Linkedin what kind of picture

Look at all the beautiful, natural light in the room above, strive for that. You don't want direct light on the wall where you'll be seated or standing - reflected light like above is exactly what you want.

It's soft and even, so there won't be harsh shadows or highlights on your face. Next, set up a tripod to hold your phone or camera. Use your device's self-timer to give yourself a few seconds to get into place before the shutter is released. As far as setup goes, that's it! Good light, a plain background, and your phone or camera on a tripod with the self-timer engaged is all you need.

While Tyra Banks is famous for "smizing," or smiling with your eyes, Peter Hurley is famous for squinching, or squinting and pinching your lower eyelid.

That means that potential employers are able to tell when you don't exude confidence before reading a single word of your LinkedIn profile. So, one of the best-kept secrets for a good LinkedIn photo is to squinch. You can see how this works in the LinkedIn profile picture examples below:. Screenshot from Peter Hurley's YouTube video. Above, the model is demonstrating what people normally do when they have their portrait taken - their eyes widen for a deer-in-the-headlights sort of look.

Notice in this shot how there is an abundance of the whites of the model's eyes showing. While there's nothing wrong with choosing a LinkedIn profile image that has an interesting background — especially if imagery is relevant to your line of work — make sure it's not so interesting that it takes center stage. The background should complement your headshot, not draw all the attention away from your face. As with any photo, you want to be cognizant of the use of light.

Don't use a photo where there are dark shadows hanging over your face. In addition to making it difficult for someone to recognize you, a LinkedIn profile photo with weird shadows looks unprofessional. If you're short on funds or simply not interested in investing in a professional headshot, try taking a selfie in a renovated dressing room at Marshalls or TJMaxx. These rooms tend to have simple, white backgrounds and great lighting to show off their merchandise. If you choose this option, be careful with the angle of your camera to ensure you don't catch your arm in the image.

When done well, the viewer should have no idea that you took a selfie to produce your LinkedIn profile photo. If you work in an office setting, avoid using your wedding photo for your LinkedIn profile picture.

The goal is to dress in an outfit you'd typically wear to work. If you're searching for a new job, consider the companies you've added to your list of ideal employers and select your outfit based on the company culture of those organizations.

For instance, if you find that you're gravitating toward tech startups, you'd likely opt for an outfit that's a bit more casual than what you'd select if you were targeting traditional financial institutions. For a background photo, select an image that is x pixels in dimensions.

Similar to the background of your profile photo, your LinkedIn background image should complement your personal brand without stealing its thunder. If you are an entrepreneur or freelancer, you may choose to create a custom image using tools like Canva to incorporate your logo or the name of your business into the image. If you'd prefer to go with an existing image, check out the selection on Stocksnap , Pixabay , and this site , which are free to use.

Your LinkedIn profile picture isn't the only thing that should stay up to date. See where your resume stands with a free resume review. Let's stay in touch. You want a sharp picture where we see your eyes. If you wear glasses, watch out for glare on the lens. You want to ensure that your eyes are clearly visible with a bit of sparkle in them you get when you are happy and smiling.

For men , the formal business suit and tie is not seen much on LinkedIn so unless that is your daily work attire, relax the dress a bit. Options to choose from: plain colored no stripes dress shirt open with suit jacket works very well for a classy look; dress shirt and tie; or just a collared dress shirt. No casual shirts, Hawaiian or golf looks, certainly no t-shirts. For women : Plain solid color outfit works best. Wear a solid color you look great in. A dress, jacket, sweater, or blouse is fine.

Avoid wearing anything that is sleeveless or too revealing. No prints, plaids, or stripes as they are too distracting. Makeup applied well will help you look better. Test the lipstick to ensure that it is not too stark — no reds, softer pinks, and corals are better choices.

Show some enthusiasm for life. It's strange to be introduced to someone in person who looks 20 years older than their online photos! Be Consistent. When developing your professional online brand , consistency is key. Therefore, it is a good idea to use the same photo for all your professional and social networking profile pictures.

This will make you more easily recognizable. The standard profile photo size is between w x h pixels and w x h pixels. You can upload a larger photo and LinkedIn will resize it, but it can't be bigger than 8MB. After you've uploaded the picture, you can change the position and size , then preview it before saving. You can edit, remove, add, or change your photo at any time, and you can decide who can view it. Your best bet is to stick with a headshot but, if you are feeling creative, note that LinkedIn has a list of what not to use as a profile photo, including company logos, landscapes, animals, and words or phrases.

If your photo doesn't meet the image guidelines, you may not be able to upload it or it may be removed from your profile. LinkedIn provides step-by-step guidelines for uploading and editing your profile picture.

You'll be able to adjust the size and position, crop your image, and enhance it with filters. You can upload an image directly from your phone, use a webcam, or use an image you have saved on your computer. Don't just upload a photo and forget about it.

It's a good idea to refresh the image you're using every once in a while. At the same time, check the images on your other pages so your professional brand is consistent and up-to-date on all the social channels you use.

In addition to your profile picture, which is typically a headshot, you can add a background image to your profile. The background image is above and behind your profile picture.

With this one, you'll need to add and edit it from your computer rather than your phone. You'll see a variety of different types of photos on LinkedIn. With some of them, you might think you clicked on Facebook by mistake. LinkedIn is designed for business and career networking, and using an overly casual photo isn't going to impress the recruiters or potential connections who review your profile.

Play it safe and keep it professional. Wear what you'd wear to work or a job interview.