When it comes to a photo for your LinkedIn profile, you know the rules…. But do you? If you don't, you could be committing some serious LinkedIn photo sins, and alienating recruiters and potential employers.
You may think LinkedIn is like any other social media platform, so any photo will do—but that would be a mistake. There’s a whole lot that should go into choosing the perfect picture, from what you’re wearing to the way you’re positioning your face in the frame.
A research conducted by Photofeeler, a photo testing tool, found that these factors and more affect what people think of you when they see your picture. Specifically, how likable, competent, and influential you seem. For example, having your eyes shaded or blocked by a glare, your hair, or sunglasses can hurt your impression, while slightly squinching them will enhance it.
Even things you wouldn’t ever really think about—for instance, whether your full jawline is revealed in the photo—can have a significant impact on how you’re perceived. So, how can you ace your LinkedIn photo choice? Here's what to do and what to avoid.
The worst and best LikedIn photos, according to HR professionals
There's no one better than HR professionals to tell you what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to your LinkedIn photo. They’ve seen it all from tons of candidates and definitely have their favorites, plus a few photos they hope they never have to see again.
The good
“If the photo is clear and, more importantly, if the person is warm and smiling, that matters so much,” says Dawid Wiącek, a career and communication coach based in New York and former recruiter. “I still see some people clinging to corporate coolness and aloofness, but those types of photos don’t impress me much.”
“A great profile picture is clear, approachable, and professional,” says Jennifer Smith, a Muse and Fairygodboss career coach, HR consultant, founder of Flourish Careers, and host of The Flourish Careers podcast. “Aim to look like someone ready to engage in meaningful work. Natural lighting, a clean background, and a confident, friendly expression can make all the difference. Think of it this way: Your photo should reflect you on your best day at work.”
The bad
“You know it when you see it; it’s grainy or low resolution, or blurry, or dark such that you can’t see the person’s features clearly,” Wiącek says. “I like the photo to say something about the person: bold, warm, powerful, curious, creative…. A good headshot can speak a thousand words.”
“The ones that always give me pause are those clearly cropped from a wedding or formal event,” Smith says. “You can usually spot them by the fancy attire and the telltale shoulder of someone else cut out of the frame. It sends the message that the platform and your professional presence were an afterthought.”
How to take a good LinkedIn photo: Do’s and don’ts
Having a picture makes a profile 14 times more likely to be viewed by others, according to LinkedIn itself. With that in mind, you want to ensure you're making a good first impression—especially with recruiters and potential employers. “People connect with images—so your LinkedIn photo is more than just a headshot, it’s a first impression,” Smith says.
Do: Use a high-resolution camera
We live in the era of smartphones with high-quality cameras, so there's no reason for your LinkedIn profile picture to be blurry—even if you can’t hire a professional photographer. You want your face to be clearly visible, not leaving people wondering if you're hiding from the police.
Tip: Wipe your camera lens with a soft cloth before taking the picture. Because we're always touching our phones and carrying them in bags or pockets, the cameras can accumulate dirt and fingerprints, which can compromise photo quality.
Don't: Overuse filters and photoshop
Everybody wants to look great in pictures, especially on social media, but overdoing filters and Photoshop might have the opposite effect. You want your photo to genuinely represent you and present a professional image. Colorful effects, emojis, and textures are a definite no-go.
That said, black-and-white pictures are more acceptable, as long as the shadows aren’t too dark and your face remains visible. When in doubt, keep your photo in its original color. “I’ve seen some memorable black-and-white photos that stand out due to their novelty, but nothing beats a vibrant, confident smile and a colorful photo,” Wiącek says.
Do: Take advantage of natural light
One simple and effective way to enhance the quality of your photo is by leveraging natural daylight. It helps avoid the grainy effect that can happen with nighttime photos—even with a good camera—and ensures your face is completely visible and identifiable.
Don't: Use a selfie as your LinkedIn photo
“Photos that are clearly selfies are typically a no-no for LinkedIn,” Wiącek says. If you can’t afford a professional photographer, use a tripod (which you can find affordably online) and the timer on your phone camera to take a headshot by yourself.
