How to improve your LinkedIn profile picture

Improving your LinkedIn profile photo is crucial because it is the first place potential employers, clients, and professional connections look you up. Here are some tips to help you create a more impactful and professional profile photo:

1. Choose a high-quality photo. Avoid using blurry or pixelated images for your headshot. The photo should be in focus and well-lit.

2. Use a Professional Background. Choose a simple and clean background that doesn't distract from your face. Busy or cluttered backgrounds are not suitable for your LinkedIn profile photo or your business headshot.

3. Choose the right outfit. Your attire says a lot about you and your personality. If you apply for a corporate job, business attire or business casual is appropriate but if you own your business you can be more creative and flexible with your outfit.

4. Last but not least, avoid selfies. It is best to have your LinkedIn profile photo to be taken professionally. This will result in a professional-looking image that portrays you and your brand.

Why having a professional LinkedIn photo is necessary?

A great headshot is a great first step for building an awesome personal brand that helps you get hired faster, improve your visibility and sales numbers, or attract investors to your company.

Statistics show that LinkedIn members with a photo receive far more engagement: 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. 

LinkedIn headshots should focus on making you look professional, friendly, and competent. 

When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn headshot? Let’s meet to see how I can elevate your LinkedIn profile to a whole new level with a brand new professional headshot.

Should I smile or be serious in my headshots?

When time comes to have a new professional headshot most people don’t know where to start. That’s why I have a series of blog posts on this topic from “How to find the perfect headshot photographer”, “What to wear for business headshot?”, “Should I wear my glasses for my headshots?”, “Do I need makeup for my headshot session?”

The next important question to ask before having your headshot is: “Should I smile or be serious in my headshot?”

When we look at a photograph the first thing we see is subject’s expression. Most of the people have no idea should they smile or look serious in their headshot.

Here are some of the advantage and disadvantage of smiling in your headshot:
Advantages:
1. If your smile is genuine you look friendlier and more approachable.
2. They make the viewer more comfortable with you.
3. They make you seem easy to work with.
4. They can help you look younger.
Disadvantages:
1. Your eyes can become squinty. Fix this by looking at the top part of the photographer's camera, or do a more subtle laugh/smile instead of a big one.
2. Wrinkles can show on your face, or your face can look wider.

These are some advantages and disadvantages of serious expressions:
Advantages:
1. They can help you appear older if you look young and like to look older and more experienced.
2. If you do a very subtle, closed-mouth smile, it can show confidence with approachability, which is an awesome look.
Disadvantages:
1. If you're not careful, you can look blank, or mean/angry. A simple fix to this would be to keep your lips closed and do a subtle laugh to create a tiny little approachable smile that still looks like a serious shot.
2. You can look older than you are.

Should I wear my glasses for my headshot?

Wearing glasses is not unusual for your business or corporate headshots but eyeglasses can sometimes be a challenge with photography. There are, however, some things you can do before your headshot to make sure your final portrait is the absolute best. If you normally wear eyeglasses, you’ll want to wear them for your portrait. Below are some things you can do to have the best headshot session with eyeglasses.

1. Buy glasses with an anti-reflective (AR) coating, which means almost no light reflects off of the lens surface and the lens becomes nearly invisible.

2. Contact your optometrist before your photoshoot and ask to borrow a pair of your frames for the day

3. Ask your optometrist pop out the lenses for the day.

These are few great ways to get your authentic look without worrying about the glare of the lens.

What to wear for business headshot: Part Two-men’s attire?

Traditional Business Headshot

For the Traditional Corporate Headshot pick your favorite suit that fits you well. Pick a dark color like a navy blue, charcoal gray or black. These colors are classic and will help lead the viewer eyes up to your face. If you are wearing tie, keep in mind that tie should compliment the suit in your portrait and not stand out on it’s own and be distraction.

If you are choosing not to wear a necktie you can still look very executive without a tie.

Business Casual Headshots

If you aren’t wearing a jacket, wear a collared, button-up shirt. It draws less attention to the neck and helps frame your face.

Think about background color. If you are shooting on white, a darker shirt is better. If you are shooting on black or a very dark background opt for something lighter, but not necessarily white.

Stripes or patterns are not the best choice when you aren’t wearing a jacket. They tend to be distracting and work better under a jacket.

Some more helpful tips:

1. Do not wear a white t-shirt under an open-collared shirt. This results in a very distracting white triangle that draws the eye first when the viewer looks at your photo.

2. In wider portraits, match the pants to the jacket, or wear a suit. Have a nice belt.

3. If you need a haircut, visit the stylist at least three or four days before your headshot so your hair has a chance to settle in and look natural.

4. Make sure if you have a late afternoon photo session that you shave. Particularly if you have dark whiskers.

Now that you know what to bring for your professional headshot session, go ahead and book your session and update that headshot.

What to wear for business headshot? Part one-women’s attire

A good business headshot helps you communicate in a nanosecond who you are and what you do. Your headshot is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your authentic brand, so make the most of it. Remember the focus for the business or professional headshot is your face. Everything including the background, lighting and clothing should be kept simple to frame your  face.

1.  Color

Plain colors are your best choice.  Patterns or prints distract and date your photo.  Choose mid- tone colors in blue, green, wine and purple because they are universally flattering.  Color and patterns
It’s tempting to stick with black and white, but don’t do it. If you know your colors, bring items from that palette, or try hues that bring out your eye color and enhance your skin tone. Rich colors and jewel tones (emerald or sapphire blue, Purple, green and red) are great choices for almost all women.

2. Style
What not to wear:

• short sleeves or sleeveless styles

• busy patterns or plaids

• turtlenecks and shiny fabrics

• and seasonal styles and fabrics.

3.  Neckline
A modest v-neck is universally flattering because it lengthens the neck. If you choose to wear a jacket, pair it with a collarless top.  This is modern and keeps the neckline simple and sleek. Crisply ironed shirts by themselves frame the face really well.

4.  Jewelry
Keep it really simple, choose simple earrings and necklaces.  They keep the focus on the face. Big statement jewelry will date your photos.

5. Coordinate to the background

Most common background for headshots are white and dark gray. I personally like white background because it look very sleek and modern. Consider medium to dark colors and tones for more contrast on white background. If the background is very dark, you can wear light or vivid colors. I really like red on a black background.

Some final tips:

• Don’t wear your portrait wardrobe in the car; seat belts = wrinkles. Instead, bring your clean, neatly pressed pieces to the session on hangers.

• For business headshots, bring at least two to three outfits; for talent headshots or for a full portfolio shoot, six to eight outfits is probably more reasonable.

Business Headshot or Personal Branding?

When a client contact me regarding a business headshot I feel I would like to educate them a little more about different options they have. We definitely can go beyond the traditional headshot and have a more modern approach, something  I call “Personal Branding”.

Most small business owners represent their own brand so we want this image be professional and at the same time represent our brand as clear as possible. Being professional does not mean being stiff or executive-style studio shot it means pictures that capture your essence so people feel like they are meeting the person they expected.

Also, in the online world, we often don’t have a chance to meet everyone in person, so the image we hold in our head is whatever that person is willing to provide. And too often what is provided is not flattering.

Tim came to my photography studio and had a clear idea of how he wants to be photographed. He wanted some formal shot as well as some casual pictures to show different sides of his personality. He wanted to convey being professional but approachable and friendly.