Discover the 7 of the many faces of Linkedin. What does your profile photo say about you with a lighthearted review of profile photography choices for professional profile photos on Linkedin
13. @socialmediaphotographers
5 Tips for Better Profile Photos
1.Use a professional camera and lighting setup.
2.Don’t use photo enhancing apps or filters.
3.Clothing matters.
4. Don’t crop your friends and family.
5.Update your photo regularly.
First Impressions Matter.
Princeton psychologists reveal that all it takes is a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger from their face, and that longer exposures don’t significantly alter those impressions
In fact it took you longer to read the words “First Impressions” than it takes you to form an impression of someone based on their profile photo.
(Their research is presented in their article “First Impressions,” in the July 06 issue of Psychological Science.)
According to a study conducted by TheLadders, recruiters spent nearly 20% of the total time viewing a profile looking at the profile picture.
But don’t think just because you may not be in the job market that your profile picture does not matter. An IDC Social Buying Report found that 76% of B2B buyers prefer to work with recommendations from their professional network- so your prospects are checking you out (and forming impressions about you too).
All of the photos featured are from real Linkedin Profiles. We used real searches for Accountants, Lawyers and Sales Professionals.
The Phantom….Hello, is it you I’m looking for?
The Dark and Mysterious isn’t about your personality….it all comes down to lighting- bad lighting! Special mention also goes to those people that add a mysterious edge to their photos using sunglasses and arty filters.
The Chopper- also know as the cold shoulder…the chopper is ruthless, slicing off friends, family and loved ones all for the sake of a profile photo. Sometimes they even chop themselves.
Images like these always leave me wondering about the poor people chopped out of the frame.
Visual distraction- of we are wondering who else should be in the picture not paying full attention to you
Special Mention goes to the dad who is helping his son perfect his “Dark and Mysterious” profile photo for the future.
This young lady is the life of the high-school party. This style of photo is clearly a senior portrait and while a nice looking photo of her, not suitable for a professional profile.
AKA …Marketing made me do this!
You stand in front of a wall or at your desk and someone snaps your photo- you get one go and that’s it!
#1 Use a professional camera and lighting setup.
You may capture a good photo on your iphone or DSLR but we think your professional profile is worthy of a great photo. A professional camera and lighting setup will produce a high quality image, free of shadows, harsh or unflattering light or unbalanced colours.
#2 Don’t use photo enhancing apps or filters.
A few tweaks or filters can’t hurt can they? Unfortunately, most photo enhancing apps distort the image- and people will notice. The end result will look a bit off making the viewer feel uncomfortable looking at your picture without knowing exactly why. Leave the gently retouching to the professionals to get the best and most natural result.
#3 Clothing matters.
We haven’t seen any “clothing optional” photos on LinkedIn but we have seen plenty of questionable choices. Ensure that your attire is flattering and appropriate to your industry. This will pretty much rule out any weekend, wedding or sporting photos no matter how great you look.
#4 Don’t crop your friends and family.
You may be tempted to use that great family photo for your profile picture all you need to do is crop out your wife/husband/child/dog, right? Wrong. Poorly cropped images leave the viewer wondering about what’s missing from the shot rather than focusing on connecting with you.
#5 Update your photo regularly.
The common recommendation is to update your profile photo at least annually. Additionally you should consider updating your profile photo after major changes (weight loss, hair style changes, etc) or if you are looking for a new role. This ensures that your profile always looks fresh, current and like the real you.
4 Barriers to Getting a Professional Photo
Access- where do I go, who do I see, I don’t have time!
Discomfort- I don’t like having my picture taken, I hate pictures of me, Everyone is looking at me!!
Price- its too expensive, right?
Professionalism- Friend with a camera, phone, retouching