Can I use a selfie for my LinkedIn profile photo?

People often ask us can I use a selfie for my LinkedIn profile photo? We will tell them yes if they do not care about their LinkedIn profile page, as it will make them look unprofessional. Selfies are fine for sending to friends and family or using on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, but LinkedIn is a place for doing business, and you need to look professional and serious about your career. Selfies send out all the wrong signals as they are rarely taken in a work environment and are usually captured at social engagements. Also, selfies mean that you are holding your phone out in front of you, and therefore the photo is not at a natural angle. So the answer to the question, can I use a selfie for my LinkedIn profile photo? It is a no if you are serious about looking professional on your Linkedin profile page.

Selfies might seem like a good alternative to commissioning a professional LinkedIn profile photo, but when you add up the cost of a decent LinkedIn headshot against the savings you might make with a selfie, then you will see what a mistake it is. So a professional LinkedIn profile photo captured at a studio or London office with a corporate portrait photographer will set you back anywhere from £150 to £300 plus VAT. This seems like a lot of money for a simple profile photo, but you have to look at the long-term damage a selfie could be doing to your career. Say you are looking for a new job or pitching for work from a new client. The first thing they will do is look at your LinkedIn profile page. The first thing they will see is your LinkedIn profile photo, and guess what? This is where not having a professional LinkedIn profile photo starts to cost you more than £150.

Do any of these selfies look like they should be on a LinkedIn profile page?

A professional LinkedIn profile photo in London offices.