Is Your LinkedIn Picture Hurting Your Career?
- Cara Heilmann
- May 21
- 10 min read
I hate saying this, I really do–because it shouldn’t be true. But: your LinkedIn picture is the single most crucial thing about your profile.
With my clients, I flash random LinkedIn pages and ask them if they’d pick up the phone and call that person if they had a job open on their team. Not looking at anything else but the image.
In one minute, we look at seven profile pictures, and it is like a Tinder swipe-right-left reaction.
And the results are consistent—better pictures get more opportunities.
Your image has to be amazing. This is the plain, blunt truth.
And if it isn’t, you might be losing out on job opportunities or creating a professional brand that’s unprofessional and sloppy.
I’ve worked in HR for over two decades, and I’ve coached thousands of individuals with their careers. So in this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to get a standout LinkedIn picture and what errors to avoid.
8 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your LinkedIn Profile Picture
Photo credit: Chase Wilson
First and foremost, let’s get very clear on what not to do.
Mistake 1: Poor lighting
If your lighting is too dim, it’ll make you seem less approachable. Like you’re hiding in the shadows.
If it’s too bright and you’re squinting, you’ll look uncomfortable.
Taking pictures with overhead light or outside can create harsh shadows and make your face look uneven, tired, or overly dramatic.
Here’s what to do instead: if you’re indoors, take a picture near a window during the day. You could also try getting a ring light to brighten your space.
Here’s an example of what not to do. See how harsh the shadows are on her face?
Mistake 2: Unprofessional clothing
Dress for the job you want. And attune to the norms of your industry.
Your level of formality signals a lot. When you get it right, you look like you belong. When you get it wrong, you’ll seem out of place and out of touch.
Look on LinkedIn for the job titles you want, and wear what they’re wearing. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong going too formal.
The picture below is a nice photo, but if he works as a lawyer, that level of casualness will hurt his reputation.
Mistake 3: Busy background
Don’t let your background distract from your face. Your face is what matters most.
Go with solid colors or a blurred background. A wall or nature can work too. But any more than that and it’ll be distracting.
In this picture below, there’s too much going on in the back. It creates chaos, and it draws your eye away from his face.
Pro tip: I personally love the look of being outside using “portrait” mode on your phone; background slightly blurred, sharp focus on you.
Pro tip 2: Avoid a background with hard lines (brick walls, sides of a bookshelf).
That’s because once you have your picture, you’ll want both your eyes to be level, which will likely require rotating your picture.
But if you have lines in the background, then a rotated picture will look disorienting.
Mistake 4: Cropped from a group photo
When you see other people’s bodies cropped in the background of a picture, it looks unprofessional. It can signal that you were casual and unintentional with your picture.
Plus, it looks a little awkward to see a floating arm behind someone’s head.
See what I mean?
Mistake 5: Looking away from the camera
Looking away from the camera can make you seem distant or disengaged. It doesn’t convey presence in the same way eye contact does.
For your LinkedIn picture, you probably want to convey approachability or confidence. And eye contact is key for both of those qualities.
Eye contact builds trust and creates a sense of connection, even in a photo.
If you work in an artsy role, you might be able to get away with gazing off into the distance. But in general, I’d suggest looking at the camera.
For example, in the picture below, the person could create so much more connection if he were looking at us.
Mistake 6: Not smiling
Not smiling in your LinkedIn photo can make you appear cold, unapproachable, or overly serious.
A genuine (and that’s the key word!) smile can make you feel friendly, confident, and magnetic. All traits that people seek in colleagues, clients, and hires.
In this picture below, she may look “cool,” but maybe not someone you’d want to work with.
Mistake 7: Zooming in too much
You want your picture to show your entire face. If some of your face is cut off because the image is zoomed in, then it’ll feel uncomfortable to look at, like you’re encroaching into the viewer’s comfort zone.
Ideally, the top of your shoulders will also be visible in your shot.
For example, here’s a nice picture. But for LinkedIn, it’s just too up close and personal.
Mistake 8: Angling your face
Don’t go for the selfie-style upward look or the coy profile shot. Face the camera the way you intend to face the world: head-on.
If you angle your face, it can come across as casual or even evasive.
