With how much business is conducted online, having photos that match your professional identity have not mattered more. For freelancers or small businesses, I think having a great LinkedIn Photo can be a great investment. Below are a few tips on what makes a great LinkedIn Profile Photo.
Background
Office environments tend to make great backgrounds. Also, shooting a photo outdoors can work as well. I had my LinkedIn photo taken in a picturesque waterfront of a nearby town. In addition to these, another a great tip is to bokeh (blur out) the background to make it less of a distraction.
Clothes
As a LinkedIn photo has a professional atmosphere, the mood you're going for is business-related.Here are a few ideas on wardrobe choices.
- Business Casual (Or Clothes That are a Notch Higher than your Normal Office Wear)
- Solid Colors
A majority of LinkedIn photos are headshots there you normally just have to focus on top clothing.[tg_lightbox type="image" align="left" src="https://www.moderrn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/C61A2365_thumbnail.jpg" href="https://www.moderrn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/C61A2365.jpg" vimeo_id="" youtube_id=""]
Expression
Photofeeler did a study on what types of traits work well for a LinkedIn photo. I looked at the section regarding expressions and agreed that when I saw photos that have these traits I believed them to be generally likable.
- Eye Contact
- Smiling (Laughing)
- Smiling (Teeth)
- Squinching
Summary: What Makes a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo
To wrap up, I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect LinkedIn photo. As technology has evolved so has the tech used on most of the cameras in your phones. Most of the images from the portrait mode look really good so you could conceivably use it as your profile photo.
Should you Hire a Photographer to Take Your LinkedIn Photo
A photographer can be helpful in composing your photo, making sure the light is correct, and picking out your best angles. In addition, many photographers are great at portrait retouching such as removing skin blemishes.
Sources:
New Research Study Breaks Down “The Perfect Profile Photo” - Photofeeler