LinkedIn is an amazing platform to network with colleagues, prospective clients, and employers. While your experience and expertise is the most important thing, you want to put your best face forward and come across as competent and professional. Here's how to take a great LinkedIn headshot, including 7 key do's and don'ts.
Table of contents:
- Why is it important to have a good LinkedIn photo?
- The best equipment for a professional LinkedIn photo
- 7 tips for taking professional headshots
Why Is It Important to Have a Good LinkedIn Photo?
Think of your LinkedIn profile as your digital first impression. A professional and respectable headshot signals how you present yourself at work — and people will keep scrolling through your profile. Having no image can be a turnoff, since LinkedIn is a form of social media and viewers want to put a face to the name. But posting a poorly taken, blurry, or unsuitable photo is even worse.
The Best Equipment for a Professional LinkedIn Photo
Don't worry — we're not going to tell you to buy a complete camera kit! But a few pieces of equipment will make your shoot a success and leave you with a profile picture you'll want to show off.
A camera and lens. A mirrorless camera will always take a better photo than your smartphone, thanks to its large image sensor and compatibility with high-end accessories. If you choose a camera with an interchangeable lens, consider a portrait lens — a prime lens with a 50mm–85mm focal length is ideal. It will sharpen your foreground and blur your background, which is the hallmark of professional headshots.
A tripod or phone stand. Avoid taking a traditional selfie where you're holding the camera yourself. A tripod frees up your hands so you can properly compose your image and pose professionally. A tabletop tripod or an affordable phone stand will do the trick.
A remote. You can set a self-timer and get into position while it counts down, but a Bluetooth remote makes the process easier. Hold it discreetly in your hand and fire the shutter when you're ready.
A light source. Natural lighting can be beautiful but tricky to master. For more flexibility, look into artificial lighting. Flash guns are popular — use the bounce flash technique to imitate soft, warm natural light. A portable LED light is also a cheap, beginner-friendly option.
7 Tips for Taking Professional Headshots
Now that you know about the gear, let's turn our attention to portrait photography techniques. These tricks of the trade will help you capture the best photo for LinkedIn on your own.
#1 Use a Plain Background
Clear out the clutter! To present the best possible image of yourself, pose in front of a white or neutral-coloured wall and remove any objects, pets, or people from the background. If you don't have any plain backgrounds at home, hang a backdrop or a sheet of fabric to fake it.
#2 Shoot in a Well-Lit Environment
If you're using natural light, avoid shooting in dark or gloomy conditions — that darkness will come across in your photos and they'll likely be grainy too. Wait for a bright or sunny day, or use artificial lighting to give yourself the flexibility to shoot at any time.
#3 Fill the Frame with Your Face
You're taking a LinkedIn headshot, so there's no need to capture yourself from top to toe. Your face should take up around 60% of the frame, with your shoulders filling the rest. This lets viewers know what you look like without an extreme close-up.
For a corporate headshot, angle your shoulders towards the camera and make sure the camera is at eye level for the most flattering result. And don't forget to smile!
#4 Dress the Part
Wear something you'd wear to the office on a workday — a tailored suit for a corporate role, or a simple shirt or blouse for a more casual industry. Make sure your hair is clean and neat, and keep makeup minimal.
#5 Steer Clear of Filters
As much as we love adding a vintage feel to Instagram photos, avoid slapping a filter over your headshot. It isn't professional.
#6 Stick to Simple Edits
Your photo should help colleagues, clients, and potential employers recognise you in person. Avoid dramatic Photoshopping, but basic edits — adjusting contrast and saturation — are fine to make your photo look more polished.
#7 Upload in a Decent Resolution
LinkedIn's standard profile size is 400x400 pixels, and your file can't be larger than 8MB. If it's too small, your image will look fuzzy and blurry — so make sure you upload in the right size.
Make a Professional Impression on LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile is the online version of your resume, and the goal is to get people to connect with you. Knowing how to take a great LinkedIn photo will go a long way to grabbing recruiters' interest and showing that you're careful about how you present yourself.
In need of some camera gear? Head to your local Ted's Cameras store or browse the best cameras for portraits online. We have a 14-day exchange policy on all orders, and exclusive offers for ClubTed members.
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