A high-quality profile picture with Linker

A bit clickbaity, but we’re still going to give you our best advice for optimizing your LinkedIn profile picture.

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What are the dimensions for a LinkedIn profile picture?

We all know that the profile pictureis THE thing that catches the eye on social media and makes people want to learn more about you.

So, it better be top-notch! Let me give you the inside scoop: the optimal size for a LinkedIn profile picture. We don't want anything blurry or pixelated, right? Don't pull a Grandma Ginette on Facebook.

Here’s the deal: the recommended size is 400 x 400 pixels.

If you can resize your photo, that’s great, but otherwise, LinkedIn is pretty flexible! The network lets you upload a square photo between 200 x 200 and 20,000 x 20,000 pixels. Yeah, you could go wild and have a profile picture worthy of a giant mural if you really wanted to! But let’s be honest, a reasonable size with good resolution is better so everyone can appreciate your beautiful face on all devices. It’s your turn to find the right format so your profile picture makes you look like a boss on LinkedIn!

Since we’re nice, here are a few tips to resize your photo easily:

• Canva, the communicator's best friend. Just a heads-up, you’ll need the premium version to resize an image directly. Otherwise, you can just create a 400 x 400 design and drop your photo into it 😉 (See that thrifty tip?)
• Adobe Express, the online tool from the Adobe suite! Upload your photo directly and choose the right dimensions. You can set custom dimensions (the classic 400x400 pixels for your photo) or select recommended sizes for different networks (which is good to know for post visuals 😉 Thanks, Adobe!). Just a heads-up, you’ll need to create an account to download your resized photo, but don't panic, it’s all free (and we love that—yes, the thrifty spirit is still here).

Now that you know the perfect size for your profile picture, let's move on to the next step 👇🏼

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Forget selfies and cropped photos with friends

Hey, hey, hey! We see you using selfies or cropped party photos 👀

Come on, let's save those for Instagram. For LinkedIn, go for something a bit more polished that still looks professional. You don't need to break out the suit and tie, even if you're a banker.

Ideally, use a photo taken with a camera rather than a phone, especially if yours is from 2009! If you've got a DSLR and a tripod, I’m sure you’ll handle it like a pro. If not, maybe it’s the perfect time to suggest a little photoshoot at your office—what do you think? 😉

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We want a recent photo!

Yes, that photo of you from 2010 is nice. But a lot has changed since then.

You don't even have the same hair color or style anymore... It’s time to print it out, tuck it away in a photo album, and stop uploading it as your profile picture.

On LinkedIn, it’s important to keep your profile up to date—not just your experience, but your photo too! It should reflect how you look today. So, say goodbye to that photo where you feel like you look your best and take a new one where you’ll look even better! 🔥

Beyond reflecting reality, an up-to-date profile picture helps you avoid any confusion or awkwardness when meeting people in person.

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How should I take my LinkedIn profile picture?

With a camera, like I said!

No, seriously, enough with the bad jokes.

A LinkedIn profile picture needs to tick a few boxes. You don't need to know how to pose like Cara Delevingne to make an impact! Here are a few tips to get the right posture:

• Be the only person in the photo : as I mentioned, a cropped photo is a no-go! A photo with friends that hasn't been cropped is a no-go, too. How is anyone supposed to know who's who?
• Flash your best smile : you’re much more likely to want to chat with someone who’s smiling, right? Your facial expression is key to making a great first impression. Unless, of course, the "angry guy" look is part of your personal branding strategy 😉
• Turn your shoulders to the left : or to the right… It all depends on your camera settings, but the main thing is that the final photo shouldn't make it look like you’re turning your back on your banner. It’s psychological—having your shoulders angled toward your cover photo makes you seem more open to visitors, trust me!
• A captivating gaze : when it comes to good posture, your eyes matter! They say the eyes are the window to the soul, so let’s try to show you’ve got a good one. Through your gaze, you can convey confidence, friendliness, determination, or any other sentiment that fits your professional goals. Pro tip: When taking the shot, look at the top of the lens for a portrait worthy of the best!
• Choose the right outfit : an outfit that reflects your business and your brand. Your clothes are a great way to show off your mindset. If you don’t usually wear shirts for work and your style is more on the chill side, stick with that! The goal isn't to play dress-up, but to stay natural. (Though maybe don't wear your favorite soccer jersey—it could cause some friction and make it harder to close deals with clients from rival cities).

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Filters are a bad idea for your LinkedIn profile picture

Instagram loves filters, even if the "no filter" look is trending right now… But one thing is for sure: not on LinkedIn!

No lenses, obviously (it seems logical, but we prefer to clarify to avoid seeing LinkedIn profile pictures with rainbows and the like…), but no color filters either.

We aren't talking about black & white filters or minor contrast/brightness adjustments. No, we’re talking about filters that completely change the look of the photo and can make it look cheap… (e.g., the Amaro filter on Instagram… You can look up which one we mean).

If you want to spruce up your profile picture and you know your way around, you can work on the lighting, colors, and sharpness using tools like Lightroom, for example. But don't overdo it—we want it to stay natural!

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Work on your branding and reflect it in your photo

Working on your branding is a major differentiator that will help you stand out on LinkedIn!

Your photo should represent the image you want to project of yourself and your business, that goes without saying!

For example, if you’re a big creative (like us), you can add a fun, relaxed touch to your photo. If you’re a banker, you might prefer to go for a more formal look without necessarily having to wear a suit.

Whatever you choose, make sure your LinkedIn profile picture represents who you are.

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Tools for creating my LinkedIn profile picture

Canva

Looking for a super simple and effective way to create a great LinkedIn profile picture? I’ve got just the thing for you: Canva!

No need to be a design pro or have crazy technical skills. The tool is intuitive, with tons of features and resources to customize your LinkedIn profile picture. You can choose from a ton of templates designed for LinkedIn profile pictures, or start from scratch and let your creativity run wild.

Canva offers a free version that provides plenty of options and will allow you to customize your photo!

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Background-remover

Now this is the cream of the crop. If you’ve ever spent hours in Photoshop using the pen tool to cut out a photo, you’ll understand our pain. To ease that, we found a super handy tool that lets you remove the background of your photo in one click.

Perfect if you want to add a colored background to your profile picture 😉

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Lightroom

A tool for those familiar with the Adobe suite that will allow you to touch up (lightly, we see you coming) your photo! We’re not talking about slimming a nose or removing a blemish, but rather playing with colors, brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc. This will allow you to have an HQ photo worthy of a photographer 📸

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Examples of LinkedIn profile pictures

You might say that theory is all well and good, but what does it actually look like in the end?

Stick around a little longer and admire the possibilities 👇🏼

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LinkedIn profile picture with a colored background

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LinkedIn profile picture with a gradient background

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Black and white LinkedIn photo

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Profile picture with a border

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The debrief

We hope you took notes and saved everything! Your LinkedIn profile picture is one of the most important parts of your profile. We want it to pop 🔥

There are 3 key factors: clarity, branding, and the emotion you want to convey. By following our advice, we hope you'll be able to optimize your profile picture to successfully reflect your field of expertise and your personality.

Don't forget that your profile picture is one of the first things people see, so choose it carefully to make a great impression!

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