, as long as your expression is true to who you are. If you’re not comfortable in front of the camera, that’s okay – a professional photographer should act like your mirror and coach you to an authentic expression.

Professional Appearance

Your LinkedIn headshot should reflect your professional persona. Dress appropriately for your industry – some prefer ties and jackets while others are a bit more on the business casual side. If you’re not sure what to wear, it’s a good idea to plan a few different outfits and work with your photographer to determine what works best for you. A general rule of thumb though, is to avoid anything that is overly flashy and might distract from your face.

Flattering Lighting

Lighting can change the mood of your LinkedIn headshot. Soft, natural light flatters most people and is a great option if you’re taking your profile picture yourself. However, harsher light that creates shadows and sculpts the face can accentuate certain facial features while diminishing others. This type of lighting can further enhance your authentic expression.

Proper Framing

Frame your headshot so that your face takes up at least 60% of the image. This typically means including your head and the top of your shoulders in the frame. Anything that goes below the shoulders should be considered a portrait. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with using a full- or half-body portrait as your LinkedIn profile picture, you only have so much space in your image – and your expression is the most important part.

High-Quality Image

The ideal size for your LinkedIn headshot is 400×400 pixels. You can, and should, upload a larger file size, but avoid small, low resolution images. If the higher resolution image is a bit blurry, you should upload a different variation or different photo altogether. A good LinkedIn headshot photographer should provide you with a version of your file specifically for social media applications.

Tips for Taking the Perfect LinkedIn Headshot

Invest in a Professional Headshot Photographer

Smartphones these days take amazing photos and digital cameras are cheap, so it’s possible to take a decent headshot yourself. But if you’re awkward in front of the camera, don’t know your best angle, or which light is best for your facial shape, then you should invest in yourself and hire a professional headshot photographer.

Choose the Right Headshot Background

The best headshot backgrounds are simple and uncluttered. The background should not compete with your face or expression for attention. A gray or white background often looks best as your LinkedIn headshot, but any solid color background that matches your personality or your company’s brand will work well too. Avoid busy patterns or distracting elements that could detract from your expression such as trees, brick walls or bridges.

Headshot Lighting is Key

Good lighting can make or break your headshot. But did you know that there is lighting specific for headshots? There’s a science to lighting the right parts of the face, smoothing out wrinkles with light while also sculpting the face. But in a pinch, natural light on an overcast day outside or coming in from a window will work too.

Update Regularly

Your appearance will change over time, so it’s important to keep your LinkedIn headshot current and representative of you. Aim to change your LinkedIn profile picture every six months with another image from your session, but take updated headshots every 1-2 years. However, if you undergo a significant change in your appearance or are changing jobs, then a new headshot on LinkedIn should be used.

Cheerful Rakesh Unnithan, financial professional, with a welcoming smile, showcasing success and reliability in corporate attire.

Self-assured female leader in sharp suit jacket stands with crossed arms, her infectious grin reflecting career satisfaction and expertise

Common LinkedIn Headshot Mistakes to Avoid

Using Outdated Photos

If you don’t look like your headshot in real life, it makes for awkward situations when meeting new people. It could even damage your credibility with some customers or vendors.

Cropping Group Photos

Avoid using cropped group photos as your professional headshot. These images often have distracting elements, are low resolution and appear unprofessional.

Overly Casual Images

Save your vacation snapshots and party pictures for other social media platforms. Your LinkedIn headshot should always maintain a professional, but inviting tone.

Poor Quality Images

Blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit photos can make you appear unprofessional and careless about your online presence.

The Impact of a Great LinkedIn Headshot: Real Stories

I once worked with Chris who was trying to get into the C-suite. He had hired a resume writer and professional LinkedIn profile consultant. He still wasn’t getting any hits on his applications. So after speaking with other executives in his industry, they suggested his professional headshot on LinkedIn didn’t make him look like C-level material. We updated his LinkedIn headshot, showcasing his confidence and approachability. Within two months, he had received an offer for a C-level position at a new company.

Approachable C-level executive sporting short beard, radiating confidence in pristine white shirt and polished black jacket

Then there’s Jen, a seasoned corporate executive who wanted to transition into consulting. Her old LinkedIn headshot was outdated and didn’t reflect her expertise. Five months after she came in for a collection of new images, she was able to quit her corporate career and focus on her consulting work.

Pittsburgh’s Top LinkedIn Headshot Photographer

Chad Isaiah is known as the Pittsburgh headshot photographer for a reason. He will cover all aspects of your LinkedIn headshot from individuals to teams to headshot booths at your company’s annual meeting. Use the buttons below to get all pricing information.

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Frequently Asked Questions about LinkedIn Headshots

Don’t see your question here? Call at (412) 733-8607

Generally, business casual or business formal clothing works well. More important than any specific color is that the clothing fits well and you feel confident wearing it.

LinkedIn recommends a minimum size of 400×400 pixels for profile pictures. However, for best quality, consider using a larger image size. The maximum file size allowed is 8MB.

It’s recommended to update your LinkedIn headshot every 1-2 years, or whenever you have a significant change in your appearance or career. Lots of my clients switch out their LinkedIn profile picture every 6 months to keep things fresh.

The best headshot backgrounds are solid colors that don’t distract from your expression. Natural or office settings are acceptable if you’re trying to match the rest of your company’s headshots.

Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Your headshot is the first impression many people will see of you, so having a professional quality headshot shows the world that you value yourself, your career and your clients.

Yes, but you risk having your headshot become a logo. It is recommended to have slightly different headshots from the same session on different social media platforms. You might have an approachable headshot on LinkedIn, a grinning expression on Facebook and a serious headshot on X (formerly Twitter).

Only if you regularly smile in public. If your natural demeanor is a serious and intimidating, then it would be inauthentic to have a smile. A professional headshot photographer can help you decide what expression is best for your personal brand.