Headshots Made for LinkedIn
A natural expression, clean crop, and files sized for your profile
What We Shoot For
LinkedIn's own recommendations
Face-Focused Composition
Your face fills about 60% of the frame so it reads as a thumbnail.
Professional Yet Approachable
Enough warmth that someone feels fine sending the first message.
Clean Background
A solid or simple background keeps the attention on your face.
High-Quality File
Delivered well above LinkedIn's 400x400px minimum.
Current and Accurate
You should look like your photo when you walk into the meeting.
Proper Lighting
Studio light controls the shadows instead of a ceiling fixture.
What the Research Says
Photo vs. no photo, per LinkedIn
21x
more profile views for members with a photo than without one
LinkedIn
9x
more connection requests for members with a photo
LinkedIn
36x
more messages received by members with a photo
LinkedIn
100ms
is enough to judge a face on competence and trustworthiness
Willis & Todorov, Psychological Science, 2006
Those first three compare having a photo to having none, which is not the same question as whether a professional one beats a selfie. Nobody has published a clean number for that.
What Actually Moves the Needle
Photofeeler rated 800 business profile photos more than 60,000 times. Every variable that changed the result is something a session controls.
Lighting
What the ratings showed: photos rated as dark scored lower on likability. How we handle it: studio lights are set for your face, not borrowed from whatever room you are in.
Wardrobe
What the ratings showed: formal dress was the single largest positive shift measured, on both competence and influence. How we handle it: bring a few options and we choose on camera, where you can see the difference.
Framing
What the ratings showed: full-body shots scored lower on competence and influence, and face-only crops scored lower on likability. How we handle it: we frame from mid-chest and deliver a square crop built for LinkedIn's circle.
Expression
What the ratings showed: a genuine smile showing teeth produced the largest likability gain in the data. How we handle it: this is the coaching part. You are responding to a conversation, not holding a pose.
Background
What the ratings showed: clutter behind the subject pulled scores down across the board. How we handle it: seamless backdrops in the studio, or a controlled depth of field on location.
Clear Eyes
What the ratings showed: anything obscuring the face, including hair, shadow, and glare, cost both competence and influence. How we handle it: we angle glasses to kill reflections and check every frame on the monitor.
Sources: LinkedIn; Willis & Todorov, “First Impressions: Making Up Your Mind After a 100-Ms Exposure to a Face,” Psychological Science, 2006; Photofeeler, “The Perfect Profile Photo” research study. Book a LinkedIn session.
Schedule Your LinkedIn Headshot Session
Tell us what you do and how you use LinkedIn. We'll follow up with times.
Prefer to call? (330) 748-3330
Questions or Custom Plans
Get in Touch
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How It Works
1. Schedule
Book online in minutes.
2. Shoot
A 30-minute session with a few looks.
3. Upload
Files sized for your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
A great LinkedIn headshot is professional, approachable, and current. It should show your face clearly with good lighting, a clean background, and professional attire. You should look like yourself on your best day - confident, friendly, and trustworthy. LinkedIn recommends headshots that fill most of the frame with your face and shoulders.
Wear what you'd wear to meet an important client or attend a professional conference in your industry. Business professional or business casual works for most fields. Solid colors photograph better than busy patterns. Your outfit should reflect your industry norms - a lawyer might wear a suit, while a creative professional might choose smart casual.
Yes! A genuine, warm smile makes you appear approachable and trustworthy. LinkedIn data shows that profiles with smiling photos receive more connection requests and messages. Your smile should look natural and authentic, not forced or overly posed.
Update your LinkedIn headshot every 2-3 years, or whenever your appearance significantly changes. Your photo should look like current you - if someone wouldn't recognize you in person from your photo, it's time for an update.
Clean, simple backgrounds work best for LinkedIn. Solid colors (gray, blue, white) or subtle gradients keep the focus on you. Avoid busy, distracting backgrounds. The background should complement you, not compete with you for attention.
Yes. We deliver files sized and formatted for LinkedIn. LinkedIn profile photos display at 400x400 pixels, and we ensure your headshot looks perfect at that size while also providing high-resolution versions for other uses.
Client Reviews
Unedited Google and Facebook reviews for Andy Eicher Photography. Some reviews cover photography services beyond headshots.