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10 Examples of LinkedIn Headshots in 2024

LinkedIn is the business casual of social media sites. It’s a place to connect with other people, check up on the news, and maybe even have fun. But it’s also a place where recruiters and would-be collaborators can find your profile, check your resume, and reach out. If you’re looking to build a name for yourself in your field, find a new job, or both, having the right LinkedIn headshot is a must.

However, when it comes to taking the right headshot, you have seemingly endless options. A quick scroll through your LinkedIn feed might give you 100 ideas for a headshot—but there’s only space for one. The choice is up to you, but if you aren’t sure where to start, check out our list of 10 types of LinkedIn headshots and what they say about you.

1. The Workplace Photo

“Standard” business-style headshots are the standard for a reason: They establish professionalism and inspire confidence. Some people might be hesitant to use this kind of headshot in their LinkedIn profile because they worry it will make them look too old-fashioned. That might be a valid concern if you have a career in the arts or another creative field. But in many traditional careers, like banking, medicine, and law, this is the kind of headshot you want. The professional attire, eye contact, and serious (but not intimidating) expression communicate that you’re a trustworthy professional who takes your work seriously.

The headshot above doubles down on the professionalism aspect with the setting, as it appears to have been taken in an office building. However, thanks to the natural light, it gives you the best of both worlds.

2. The Visionary

Traditional wisdom holds that you should always make eye contact with the camera when taking professional headshots. Eye contact is never a bad idea—after all, it establishes a connection and builds trust before you meet a client or prospective employer in person.

However, if you want to think outside the box, you might consider headshots that eschew tradition and do something a little different. The woman in this headshot looks calmly and confidently forward. Combined with the Steve Jobs–inspired black turtleneck, this look gives her the air of a visionary leader.

While this kind of shot might be a good choice for executives or others in high-level leadership positions, it isn’t ideal if you’re in a role that requires you to work directly with clients. When clients choose a professional, they’re choosing that person because they trust in their expertise. The “trust” part is essential. Even if they aren’t consciously aware of it, a headshot of someone looking straight at the camera is more likely to inspire trust than one of someone looking away. 

3. The Professional-Yet-Casual

Some headshots place an emphasis on professionalism. Others lean more toward the casual. And some, like this unusual yet effective headshot, manage to accomplish both. This headshot’s versatility comes from its combination of professional attire with a casual pose. You can tell that the man’s shirt, tie, and suit jacket wouldn’t look out of place in a more traditional headshot like the first one on the list. However, several details—like the relaxed posture, the open jacket, and the slight tilt of the head—make him look more approachable.

When is a headshot like this more appropriate? If you want to communicate both authority and approachability, this type of shot might be helpful. For example, if you are a credit counselor who helps people get out of debt, you want clients to feel assured that you know what you’re talking about, but you also want them to feel comfortable talking to you about a potentially difficult and emotional subject.

4. The Classic

Sometimes, keeping it simple is best. Even though this photo just involves a white shirt, a gray background, and minimal makeup, it makes an impression. Like the “professional-yet-casual” headshot above, this one communicates approachability. The woman’s slight head tilt is nonthreatening, and her smile is warm and genuine. This kind of headshot is a great choice for careers that depend on building trust between you and your clients or customers, such as in the hospitality industry.

5. The Walk in the Park

This is another headshot that combines casual and professional. The man in the picture is dressed for a white-collar job, but instead of posing in an office building, he’s out for a walk. Taking your headshot outside gives you the chance to take advantage of natural light, and it also creates a unique background.

However, if you want to find success with this type of headshot, it’s imperative that you blur the background. Headshots with a lot going on in the background are distracting and can take the viewer’s focus off of you. When the background is just blurry enough, you still get the benefit of the scenery—but not at your own expense.

This kind of headshot is easy to take if you live somewhere with beautiful scenery. But what if you don’t? We might be able to help you. Portrait Pal is an AI headshot generator, but it can do more than just make you look like a more professional version of yourself. When you do your digital photo shoot, you can take advantage of our many realistic backgrounds. Whether you want to pose at a desk, in front of a lawyer’s bookshelf,  or outside on a sunny day, we’ve got you. Check out our AI headshot generator and get started with us today!

6. The Creative

If you have a professional career, your LinkedIn headshot should be taken in professional attire. Usually, that means a quality blazer, dress, or suit jacket. If you’re a doctor, you might choose to wear a white coat.

But what if you’re in a career with no hard and fast rules about what to wear? While you obviously shouldn’t wear a ratty T-shirt or anything else overly casual, you have a lot more latitude when it comes to your headshot outfit. 

For instance, nobody expects a web designer to wear a suit to work, so you wouldn’t necessarily be expected to wear one in your headshot (although you could if you wanted to!). Because web design is a career that’s creative and is often associated with more casual dress, an outfit like the one above is perfectly fine.

7. The Lean-In

Being formally dressed in your headshot does not mean you have to look unapproachable. The man in this headshot is dressed impeccably, and if he were posed differently, he might even look intimidating. However, he has mastered the art of looking both friendly and professional.

The most obvious sign of friendliness and approachability here is the lean-in. When done well, a slight forward lean can make you look earnest, motivated, and eager to connect with people. However, you shouldn’t overdo it. Leaning in a little is effective, but leaning excessively forward is going to look silly.

The next useful element in this photo is the man’s smile. Whether or not you smile in a headshot is up to you, but you should only smile if it looks genuine. A relaxed, natural smile makes you look friendly and trustworthy, but people who see your headshot are likely to have the opposite reaction if you have a smile that’s clearly forced or artificial.

