The nine changes that matter
LinkedIn shows your photo small, so the choices that matter are simple and few. Here is the short list, with the reasoning below.
- Frame head and shoulders, with your eyes in the upper third.
- Shoot at eye level, not from above or below.
- Start the first frame after you have had a moment to settle.
- Pick a quiet background with soft light on your face.
- Wear a solid color that suits your skin tone.
- Keep retouching to what a colleague would still recognize.
- Use the same photo on your profile, email signature and speaker bio.
- Export a sharp, square-safe crop that survives a small circle.
- Replace the photo when your appearance changes, not on a schedule.
Frame and angle
LinkedIn crops your photo to a small circle, so a tight frame wins. That framing reads clearly at thumbnail size. Shooting from eye level keeps the face natural. A camera held high or low changes how the face and neck look, so the photographer sets the height rather than the subject holding a phone at arm's length.
Expression
A small, real smile reads better than a stiff one. General tip: think of a person you are glad to see, and let the expression follow. The first minute is usually the stiffest, so a 20-minute session builds in time to settle. I direct the whole way through, so nobody has to know how to pose.
Background and light
Choose a quiet background so your face stays the subject. Outdoors, soft light from a shaded spot or the hour before sunset flatters most faces. Indoors, a window gives soft light. Your own office is the easiest setting and needs no park permit, since permits apply to some parks and venues. The permits guide lists what each Wake County town says.
Outfit and color
Pick a solid, mid-tone color that suits your skin tone and your field. Avoid large logos and busy patterns, which compete with the face at small size. The headshot wardrobe guide lists colors by background and by profession, and the outfit planner covers the rest.
Retouching: what is fair
Fair retouching removes a temporary blemish, softens a flyaway and evens the color. It does not change the shape of your face, remove permanent features or make you look younger than you are. A colleague should recognize you at the door. The Professional includes 2 retouched images, and The Personal Brand includes 5.
Consistency across your profile
Use one photo on your LinkedIn profile, email signature, company page and speaker bio. A consistent face builds recognition. If a client sees one person in your email and another on the website, you lose a small amount of trust each time. The Personal Brand is $395 and covers 2 to 3 outfits or backdrops, so one session can cover a profile photo and a website photo.
File size and crop
LinkedIn sets its own size and format limits, and they change. Check the current numbers on LinkedIn Help before you upload, and export a high-resolution copy so the crop stays sharp. I deliver portraits in 48 hours in a private online gallery, ready to download.
How often to update
Update the photo when you look different: a new haircut, a change of glasses or a new role. A photo more than a few years old can make a first meeting feel like a surprise. General tip: refresh it whenever you look noticeably different. There is no fixed schedule.
Where to shoot near Apex and Holly Springs
GKPhoto is based in Apex, so travel to Apex is included, and so is Holly Springs. Pick your office, or an outdoor spot in town. See the Apex LinkedIn pages and the Holly Springs LinkedIn pages for local backdrops, or take the session quiz to compare packages.