No matter how competent you are or what exceptional skills you have, we all prefer to work with someone who inspires confidence and is pleasant to work with. So we choose someone who gives us the impression that we click, someone who conveys a positive message. That message can be trust, competence, or friendliness—or, ideally, a combination of all three.
A good profile photo is an investment that can make or break your profile. Don't skimp on the photographer: your photo will only be as good as the talent of the person taking it.
A classic portrait or an original photo?
People often ask us for a special, original, or silly photo as a profile picture, or one featuring an object that symbolizes their talent or job. That can be a lot of fun for your website, but not as a profile picture.
A profile picture has only one purpose: to quickly show, in a small format, the face behind the profile. So keep it simple, without a busy background. Make sure people can—and want to—look at only one thing: you.
There are exceptions to every rule. If you work in a creative field, an original photo is acceptable—but it has to be truly original and well done. An accountant wearing disco glasses and a party hat doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his professional expertise. A photo with character can be a good idea, though, if it suits you.
Headshot or bust portrait on LinkedIn?
Remember that a profile picture should immediately show what people want to see: whose face is behind this profile? Quite literally: your face. In other words: your eyes and your facial expression, which is created by the combination of your mouth, your eyebrows, and your eyes.
It's best if your clothes don't stand out too much, and whether you're bald or have gorgeous curls makes little difference when it comes to that first impression.
That's why it's best to choose a headshot: a close-up of your face. The bottom of the frame should be no lower than chest level; at the top, your head may extend slightly beyond the frame. You can read more about exactly how to choose the framing, your gaze, and your clothing in our 12 Tips for a Better Professional Profile Photo.
A bust portrait works better on a website. There’s more space there, and visitors take more time to look at and read the content. The photo doesn’t have to fit into a fixed format, and you aren’t listed on the same page alongside your competitors.
Professional photoshoot in the studio, at the office, or on location?
As mentioned, it’s best to keep the background of your profile photo simple and uncluttered: there should only be one thing that stands out, and that’s your face.
That’s why we prefer a studio photo with a plain background in white, gray, dark gray, or black—as long as it doesn’t draw attention to itself. You can have it taken at our studio in Willebroek, or in front of a team Also available for on-site service, with a slightly more limited selection of background colors.
We also photograph many clients in their own work environments. This allows us to create an atmosphere that seamlessly aligns with your brand’s or company’s corporate identity. To see how a profile photo like this can make a difference, check out the story of Ashley.
