10 Tips for Taking a Better LinkedIn Profile Picture
In a world where it’s harder than ever to capture someone’s attention, the images you choose to display on your social media profiles can mean the difference between a reader engaging or deciding to move on. Since these visuals are often the first thing people notice about you, profile pictures can influence how colleagues, clients, and industry peers perceive you.
A polished, high-quality headshot conveys professionalism and attention to detail while setting the tone for your personal brand. By using consistent imagery across all social channels, you can reinforce trust and authority in your field — improving your reputation and unlocking new business and career opportunities.
Why does my LinkedIn profile picture matter?
With more than 1 billion users — including 8.2 million C-suite executives — on the platform, LinkedIn is perhaps the most important social channel for CEOs and business leaders. That’s why your LinkedIn profile picture is critical; it serves as a key component of your professional identity, shaping how you’re perceived by your audience.
At the same time, the right photo can do wonders for your engagement. According to LinkedIn, profiles with pictures have 21x more profile views and 9x more connection requests, and they’re 36x more likely to get messages, too.
While a high-quality professional headshot can convey credibility and leadership, a low-quality image can make you look amateurish and sloppy. A great photo also demonstrates that you take your online presence seriously, which can help establish your thought leadership credentials.
What is important when taking a professional LinkedIn profile picture?
Creating an effective LinkedIn profile picture is important if you’re interested in making a strong first impression. With that in mind, here are 10 key tips to keep in mind to ensure your image conveys the right message.
1. Choose a clean and neutral background
To make sure the focus stays on you, choose a clean background that creates a professional and polished look. Neutral colors — like white, gray, and soft blue — tend to work the best. Avoid busy or distracting elements in the background, like bold patterns or overly bright colors, which can draw attention away from your face and diminish the overall impact of your profile photo.
For certain industries — like finance and law — a professional office setting can reinforce your role and professionalism. Either way, a clean background helps convey a sense of professionalism and authority — exactly what you should be aiming for.
2. Consider your clothing
Dress in a way that reflects your industry. For more formal sectors, a suit or similar wear is appropriate. In creative or tech industries, business casual might be more fitting. Choose solid, neutral colors — like white, navy, gray, and black — which are less likely to clash with the background. While you’re at it, pay attention to grooming and accessories. Ensure your hair is neatly styled and keep accessories like watches and jewelry to a minimum to make sure the focus stays on you.
3. Crop your image properly
Since you want people to see you up close and personal, make sure to crop your LinkedIn photo to direct focus on your head and shoulders, typically framing you from the chest up. This close-up view ensures that your face is clearly visible — making it easy for folks to recognize you. Avoid full-body shots or images where your face is too small in the frame, which can make it harder for your photo to stand out.
4. Choose optimal dimensions and photo resolution
Any old picture won’t do. To make the most of your LinkedIn profile photo, use an image with dimensions of 400 by 400 pixels. This square format ensures that your image displays correctly across various devices. Ideally, your photo should have a high resolution — at least 72 pixels per inch — to ensure clarity and sharpness. You can’t compromise on this. A high-resolution image prevents pixelation, which can make you look less professional.
5. Don’t take a selfie
While selfies are great for personal use, they’re not ideal for LinkedIn — especially not for executives who should hire a professional to create a more polished, serious image. If possible, hire a photographer to take a picture using a high-quality camera. By doing so, you can ensure that your image has great composition, is in focus, and is lit appropriately.
Need help finding a photographer? Ask your social networks for recommendations, run a quick Google search for photographers in your area, or use a service like PhotoSesh. Don’t feel like working with a human? Not a problem. There are a number of services that will create and optimize a professional headshot for you using AI; you might want to give one a try.
6. Use a recent picture
Your LinkedIn profile picture should represent how you look today. Using an outdated photo can lead to confusion when meeting contacts in person. At the same time, it can telegraph dishonesty or indicate that you’re not taking your personal brand seriously enough. Using a recent picture ensures that your online presence matches your real-world self — which helps build trust and authenticity. Regularly updating your photo — especially after changes to your appearance — is critical if you wish to maintain an accurate profile.
7. Pay attention to lighting
Good lighting is essential for a high-quality LinkedIn photo. Natural light is often the best choice because it evenly illuminates your face and creates a soft, flattering effect. To make your picture the best it can be, position yourself near a window or in a well-lit area to avoid shadows and ensure your features are clearly visible. When you hire a professional photographer, you won’t have to worry about lighting because they’ll know how to strike the perfect balance.
8. Smile! 🙂
A warm, genuine smile can make a big difference in your LinkedIn profile picture — and it can also make people like you more. Smiling makes you appear approachable, friendly, and confident — all of which are important qualities in the business world. Not only does a friendly expression help create a positive first impression, it can also make others more likely to connect with you. As you start thinking about your next profile picture, avoid overly serious or neutral expressions which can come across as uninviting.
9. Use the same picture across all platforms
Consistency is key when building your personal brand. Using the same profile picture across all your professional platforms — like LinkedIn, X, and company profiles — helps create a cohesive and recognizable image. This consistency reinforces your identity and makes it easier for your audience to identify your accounts across channels. Even better, it signals your attention to detail and commitment to professionalism — key traits of effective business leaders.
10. Don’t forget the banner
Pairing your LinkedIn profile picture with a solid banner or cover photo — the long, rectangular image behind your headshot — can help you create a cohesive, visually appealing profile. The banner serves as the backdrop to your profile, setting the tone for your personal brand.
The optimal banner has a lot in common with the optimal profile picture. Ideally, it’s uncluttered and doesn’t clash with your profile photo. Many leaders opt for a banner that includes their company logo and colors. Keep in mind that the ideal banner should measure 1584 by 396 pixels.
Take a few seconds to scroll back up and look how each of these executives have leveraged the banner space to enhance the aesthetics of their profiles.
Remember, a great photo is just the start of a great LinkedIn profile
A successful LinkedIn profile starts with a great photo. But that’s just the beginning of building your professional presence on the platform.
To truly stand out and advance your career, you need to engage with your audience strategically and consistently. This means actively participating in discussions, commenting on industry-related posts, and connecting with like-minded professionals.
Publishing thought leadership content — like articles, posts, and videos — demonstrates your expertise and positions you as an authority in your field. By combining a professional image with active engagement and valuable content, you can elevate your LinkedIn presence and open doors to new opportunities.
As an executive, you’ve got a lot on your plate and are pulled in countless directions every day. It can be a challenge to find the time needed to optimize your LinkedIn profile, let alone build out a truly effective thought leadership strategy and execute on it masterfully.
By partnering with a social media management agency, you can rest comfortably knowing that your social channels are in very capable hands — freeing you to focus on the most important aspects of your business. To learn more about what engaging with such an agency looks like, read this.