Tips LinkedIN photo

Before taking a professional LinkedIn photo, you first need to know what is it you want to convey to the outside world. If you work in a law company, you will probably want to convey a different message than someone working in the health sector. Discuss this with your photographer beforehand, so that together you will reach the best results.

Despite your face being the central piece of a profile picture, your entire body posture plays a crucial role in the final product. Small things like a straight back and shoulders, or projecting your chest a little forward, will make you emanate self-confidence. It is scientifically proven that assuming a power posture will increase your levels of testosterone and decrease the cortisol (aka the stress hormone). These are actually amazing news for anybody who becomes a little anxious before a photoshoot! A professional portrait photographer can obviously coach you during the session so that you will always assume the correct posture. Our photographer, Wijnand Geuze, explains all you need to know during his TedX Talk in order to reach the perfect radiance.

 

A profile picture is mostly used for social media platforms, such as LinkedIn. Next to that, nowadays is becoming more common to also use it on a CV. No matter what, this is always a small picture! Therefore, it is very important and unavoidable to zoom in on your face as much as possible. This can sometimes be confronting, but rest assured a good photographer will always be able to take a good picture of anybody. Even from close by!

Taking a selfie can be fun, but if you want to come across as a reliable professional on your LinkedIn profile, you're really better off if you hire a professional photographer. Not all photographers specialize in LinkedIn pictures, therefore take a look at the photographer’s portfolio and decide if those photos match your goal.

Make sure that you have an affinity with the photographer you choose. If you feel the need to be reassured beforehand, give them a call and check if you understand each other. Make the appointment, but only if you have a good feeling! For a professional LinkedIn photo, you need to be at ease for a good result.

In a profile picture, it is essential that you come across as friendly and approachable. You communicate that with your smile. This does not mean you need to grin from ear to ear. A simple, small smile is often more than enough to allow the friendliness we are looking for to shine through your eyes. However, it is not always easy to smile on demand, so it's important to find a photographer that makes you feel at ease and naturally makes you laugh, so your smile does not look forced.

A LinkedIn photo is about the person, not about the outfit. Make sure your clothes are not distracting, the focus should be on your face. This means no busy prints nor screaming colors. Use discrete accessories and, for the ladies, be modest with your cleavage.

Not all outfits work well on a picture, here is a list of the don’ts:

• Better to stay away from white, it takes the attention away from your face and makes some people look too pale.
• Black clothes can also make you look pale, and they show every particle of dust.
• No busy prints nor stripes
• No turtle necks, they make your neck look very short.
• No big earrings nor necklaces, these can be very distracting.
• Avoid low cleavage or a big neckline. Depending on the angle of the picture, these can make you look too naked. It is certainly very beautiful and attractive in real life, but it makes your picture weaker.
• Shoulder pads are another no-go. On a profile picture, they make you look very unnatural.

 

However, remember…
There are exceptions for everyone and every situation. Once more, you first need to know your objective.
You cannot decide? Ask professional advice and always bring more outfits with you for a photoshoot.

If you wear glasses daily, wear them for your photoshoot. They are part of your image and will make you recognizable. However, keep in mind that some lenses are shiny and reflective so if possible, it would be advisable to take spare glasses with anti-reflection lenses. If you do not have a spare, or if you want to be wearing a specific pair of glasses in the picture? The photographer will find a solution during the session, or they will digitally edit the reflection afterwards.

Make sure you style your hair as you usually do in your daily life. This makes you easy to recognize and contributes you to feel at ease during the shoot. You’d like to wear your hair loose? Ensure that it does not completely cover your ears. This will give you a more open appearance.

If you typically use a ponytail or a bun, then it is advisable to feature it on the picture (instead of hiding it on the back of your head). Many people feel inclined to go to the hairdresser shortly before doing a photoshoot. If you have very short hair, it is advisable you do that at least one week before the session because your hair will look different in the picture.

You don’t feel very confident applying make-up? Then it is very sensible to hire a professional make-up artist. It is important that you explain that you need the make-up for a profile picture because depending on the objective, there are many types of make-up too.

A good professional will discuss with you before the shoot how you usually do it in your daily life and will stay faithful to your image and style. She will match it to your outfit, hair, and eye color as well as your skin tone. If you prefer to do it yourself, we advise you to be discrete and opt for a modest and light style. The camera will accentuate everything, therefore mascara or eyeliner might appear thicker in the photo than they actually are. Avoid glittery make-up. Glitter can reflect the lights and does not look good in a picture.

If you have a bad night, or woke up with a pimple on your nose, don’t worry. It can be sorted afterwards through digital editing.

“I never look good in pictures”

There are various pieces of research that show that it is very difficult to objectively assess a picture of ourselves. For this reason, we are very often inclined to choose a weaker picture (out of modesty) or to be dissatisfied by default. Your friends will also never be objective because they want to be kind to you and make you feel good. A good portrait photographer can help search for the right picture. Depending on what your objective is, he will look for the right radiance, without ever being distracted by something so subjective as the body appearance.

Are you curious how unknown people actually evaluate your present picture? Or you’d like to know if, by contrast, your new picture is an improvement? Upload your pictures on photofeeler.com and get them tested scientifically. You will see your new professional LinkedIn photo will score quite well.

On this website (and app) a number of complete strangers will assess, for free, your professionalism, friendliness, self-confidence, and reliability solely based on your pictures.