LinkedIn profile photo the do’s and don’ts.

LinkedIn profile photo the do’s and don’ts. Here are our suggestions on what you should and what you must avoid doing.

The first thing to do is to commission a professional corporate headshot photographer. OK, it will cost you a couple of hundred pounds, but is that not a cheap price when it comes to looking professional on your LinkedIn profile page? Remember, your LinkedIn profile page is your business shopfront. Potential clients and employers will visit this page to get a first impression of you, so having a professional LinkedIn profile photo is a very, very good idea.

The second thing to do once you have decided to commission a professional corporate headshot photographer is to research whom you want to hire. Don’t just select the first person you find in your search. Go through lots of portfolios and also ask to see their last couple of commissions. You want to be sure they can produce quality LinkedIn profile photos every time. Prices will vary due to studio locations (which are more expensive in The City and West End). Also, it depends on how busy the photographer is and fitting this into your busy working day.

The first don’t, and we can’t stress this enough, is never ever use a selfie. These are fine for your other social media but really do not have any place on LinkedIn. When you capture a selfie, your arm is outstretched, and this contorts your body. For example, a professional corporate headshot photographer would never suggest that you take this pose when taking your LinkedIn profile photo, and this is why selfies are a really big don’t.

The second thing not to do is to ask a partner or friend to do your LinkedIn profile photo. No matter how good they are at photography, they won’t have the correct kit and will not be used to taking LinkedIn profile photos every day. They might be great at taking landscapes or photos of their pets but don’t assume these skills will transfer and make your LinkedIn profile photo look professional. Also, you have another problem of having to explain to them why you are not using their failed attempt at your LinkedIn profile photo on your profile page!

If you have any further questions about your LinkedIn photo, Do’s and don’ts. Please get in touch.

LinkedIn profile photo the do's and don'ts.

LinkedIn profile photo the do’s and don’ts.

 

How do you get a professional LinkedIn profile page?

Here are some tips on how do you get a professional LinkedIn profile page?

Our number one tip is to commission a professional corporate portrait photographer to capture your LinkedIn profile photo. The first thing a person visiting your LinkedIn profile page will do is look at your photo. This rule applies to all books and websites as people gain information much faster from viewing a photo as opposed to reading text. Once you understand this, you will realise how important a professional LinkedIn profile photo is in establishing a quality profile page. Do not be tempted to save a few quid by using a selfie or getting a friend to capture your photo on their new phone. It is a big mistake, and the only thing it will do is make you look unprofessional on LinkedIn.

Another tip we suggest when we are asked how do you get a professional LinkedIn profile page? Make sure you upload a background photo or image to your LinkedIn profile page. Do not leave it blank as this looks lazy and make sure what you do upload is relevant to your business. Your LinkedIn background photo acts as a cover image for your page. Recommended dimensions are 1584 pixels wide by 396 pixels tall. Another reason to commission a professional corporate portrait photographer is that they will have access to photography software to crop your LinkedIn background photo and profile photo to the correct dimensions. Your LinkedIn profile photo should be 400 x 400 pixels at 72 dpi which is screen resolution. Larger file sizes are also fine (although 8MB is the max).

Lastly, we suggest you ensure all your contact information is correct and current. Keep your introduction and bio short and to the point. Do not write your business life story here as people will be put off reading too much and again this is why your profile photo and background photo are essential as if the potential viewer or employer likes what they see, they will start to read about you so don’t bombard them with information and put them off at this stage.

How do you get a professional LinkedIn profile page?

How do you get a professional LinkedIn profile page?

Why you should get a professional LinkedIn profile photo

We are often asked why you should get a professional LinkedIn profile photo. Here are three simple answers.

  1. You will look professional. It’s as simple as that. Your LinkedIn profile page is your business shopfront. This is where potential clients and employers will get the first impression of you as a business person. So, would you want to get into business with a shop owner who had amateur handwritten signs outside his shop? No, of course not. So spend some money and hire a professional corporate portrait photographer and ensure you look your best; above all, this will make you look professional.
  2. Pride. You should want to look your best on your LinkedIn profile page. We assume that in your day-to-day business, you take great care over how you run your business and how you look after your clients. So why cut corners when it comes to your LinkedIn profile photo? Remember, it is the first thing people look at when they visit your LinkedIn profile page, so it makes sense that they get a good first impression. as we have said many times before, you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.
  3. Confidence. If you spend a relatively small amount of money and get a professional LinkedIn profile photo, you can sit back and know that people viewing your LinkedIn profile page will be seeing you in your best light. A professional corporate portrait photographer will advise you on the best wardrobe, how to stand, and the best stance. Also, advice on expressions and will be capturing your LinkedIn profile photo with a professional portrait lens. They will also have good quality studio lighting, flattering you and softening harsh shadows on your face. Finally, they will be used to working on headshots using the latest version of Photoshop to remove any spots, soften eye bags and tidy up any imperfections.
Why you should get a professional LinkedIn profile photo

Why you should get a professional LinkedIn profile photo

 

What size should a LinkedIn profile photo be?

What size should a LinkedIn profile photo be? The ideal size for your LinkedIn profile picture is 400 x 400 pixels. Larger file sizes are also fine (although 8MB is the max), but try to avoid small, low-resolution images. Another thing to remember is that the screen resolution is 72 dpi and not 300 dpi, which is used for print. Most corporate portrait photographers will capture your LinkedIn profile photo at a high resolution so that you can use it for print or on a larger scale for your corporate headshot on your company’s ‘about us’ or ‘meet the team’ pages.

When we say, ‘What size should a LinkedIn profile photo be?’ we are actually talking about what format ie shape should it be. Should it be a tight crop only showing the head and maybe a little of the shoulders? Or should you see more of the person’s torso so that you can see what they are wearing and get a feeling for more of their personality and character? We think that a tighter crop is the better option for your LinkedIn profile photo, as it appears quite small on your profile page. Usually, people will get a corporate portrait photographer to capture a profile photo and then use that image over all their business social media profiles and company website pages. When you commission a photographer, get them to capture your portrait with a wide crop. We suggest from the waist upwards. This way, you can crop in for your LinkedIn profile page and any other uses. Remember, you can not crop out on your corporate headshot, so always have a wider crop.

Once you have commissioned your LinkedIn profile photo, get the photographer to resize your preferred headshot. They will be used to working with Photoshop. So you want the LinkedIn profile photo square at 400 x 400 pixels and dropped down from 300 dpi to 72 dpi. If you have any further queries or need more information, please check out our page Frequently asked questions about LinkedIn profile photos.

What size should a LinkedIn profile photo be?

What size should a LinkedIn profile photo be?