Your LinkedIn portrait has to make an immediate strong first impression. Eye-tracking studies have shown that the photo is the first thing people look at. That little photo humanizes your profile and helps make a connection with the viewer.
Your profile photo starts talking about you before the viewer has read a word of your profile.
The portrait (above) has two major issues: the clothing and the pose. There are also smaller distractions such as shiny skin, stray hairs, and an uneven background.
Let’s start with the clothing. Pink, high-waisted, oversized garments are rarely flattering in a personal photo, and they certainly never work in a professional setting. In a business portrait, especially one for LinkedIn, your clothing should support your credibility, not distract from it. Ill-fitting or overly casual outfits make the image feel messy and unpolished.
In the next version of the photo (above), the clothing has been changed to something more professional. The shiny skin has been fixed, the hair cleaned up, and the background tone adjusted. These adjustments immediately improve the image. But the pose is still working against her.
The Teapot Problem
Remember the children’s song:
I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
The subject in the photo is essentially striking a “teapot” pose: one arm bent like a handle, the other angled like a spout. While playful poses can work in casual settings, they never belong in a professional portrait.
Leaning on a random object is almost never appropriate in a business portrait, especially if that object has no relevance to you or your work. A leaning pose can make you appear awkward or unsure, and subliminally it can suggest that you can’t stand on your own. You need a pose that says you’re confident and capable.
When the pose is adjusted to something more natural and stronger, the transformation is striking. The subject’s facial expression has not been changed. The only difference is the pose. Yet she now appears more confident, composed, and professional.
That’s how powerful body language can be.
Why Amateur Portraits Often Fall Short
Many people try to save money on business portraits. They prioritize cost over quality and will opt for a cellphone snap or they’ll use an amateur photographer.
Unfortunately these images almost always have issues such as:
* Distracting or inappropriate backgrounds
* Weak or awkward poses
* Poor clothing choices
* Flat or unengaging expressions
* Wrinkled clothing
* Messy hair
* Shiny or uneven skin tones
Any of these can significantly undermine your professional image.
If you’re going to use a cellphone snapshot or other amateur portrait on LinkedIn, examine it critically before publishing. Never settle for “good enough.” Your profile photo either strengthens your professional presence or it weakens it.
A LinkedIn portrait should make you look confident, competent, friendly, and trustworthy. If your photo doesn’t communicate those qualities, then it’s not doing its job.
Portrait Retouching Can Help
If you’re not happy with your portrait, professional retouching can make a substantial difference.
Retouching can do a lot, but if you need significant changes, AI-powered software is usually the answer. The photos shown here used AI to change the clothing and the pose. Manual retouching was used on the face and hair, and to correct issues introduced by the AI.
There are some free AI tools available online that you can try with your photos. You may get good results. Just keep in mind that AI does not retouch, it recreates. As such, changes, from subtle to very noticeable, are almost always introduced. This may or may not be important to you.
A strong LinkedIn business portrait isn’t about vanity, it’s about presentation. When your image reflects confidence and professionalism, people are more likely to see you that way.
More information on my photo retouching services.
