No matter how competent you are, or what exceptional skills you have, ultimately we all prefer to work with someone who radiates confidence and is pleasant to work with. So we prefer to choose someone who gives us the impression that they are a good fit for us and someone who radiates a positive message.That positive message can be confidence, competence, or sympathy, or, of course, preferably a combination of all three! Investing in a good profile photo is therefore essential and can make or break your profile! Don't skimp on the photographer, because you will only look as good as the photographer's talent can make you look... A classic portrait or an original photo?
We often hear from people who want a special, original, or silly photo as their profile picture. Or one with an object that characterizes their talents or job. This can be great for your website, but not as a profile picture.The sole purpose of a profile photo is to quickly show, with a small photo, the face behind a profile. So keep it simple without a busy background. Make sure people can and want to look at only one thing: you!
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you work in a creative sector, this may be acceptable, but it must be truly original and well done. You understand that an accountant wearing disco glasses and a party hat is unlikely to inspire confidence or convey professional expertise. Sometimes, a photo that shows your personality can also be a good idea, provided it suits you.
Headshot or bust portrait on LinkedIn?
Always remember that a profile photo should immediately show what you want to show, or what people want to see: “What face is behind this profile?” Quite literally: your face!
In other words: your eyes and your facial expression. The latter is created by a combination of your mouth, your eyebrows, and your eyes.
It's best not to wear clothing that stands out too much, and whether you're bald or have beautiful curls usually makes little difference to that first impression.
That's why it's best to choose a headshot for your LinkedIn profile photo. This is a close-up of your face. The bottom of the photo should not be lower than chest height, and your head should be visible but not completely at the top of the photo.
A bust portrait is more suitable for a website, where there is more space and visitors take more time to look and read. The photo does not have to fit a specific format, and you are not compared to your opponents or competitors on a single page.
Business photo in the studio, at your office, or at an outdoor location?
As mentioned earlier, it is best to keep the background of your profile photo simple and calm. Ultimately, only one thing should stand out in that photo: your face.
That is why we prefer studio photos, because we always work with a plain background. This background can be white, gray, dark gray, or black, as long as it does not distract attention. This can be done in our own studio in Willebroek, or for multiple people, on location (with more limited background color options).
Even though we have many clients whom we photograph in their working environment, this is the most effective way to create the right atmosphere that always fits perfectly with the brand or company's corporate identity.