5 Mistakes That Make a Headshot Look Unprofessional

Big Mistakes That Make a LinkedIn Headshot Look Unprofessional

Your LinkedIn headshot doesn't have to look like it belongs on the cover of a business magazine.

It doesn't need a dramatic background, an expensive suit, or a perfectly serious expression.

But there are some surprisingly common mistakes that can make an otherwise capable professional look less polished online. And that's important because your LinkedIn profile is often one of the first places people go when they want to learn more about you.

Whether you're an executive in Buckhead, an entrepreneur in Midtown, a business owner in Decatur, or a professional anywhere in the Atlanta metro area, your LinkedIn profile is part of how people encounter your professional identity.

Your headshot is a big part of that.

Here are five mistakes I see frequently and what you can do instead.

1. Using a Photo That Wasn't Actually Taken as a Headshot

This is probably the most common mistake.

You find a photograph of yourself that you like. For example, you're at a wedding. Maybe you're on vacation. Perhaps you're standing with a group of friends and you crop everyone else out.

Technically, you have a photograph of yourself. However, that doesn't necessarily make it a professional headshot. The problem is that the lighting, composition, background, expression, and perspective were designed for something else.

A photograph that looks great in a vacation album won't communicate the same thing sitting next to your job title and professional experience.

The same is true of a cropped group photograph. Even if the crop works technically, the photograph may still look like what it is: a photograph that wasn't intended to be a professional portrait.

The solution: Use a photograph that was created specifically for your professional image.

That doesn't necessarily mean it has to be formal. It simply means the photograph should be intentionally created for the job it needs to do.

2. Choosing a Photograph That's Outdated

This one is easy to overlook.

You still look good in the photograph. The lighting is good. In fact, the composition works. So, what's the problem? You don't look like that anymore.

Maybe your hairstyle has changed. Or you've grown or shaved a beard. Have you changed your glasses? Maybe your appearance has changed significantly over the past several years.

An outdated headshot can create a disconnect when someone eventually meets you in person.

There's also another reason to keep your headshot current.

Your professional identity changes.

You may have moved into leadership. Started a business. Changed careers. Taken on a new role. Started working with a different type of client.

Your photograph should reflect where you are now not where you were five or ten years ago.

There's no rule that says you need a new headshot every year.

Instead, ask yourself:

"If someone who knows me saw this photograph, would they recognize it as a current picture of me?"

If the answer is no, it's time for an update.

3. Trying Too Hard to Look Professional

This may sound strange, but one of the easiest ways to make a professional headshot look unprofessional is to try too hard to look professional.

That can mean an expression that's unnaturally serious. It can also mean an overly rigid pose, a smile that doesn't reach your eyes, or a posture that makes you look uncomfortable.

Remember, professional doesn't have to mean stiff. In fact, depending on what you do, being approachable may be just as important as looking authoritative.

A lawyer needs to establish confidence and a financial advisor needs to communicate trust. An entrepreneur may want to appear energetic and approachable and a consultant may want to look knowledgeable without appearing intimidating.

There isn't one expression that works for everyone. The goal is to create an image that looks like you at your professional best. That's one reason good headshot photography involves direction.

Most people aren't accustomed to being photographed. They shouldn't have to know exactly what to do with their shoulders, head, eyes, or expression.

That's the photographer's job.

4. Ignoring the Background

Your face should be the most important thing in your headshot. Unfortunately, a distracting background can compete with it.

I've seen professional profiles where the subject is photographed in front of cluttered offices, busy outdoor locations, random objects, or backgrounds with colors that compete with the person's clothing and skin tones.

Sometimes an environmental background is exactly the right choice. A photograph taken in your office can tell people something about what you do. Carefully selected Atlanta locations can give a portrait a sense of place. However, there's an important distinction between an intentional environment and simply photographing someone wherever there happens to be room.

The background should support the photograph.

It shouldn't become the photograph.

A good photographer considers the background before taking the picture and makes decisions about depth, color, lighting, composition, and perspective so that the viewer's attention stays where it belongs.

On you.

5. Treating the Headshot Like It's Just a Picture

This is probably the biggest mistake of all. Your LinkedIn headshot isn't simply a record of what you look like. It's part of your professional communication.

Think about everything else on your LinkedIn profile. Your headline tells people what you do. How long did you take crafting your About section to tell everyone about your experience and perspective? Your work history establishes your qualifications and your recommendations tell people what others think about working with you.

Of course, your headshot is doing something different. It's establishing a visual introduction.

And that means decisions that might seem insignificant like lighting, expression, clothing, background, composition, and even the angle of the camera can change how the photograph feels.

That's why simply asking someone to "take a nice picture" isn't enough. A professional headshot is the result of a series of intentional decisions.

So What Should a Good LinkedIn Headshot Look Like?

There isn't one formula but a strong LinkedIn headshot accomplishs a few things:

1. You look like yourself
2. Your face is recognizable and current
3. You look comfortable and confident

The expression on your face shouldn't make people wonder whether you actually wanted to be photographed. You need to look appropriate for your profession. After all, corporate executive and a creative director don't necessarily need the same visual style.

The background, your clothing, and the lighting must support you rather than compete with you.

And most importantly:

The photograph should communicate something intentional about you.

What About Professional Headshots in Atlanta?

Atlanta has an enormous and diverse professional community.

The visual expectations for a Buckhead attorney may be very different from those of a Midtown entrepreneur, a technology executive, a healthcare professional, or a creative business owner.

That's one reason I don't believe in a single "Atlanta headshot style." In fact, I don't use tired formulas and cookie cutter methods created to sell photography courses. Instead, I work with you to understand who you are, your needs, and then I create a headshot with you that matches those.

Plus, I know how to photograph people of every complexion. And let's not fool ourselves, that's a skill that not every headshot photographer in Atlanta has.

With WDO Photography, your headshot reflect your profession, your personality, your audience, and the type of impression you want to make. Sometimes that's a clean studio portrait and sometimes it's an environmental portrait in your workplace. The important thing is that the photograph has a purpose and you are seen how you want to be seen.

Your Headshot Doesn't Need to Be Perfect

Here's the good news:

You don't need to look like a model and you don't need to have a perfect smile. In fact, you don't even need to know how to pose. So don't spend hours worrying about what to do in front of the camera. That's what professional direction is for.

As your headshot photographer I help you relax and find a natural expression. Then we create an image that looks like you and not like someone playing the role of a professional.

Your job is to be yourself. Our job is to make sure the camera sees the version of you that you want shown.

Ready for a New Professional Headshot in Atlanta?

If your LinkedIn headshot is outdated, was cropped from another picture, or simply doesn't represent the professional you are today, it may be time for an update. Let WDO Photography create a professional headshots for you.

We work with individuals, executives, entrepreneurs, and businesses throughout Atlanta and the surrounding area. We offer a fully mobile headshot studio and we provide headshots at conferences and conventions.

Whether you need a LinkedIn headshot, an executive portrait, or consistent headshots for your entire team, the goal is to create photographs that look professional, authentic, and appropriate for the way you do business.