Lighting is everything. A face with heavy shadows won’t do you any favors when headhunters and employers are looking for a trustworthy employee. I would recommend taking a photo in the shade during a sunny day, on an overcast day or with a flash. Golden hour sun-rays are too dramatic and romantic for a professional look, so stick with simple lighting.
Smile. Put on music that makes you smile or listen to a comedy podcast. Smiles + eye contact are the secret to showing that your’e personable and loyal. You want to welcome employers to your LinkedIn page. Your headshot should show a bit of who you are and what you can offer them as an employee, and as we all know - people like to work with friendly faces. If you feel shy in front of the camera, try to put on a self-timer, look down and “surprise” yourself when you look up. A study showed that photos with smiles showing your teeth are twice as likable as closed-mouth smiles.
Clothing. Dress in a way that is professional for your target field. Since the Corona pandemic started, professionals that used to wear a suit everyday are more comfortable wearing less professional outfits. Especially in Israel where the dress-code is more casual, feel free to wear a nice polo or button-up with some color. I would recommend to stay away from wearing black unless it’s your branding. You want to catch people’s attention and the color black fades away. If you're in doubt, wear what you wear to work.
Posing. Place one hand loosely in your pocket. Lean on the wall. Play with your watch. Turn your body 45 degrees. We tend to overthink how to pose as being the most important component of the getting the right photo, but in my experience, the energy is what really makes the photo. Looking comfortable is more important than having the perfect pose.
Upload. When uploading your photo to Linkedin, make sure you save the image as your name so SEO can show your headshot image when people search your name. Make sure you crop the image so that your face fills up the majority of the circle. You don’t want people to need to squint or zoom in to see your face.
If you want to a headshot that represents your personality and professionalism, speak with me. We can brainstorm the location, outfit and time that will set you apart on Linkedin.
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