Linkedin headshots: Who needs Them & what to look for

Advice, Prices, Examples & Styles for LinkedIn headshots

In the studio we will collaborate together to create headshots that match your personality and professional image.

In less than a second, you form your first impression, as noted by human behavior expert Vanessa Van Edwards. This is why having the perfect LinkedIn headshot is crucial.

When you come across a stranger's profile, isn't the first thing you do is look at their picture? The same goes for others viewing your profile.

Will we be seen as professional, knowledgeable, intelligent, confident, pleasant, engaged, and proactive? Will people want to connect with you, work with you, hire you or pay for your services?

How to Nail the Perfect LinkedIn Headshot

1. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Engages Potential Connections - In an instant, your first impression is made—often through your LinkedIn headshot. Is it a high-quality, professional image or just a vacation snap?

Your LinkedIn photo speaks volumes about your confidence, competence, and approachability. A great headshot creates a connection, even if the viewer is a future business partner or client.


2. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Shows a Genuine Smile

You can spot a fake smile a mile away. That is not what you want in your LinkedIn profile photo.

The perfect LinkedIn headshot will have a real expression, not something that looks like the photographer asked for a smile. We should look like we are connecting with the current viewer of the headshot, like we’re looking at a friend in conversation.

3. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Shows Your Face - and JUST Your Face.

People see your eyes in our LinkedIn headshots first. Everyone says a picture is worth a thousand words, but how can we say we have a perfect LinkedIn headshot if people cannot see our eyes? 

Somewhere around 60% of the profile picture should be your face, so people can connect with you, even when you have no idea they are on your profile.

Not only should it show our faces, but it should show our faces looking at the camera. We should look engaged.

Think about the kind of pictures where people are looking off to the side, or anywhere but the camera. The kinds that come to mind are fashion and beauty shoots. Those are not meant to connect professionals to other professionals.

When you meet to do business, you shake hands with the person and look them in the face. Why wouldn’t professionals’ headshots be that close and personal? Viewing someone’s profile should match meeting them in person in a professional environment.

4. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Has No Distractions

Your LinkedIn headshots should engage the viewer of your profile.

Avoid:

  • Unruly hair

  • Bad or heavy makeup

  • Oily shiny skin

  • Busy backgrounds

LinkedIn headshots should draw the viewer into your eyes, making them feel connected to this stranger. In fact, it should go a long way toward making them feel connected to you.

If the viewer is thinking, “Wow. What is up with that person’s makeup?” or “What is that strange background? Where was this person?” then your LinkedIn headshot or profile picture is tripping people up.

That’s why a clean background is the of choice for high-end headshots and why it’s important to have a headshot photographer with a great eye for detail.

5. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Projects Competence, Confidence, and Approachability

Your headshot conveys a lot of information about you. People see things in you, especially from your expression. For 99 percent of people, faces change when we step in front of a camera, especially in a studio with a professional photographer.

So there are three options: get by with a selfie or a picture from a wedding or a vacation (this is a bad option), go to a typical headshot photographer and hope for the best (this is better), or go to a headshot photographer who can coach you to look competent, confident and approachable.

6. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Matches a (Good) Professional Brand

Your LinkedIn headshot should match your brand. If you haven’t thought a lot about your branding, you need to. What are you all about? What are your strengths?

Your brand should be reflected in your headshots. That is everything from the general look of the headshot, to your hair (and makeup for women), and clothing, and your expression. 

If you want to be a CEO, you should not be wearing a polo shirt in your headshot, nor should you use a picture of you on a night out with friends or from a wedding or vacation.

7. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Has Accurate Colors

The skin tones and overall color of some images are way off. The colors look nothing like the way we look in real life.

8. The Perfect LinkedIn Headshot Has Amazing Light

Lighting is EVERYTHING. I have yet to meet a pair of eyes that are not beautiful when properly lit. The human eye is amazing. Unfortunately, many of the headshots in use today do not illuminate the eyes.

Nina Pomeroy Agency specializes in a very specific lighting style and has lots of tips and trick to highlight your best features.

If you want people to connect with you from your LinkedIn headshot, getting light into the eyes is a must.

Rest assured, I guarantee your satisfaction - failure is not an option!