It’s subtle, but a straightforward pose helps you appear trustworthy and approachable, which are key qualities for networking and job searching.
For example, the picture below isn’t bad, but it just gives off too casual a feel.
And this picture also isn’t bad, but just a bit coy.
Your Checklist for a Fantastic LinkedIn Profile Picture
Alright, let’s put it all together!
Once you’ve got some picture options, go through this checklist to make sure you get the best picture possible.
Checklist for your LinkedIn profile picture ☑️
✅ Lighting isn’t too dark or too bright.
✅ I’m not squinting or covered in shadows.
✅ My clothing matches the industry and role I want to work in
✅ Background is simple (solid color, blur, or subtle nature)
✅ It’s not cropped from a group photo
✅ I’m looking directly into the lens.
✅ I’m giving an authentic smile.
✅ It’s not overly zoomed in — head and shoulders are visible
✅ I’m facing the camera head-on.
If you follow those steps, you’ll be in great shape!
Although having a remarkable LinkedIn brand also requires an intentional banner picture.
6 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your LinkedIn Banner Picture
Your banner picture is a place to add to your marketing. But if you get it wrong, it’s possible to send all the wrong signals. Here are mistakes to avoid.
Mistake 1: Blurry or low-resolution
No matter what the picture is, if it looks low quality, then it signals that you are low quality.
A blurry or low-resolution picture looks unprofessional and careless. It’ll give off the impression that you don’t pay attention to detail or take your personal brand seriously.
If you’re going to use a picture for your banner, make sure it’s crisp.
Mistake 2: Irrelevant imagery
You can get creative with your banner picture, but it’s a fine line.
You need the picture to match your industry and be tasteful.
A life coach could have a picture of a sunrise to symbolize new beginnings.
An architect could have a picture of a beautiful building to show their taste.
But if you’re an accountant and your banner is a picture of a vintage muscle car, it’ll just feel off and unprofessional.
Would you hire an accountant with this banner picture?
Mistake 3: Imagery that’s too personal
Similarly, if you go for a personal picture that doesn’t match your career, it might come off as too “Facebook” and not enough “LinkedIn.”
Try to avoid family photos, casual party shots, or vacation scenes, because ultimately these can undermine your credibility as a professional.
You might have the cutest dog in the world, but unless you’re a veterinarian, save it for other social media platforms.
Mistake 4: Too many words
Putting text in your banner picture can be skillful as a way to market your professional brand.
But if you do go the text route, it should be quickly skimmable. Keep it to around 10 words or fewer.
Having too many words is overwhelming to look at. Your message will get lost, and you’ll come off as unfocused.
For example, don’t make your banner picture anything like this:
Mistake 5: Words are hard to read
If you go with words on your banner image, and your font color doesn’t contrast well with the background, people won’t be able to read it. And worse, it’ll come off as unprofessional and poorly designed.
Make sure your fonts are extremely legible.
See what I mean?
Mistake 6: Using LinkedIn’s logo
It’s not a horrible move to use LinkedIn’s built-in banner picture. Though it does convey a lack of intention.
If people see this as your LinkedIn picture, they’ll probably assume that you don’t use LinkedIn or take it seriously. Perhaps you just threw up a profile in the minimum amount of effort.
It’s fine to have a low-effort approach. But you’d be far better off just picking a solid color background instead.
Now that we know what not to do, let’s get clear on what you should be doing for your banner picture.
8 Acceptable Options for Your LinkedIn Banner Picture
Each social media platform has a set of norms. If you behave under those norms, then nobody will bat an eye. But if you violate a norm, people will feel like you’re doing something wrong, even if they can’t pinpoint why.
Below, I’ve broken down some of the norms on what is considered an “acceptable” LinkedIn banner picture.
While there’s no official rulebook for what’s acceptable, I browsed a few hundred LinkedIn profiles and catalogued the patterns I saw on the well-done pages.
Acceptable banner pictures also vary from industry to industry. But this should give you a place to start.
1. A solid color or pattern
If you're not sure what to choose, go with a clean, blank background in a color that complements your profile picture or matches your personal brand.
This strategy won’t win you any creativity awards, but you also won’t be committing any faux pas either.