8. The Job-Ready

Plenty of people wear the clothes they’d wear to work in their headshot. However, not everyone includes badges, binders, and other work-related materials. This sort of look might not be right for everybody, but in this headshot it works well.

Part of the reason this headshot manages to look natural is the fact that everything is color-coordinated. The woman’s lanyard and top are navy blue, and navy pairs well with the cool-leaning charcoal gray of her pants and the wall behind her. Her hair and her bag are similar shades. The binder and belt are black, but the surrounding colors are dark enough that they essentially blend in.

This kind of headshot might be a good choice if you work in a field where having to pack up and go to a new location is common. It’s also an effective way to communicate a can-do attitude. If you’re searching for employment, this kind of headshot might be a way to signal that you’re eager to hit the ground running.

9. The Character Shot

In film and TV, character actors are memorable because they’re so different from the norm. The “character shot” genre of LinkedIn profile pictures works in a similar way. As long as the photo you select makes you stand out in a positive way, going this route can get you noticed.

The trick is to take a headshot that’s unique, but not so unique that it puts you solidly in bizarre territory. This headshot strikes the perfect balance. The man’s pose is unusual, and his expression is slightly quizzical, but in this headshot he manages to project confidence. His suit is also a cerulean-leaning blue—lighter than your traditional navy or black, but not so outlandish that it looks garish. All in all, it gives the impression that, while he’s a serious businessman, he’s a free thinker too.

However, most people probably wouldn’t have that same positive assessment if he were making a deliberately funny face and wearing a white suit jacket with hot pink polka dots. Looking different is a way to earn the respect of your peers and potential clients. Looking clownish is not.

10. The Cheerful

Who says you have to be serious to be professional? This kind of headshot takes many elements of your traditional business headshot and makes them a little more relaxed. For instance, the woman is wearing a blazer, but instead of a traditional color like dark blue or gray, it’s a striking baby blue. The background is a bold green—a relatively uncommon color for headshot backdrops—that creates a dramatic contrast with the blazer. Finally, her smile and casual pose make her look good-natured and approachable.

Tips for Taking a Great LinkedIn Headshot

The stakes are high when you’re creating a headshot for LinkedIn. The site is brimming with competition, but the right headshot will set you apart. Before you go about creating your headshot, check out these tips for creating something beautiful and memorable.

Dress Like You Would at Work

Not sure what to wear? Many people unwittingly make their headshots look unnatural by incorporating overly formal clothing. If they never wear makeup at work, they might decide they need it for a photo shoot. Keep in mind that the point of a headshot is to make you look like yourself on a good (but still typical) day.

Go Easy on the Editing

It might be tempting to apply filters to your headshots, endlessly retouch, or both. A headshot is supposed to make you look professional, and if yours looks like you just applied a Snapchat filter, few people are going to equate it with professionalism.

Ask Someone Else to Take Pictures for You

This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but if someone else takes the picture, it will make it easier to relax and look more natural. Chances are good that the front-facing camera on your smartphone isn’t as good as the rear-facing camera. That means that if you take selfies for your headshots, you’ll have to choose between a lower-resolution image or awkwardly trying to snap photos without seeing your face on the screen. When someone else takes your pictures for you, they might also be able to offer a little posing advice.

Choose Soft Lighting

Have you noticed that harsh lighting tends to make your face look shadowy? If at all possible, you should take your headshots in natural light that isn’t overly harsh. You might get the best results if you take your pictures in the morning or closer to sunset. If you don’t have access to good natural light, try experimenting with different light sources at home. Even having a non-fluorescent lamp shining on you from the side can often look nice. However, you should remember that the goal is to look professional—not shadowy and mysterious!

Make Sure You’re the Only One in the Picture

This might sound obvious. But just like many people on Facebook do, some LinkedIn users elect to use group photos as headshots. This can cause problems for a few reasons. 

First, it communicates that you aren’t serious about your career. If employers or clients think you can’t be bothered to take a headshot (or even just a good selfie), they may be less likely to want to work with you.

Second, from a practical standpoint, these photos make it harder for someone to recognize you when they meet you. 

Finally, don’t just crop a group photo and use your face as your headshot. It’s usually easy to tell, and having a low-effort headshot like this will make you look unprofessional.

Make Updates If You Change Your Appearance

Unless the work you do is entirely remote, employers and clients are going to see you at some point. And when they do, you want to make sure that you look like your headshot. If you don’t, you may come off as untrustworthy. To avoid misunderstandings and not being recognized, you should retake your headshots if your appearance changes significantly.

Which LinkedIn Headshot Is Right for You?

Different styles of headshots tend to work well for different people. The kind of work you do, your company culture, and your personal style all play a role. However, unless you’ve taken many headshots before and know what makes you look best, it can be hard to tell what kind of headshot is right for you. You could schedule a professional photo shoot to test out a variety of settings and outfits, but a professional headshot photoshoot can get very expensive.

Fortunately, today it’s easier than ever to create a LinkedIn headshot with AI using platforms like Portrait Pal. We started offering affordable AI headshots to help early-career professionals reach their potential without breaking the bank. When you get your headshots with us, you’ll receive up to 100 unique images in three hours or less.You can choose from many backgrounds and clothing types to generate headshots that reflect both your profession and your personality. Best of all, they’re virtually indistinguishable from professionally taken photos! Feel free to explore the website, reach out with any questions, and get started today.