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Five LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes.

8th September 2021/in LinkedIn Headshots, LinkedIn Photographer, LinkedIn Profile Photo /by Editor

Follow these tips to avoid making LinkedIn profile photo mistakes. Do not use your I.D or staff photo. This type of photo is normally taken on a poor-quality office camera and is only meant for identification purposes. It might be handy to snap a photo of your staff badge but it will not be helping your LinkedIn profile page and best leave it blank until you can get a decent business-related headshot.
Do not use a distant photo of yourself. A LinkedIn profile photo is approx only 4cm wide and using a full-length or distant photo of yourself means people will not really be able to see your face clearly. As the whole purpose of the photo is to let the viewer see what you look like this is not a good idea.
Do not use a cropped photo where you were in a group with friends. This looks so unprofessional and is often seen on LinkedIn. Normally people like a photo of themselves with a partner or friends but however you try and crop the photo you can always see elements of other peoples heads or arms. You want a headshot with a clean background and should be dressed in business attire.
Do not use a party or wedding photo. This is very common and we strongly advise against it. There are lots of good photos taken at big parties and weddings but your clothing and your surroundings are not suitable for a business profile page photo. Make sure you think carefully about what you want in your profile photo as using a photo that you think you look good in might be sending out the wrong message to a potential client or employer.
Do not use a selfie captured in a mirror with your phone. This type of photo is very common on Instagram and Facebook but not suitable for LinkedIn. They look very amateur and therefore you will appear not to have been putting much effort into your LinkedIn profile page.

Above is a good example of a professional LinkedIn profile photo with professional lighting a clean plain background and captured with a long portrait lens.

To avoid LinkedIn profile photo mistakes, follow our suggestions on how to improve your LinkedIn profile photo.

Tips and ideas for a great LinkedIn profile photo.

30th July 2021/in LinkedIn Headshots, LinkedIn Photographer, LinkedIn Profile Photo /by Editor

Your LinkedIn profile photo is the first thing an employer or client will look at when visiting your profile page. It is your digital shopfront and it needs to look professional. Here are some tips and ideas on what to do and what not to do.

Dress in your usual business clothing. Do not get overdressed or go out and buy a new outfit. You will look overdressed and therefore not like the real you. You want to wear your day-to-day wardrobe. Make sure it is clean and free from any creases or stains.
Have a natural expression. If you are the type of person that smiles all the time then smile. If you are the type of person that rarely smiles then do not smile in your photo. It will look unnatural. Be yourself it will work better for you.
Get someone else to take your LinkedIn profile photo. Selfies are not suitable for LinkedIn. They look amateurish and unprofessional. Ask a friend to take your headshot and do a few varieties so you can choose which looks best.
Be careful what is in your background. You do not want a vivid pattern or strong colours behind you as these will distract the viewer. Have a plain background or a business environment behind you.
Choose a recent photo. It is best to take a new headshot for your profile. You want it to relate to your current position.
Do not show your hobbies or friends in your photo. This is not the place for your interests. You can add these as a part of your CV in the profile copy.
Do not pass the photo through Instagram filters. You want the profile photo to look natural and original. Adding filters using any photo software or app is unprofessional.
Go professional and hire a LinkedIn photographer. It is a very important part of your business marketing so it is worth getting it done properly.
Get a profile photo that is taken straight on. Do not have it taken looking down or up into the camera. You do not want a creative or arty headshot. This should look realistic and business-like.
Make sure the profile photo is close up as when it appears on your LinkedIn profile the image is small. We would suggest that your face takes up over 60% of the overall area.

A selection of LinkedIn profile photos that show a variety of different expressions, poses, and backgrounds.

How much does a LinkedIn profile photo cost in London?

13th July 2021/in LinkedIn Headshots, LinkedIn Photographer, LinkedIn Profile Photo, Uncategorised /by Editor

If you are looking to improve your LinkedIn profile photo and have decided to hire a professional headshot photographer the first question will be how much does a LinkedIn profile photo cost? On average you will be looking at £100 to £200 plus VAT. Prices vary as there are plenty of different headshot services in London.

We can suggest some different options and the pros and cons of paying more or less for your headshot.

London photographic studio. This option allows you to visit a LinkedIn photographer and capture a wide variety of poses and expressions. You can take a change of clothing and have your profile photo taken with different backgrounds and using different lighting techniques. This will be the most expensive option as you will be paying for the photographer’s time and studio space. On average your session would be 30-60 minutes.
London office. Hire a corporate headshot photographer to come to your business premises and bring their lighting and background equipment. The photographer can set up in your meeting room and they can photograph 10 people within an hour session. This reduces the LinkedIn profile photo cost to each person as you are only paying for a fraction of the studio booking. You will not get as wide a selection of headshots to choose from but you will end up with a high-quality profile photo.
London location. This would be the most affordable option for London professionals. Arrange to meet the LinkedIn photographer at your choice of London location. Maybe you want to be photographed in a certain area of The City or in front of a West End landmark. The photographer will have a minimum kit with them but will still have a high-quality portrait lens. Your session should last around 10-15 mins. The downside is that you are open to whatever the British weather might decide to do.
Post-production services. LinkedIn photographers will have different packages on offer so find out prior to your booking what Post-production services are including in their costs. Retouching and airbrushing can really improve your Linkedin profile photo. Subtly removing spots, scars, saving rashes and reducing wrinkles and bags under eyes. Some photographers offer to change background colours and add different cityscapes to clearly show that an individual is based in London.

London Studio Profile Photo

LinkedIn Office Profile Photo in London

LinkedIn London Location Profile Photo

LinkedIn London Background Profile Photo

What to wear in your LinkedIn profile photo. Wardrobe tips & ideas.

29th June 2021/in LinkedIn Headshots, LinkedIn Photographer, LinkedIn Profile Photo /by Editor

So you have booked your professional LinkedIn profile photo session. Then comes the first question, what should I wear? We get asked this all the time and our advice is to wear clothes you feel comfortable and confident in. As LinkedIn is a business social media platform you should always dress according to the business sector you work in.

Whatever you choose to wear for your LinkedIn profile photo make sure it is clean and well ironed. Nothing looks worse than a crumpled suit or dress. We have seen over the years a progression to more relaxed dress codes in the corporate world and now men and women can dress less formal but your clothes still need to be presentable and professional.

Dress according to your character. If you are an outgoing bubbly character then this will reflect in your wardrobe. If you are a more reserved character then let your wardrobe reflect this.

We do suggest that you wear something from your current wardrobe. Do not go out and purchase a whole new outfit just for your professional LinkedIn profile photo. You might feel and look uncomfortable in something you are not used to wearing.

Tips for Women.

Solid colours are better. You want to avoid too many colours and any large strong patterns as this can look too much in a small profile photo.

Hair should be worn as you would in a business meeting. Remember to look professional rather than attractive.

Jewellery should be kept to a minimum and understated is preferred.

Tips for Men.

Jackets should be solid colours and avoid bold designs as these can overpower the profile photo.

Shirts should be white or lighter colours. Dark shirts do not work well. Avoid stripes.

Ties should be simple patterns or one colour. Bring a selection all to see what works best on the day of the shoot.