Do: Be the only person in the photo
No matter how much you love your family, friends, or pets, keep those pictures for Instagram. If they’re related to your profession (e.g., veterinarian, pediatrician), save them for another platform. “You can repurpose other parts of the profile, like the background image, or the featured media sections, to showcase your connection, collaboration and creativity,” Wiącek says.
Photos with coworkers are also a no-go, even if they're cropped out of the picture. “Allow the viewer to focus on you, not figuring out where you are or who else is in the picture,” Smith says. If you don't have a good picture by yourself yet, go ahead and snap one today.
Don't: Use a super old picture of yourself
Sure, you might look fantastic in that photo from your office back in 2015—but chances are, you don’t look exactly like that anymore. And the last thing you want is to unintentionally catfish a potential employer with an outdated headshot. This isn’t about your appearance—it’s about your credibility. If your profile photo doesn’t reflect the real you, it might make people question what else you’re not being upfront about.
Do: Have a clear and clean background
You should be the focal point of your picture, and a clear, clean background helps make that happen. By “clear and clean,” we mean no messy room, cluttered desk, or overloaded bookshelf behind you. And if you're taking the photo against a wall, make sure there aren't any stains or marks visible.
If you can’t find a good spot, no worries—there are free photo editing tools that let you remove and replace the background. Some great options include Adobe Express, Remove bg, and Pixel Cut.
Don't: Use logos, cartoons or similar
Using logos, quotes, or unrelated text is also a no, Smith says—and for obvious reasons: It's not you. Recruiters and potential network connections want to see who they’re talking to. If you have a business, create a separate page for it—that’s where a logo belongs.
Besides, LinkedIn's user agreement and professional community policies don’t allow certain types of profile photos, including landscapes, childhood or baby pictures, emojis, animals, and the types mentioned above. So if your picture falls into one of those categories, it might not even be accepted by the platform.
Do: Wear professional but honest attire
Needless to say, you don't want to wear a tank top or sweats in your LinkedIn photo. But you also don’t want to wear something that looks right on paper but doesn’t feel like you—or that professionals in your field are unlikely to wear to work. Think of a graphic designer in a suit and tie—it just feels off, doesn’t it?
Choose a professional attire that feels authentic to you. Think of something you’d wear to a job interview. The good thing about LinkedIn photos is that they don't need to be full body. If you’re taking the pic at home, a good blouse or shirt is all you need.
Do: Look at the camera and smile
Staring the camera is not mandatory, but recommended. “Most headshots are best when the person is staring directly at the viewer—us—but I’ve seen exceptions where the person is intentionally looking to the side,” Wiącek says. The same applies to smiles—it's known that they make people seem more friendly, approachable, and attractive—but not everyone feels their best when smiling. So do what works for you.
For extra guidance, read this next: How to Take a Professional Headshot by Yourself
Own your first impression
Fair or not, we’re often judged by our looks and how we present ourselves to the world, even in a professional environment. While you can’t change that, you can use this knowledge to your advantage to ensure you’re making the best impression possible. As a final piece of advice, Smith says, “keep it real, keep it professional, and don't overthink it.”
FAQs
What are the LinkedIn photo dimensions?
The LinkedIn photo size is between 400 (w) x 400 (h) pixels and 7680 (w) x 4320 (h) pixels. Their photo guidelines also state that only PNG and JPG files are acceptable.
Should you use an AI LinkedIn photo generator?
An AI LinkedIn photo is not ideal, according to experts. “AI photo generators often produce odd images that don’t quite capture our soul, our vibe, our personality,” Wiącek says. Instead of using an AI tool to generate a picture for you, leverage the technology for small adjustments.
“Some AI tools do a nice job cleaning up backgrounds or enhancing lighting, which can be great if you don't have access to a professional photo,” Smith says. “But it can backfire if they smooth out your features so much you don't look like yourself. The key is to look polished and authentic.”
Can your LinkedIn photo eliminate you as a job candidate?
It's possible, but not common. “However, first impressions do matter,” Smith says. “A questionable or unprofessional photo doesn't usually disqualify someone, although it can subconsciously influence how seriously someone is taken, especially when hiring managers are quickly scanning dozens of profiles. It's a small detail that can make a big impact.”
“I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. But I’ve certainly made judgments based on that first impression,” Wiącek says.
Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.