3 Ways to Capture the Perfect LinkedIn Photo

Hiring managers typically know within 10 seconds whether your resume will move on to the next round or be thrown in the trash. And while the resume and cover letter are still powerful tools, most recruiters will head straight for your LinkedIn profile to find the one piece of information that makes you truly unique — your profile picture.

The book of our career is definitely judged by the cover. The best experience and most prestigious education can be quickly ruined by a bad profile picture. So just what makes that picture less than ideal, according to LinkedIn?:

• An old photo that shows your profile is out of date and neglected
• Your favorite party picture from college (this isn’t Facebook)
• A stale headshot with no smile or real personality
• A group shot with everyone else cropped out (it just looks sloppy)
• A complicated picture with too much going on in the background (less is more)
• A profile picture that looks like it belongs on Tinder
• A picture that included spouse, family or pets (it should be only you)

Now that you know what not to do, how do you achieve that perfect profile picture? Depending on your budget and how much time you want to invest in a pristine snapshot, here are three options that can help your profile shine.

The Smartphone Picture

If you have an iPhone or even the LG G5 with its 8-megapixel, front-facing camera, an incredible camera is already in your pocket. There’s a few ways a smartphone can capture a stunning photo for your LinkedIn profile:

• The #WorkSelfie is an up-and-coming trend on LinkedIn, but also a subtle art. If you can strike a balance between fun and professional, you’ll have profile picture gold.
• Have a friend or colleague take a picture at a work event or in the field. A good picture that shows you in the middle of your craft will stand out.
• Follow the standard rules of good portraits — use natural lighting, the rule of thirds, proper zoom, etc.

A Professional Photographer

You don’t need to be an executive to invest on a professional portrait for your LinkedIn profile. Customer-facing industries will always take an extra look at profile pictures, so if you’re not confident with your smartphone abilities, leaving it to a pro could be the way to go.

There are some drawbacks. A professional headshot won’t capture you in the field or at an event, but it will give you a universal portrait fit for your resume, LinkedIn and other professional resources. One session can cost a few hundred dollars, but it’ll give you photos you can use for years.

Event Pics & Existing Inventory

There could be an amazing, professional picture of you out there right now, for free, and you don’t even know it. If you job involves conventions, charity events or work functions, chances are a photographer was hired to cover the event and a great portrait is just hanging out on their photography website.

Pay attention to your next event and look for a photographer floating though the crowd. A lot of events, especially charity fundraisers, will have “red carpet” photo spots to capture a great picture. These are perfect for showing off a charity you work with, plus you’ll already be dressed up for the occasion.