It’s the equivalent of wearing a simple black blouse or a plain black t-shirt to a party.
And if you want a little more flair than just a solid color, you could also pick a pattern or abstract background. Something like this:
2. A cityscape or naturescape
Whether it’s the skyline of your city or the mountains that define your region, a well-composed landscape adds a touch of personality while staying professional.
Just make sure it’s high-resolution and not too busy.
I live in the Bay Area, so I could use a picture like this:
3. A picture of your company
If you love your current company, you may want to rep your pride by putting a company logo as your banner picture.
But even if you don’t love your current role, it can work to your advantage to showcase your company’s branding.
If you use a branded banner, team photo, or product image, it can subtly signal credibility, stability, and success. And all of these make you more attractive to recruiters.
Here’s a hypothetical banner created with ChatGPT and Canva:
4. A picture of you in action
If you’ve spoken at a conference, led a training, or been featured on stage, use that.
A photo of you doing something impressive builds authority and adds visual proof of your expertise.
The more people in the crowd, the more credibility it gives you. Extra points if there’s a “Ted” logo behind you.
Think something like this:
Similarly, if you’ve written a book, you could put an image of it in your banner picture.
5. A visual related to your industry
I’ve seen writers with pictures of typewriters.
And software engineers with pictures of subtle code snippets.
The key is choosing an image that immediately signals what you do without being over-the-top or cliché.
For example, I could imagine a marketing storyteller with a picture like this:
6. Minimalist workspace setup
You could also go for a picture of a clean, modern desk with essentials like a laptop, a coffee cup, and a plant.
This gives a hint of personality, but still keeps it professional. And it’s ultimately conveying that you’re organized and ready to work.
I personally think this approach can feel a little hokey and on-the-nose. But it’s popular for a reason—it’s safe, universally relatable, and sends a clear “I get things done” message without risking anything too bold.
7. Marketing text
If you’re an entrepreneur, solopreneur, or freelancer, then text can work great as a way to market yourself. But make sure it's short and intentional.
This is especially useful if you offer a service. Use a one-sentence pitch like:
"I help [your audience] with [their goal or pain point]."
This is the approach I took with my LinkedIn banner picture:
Pro Tip: You can also add logos of places you’ve been featured (like Forbes or TEDx) for instant credibility. Just make sure they’re easy to read and not cluttered.
That said, if you’re looking to get hired as an employee, I would not advise this approach because it will confuse recruiters.
My banner works because I am an entrepreneur who sells a service, and I am not applying for jobs.
If you have a banner picture like mine, and you apply for a job, then the recruiter might think that you run a business, and the job you just applied for is merely a short-term employment until you get your business up and going.
8. Meaningful words
Another option is to put a quote in your picture.
You could go for your professional “why” statement. Something like “Leading with integrity” or “Making tech more human.”
Or you could go for an inspirational quote that you like.
I saw someone with this quote in their profile recently:
Your Checklist for a Fantastic LinkedIn Banner Picture
Good luck with your banner picture!
Remember, here are your 8 options:
Solid color or pattern
Cityscape or nature scene
Branded company image
Photo of you in action (e.g., speaking or leading)
A visual related to your industry
A minimalist workspace setup
Short, skimmable marketing text
Meaningful words to represent your why or an inspirational mantra
And once you pick your approach, here’s your checklist.
Checklist for your LinkedIn banner picture ☑️
✅ Image is high-resolution (not blurry or pixelated)\
✅ Come off as a passive candidate (IE not someone desperate to get hired)
✅ It matches my industry (not overly personal or random)
✅ No more than ~10 words of text
✅ If there is text, it’s easy to read (good contrast, not over a busy image)
Make Your LinkedIn Profile the Best It Can Be
Your LinkedIn picture is a crucial part of your professional brand. It dictates the first impression that recruiters and colleagues form of you.
These days, your LinkedIn profile is like your business card, résumé, and personal website all in one. So it helps to have your profile fine-tuned.
If you’d like a professional pair of eyes to tell you how to make your profile even better, you might benefit from reaching out to a certified career coach. They can look at your LinkedIn and give you tips to take it to the next level so that recruiters seek you out.
If you're ramping up your job search, we offer a variety of tiers for career coaching that can fit your needs.
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