A good LinkedIn headshot is simple: your face filling most of the frame, eyes sharp, a clean background, and an expression that says "easy to work with". You can get one from a headshot photographer in New York in about 30 minutes, often with a few looks and retouched files. Prices typically run from around $150 to $400 depending on the photographer. Here is what makes a LinkedIn photo work, and how a good photographer gets there quickly.
What LinkedIn does to your photo
LinkedIn shows your photo as a small circle almost everywhere: in search results, next to comments, in messages, in the "people you may know" list. That one fact drives most of the decisions.
- The circle crops the corners. Anything near the edges disappears, so your head and shoulders need to sit in the middle with some room around them.
- It is tiny. At thumbnail size, a busy background turns to noise and a full-body shot turns into a dot. Your face should take up most of the frame.
- It sits next to strangers' photos. In a list of names, a bright, clear face with good light stands out. A dim, distant selfie does not.
There is also the banner, the wide image behind your photo. A headshot with more room on one side can work there too, or you can keep the banner for something else entirely.
Crop and background
The crop
For the profile photo, aim for:
- Head and top of shoulders, sometimes a little chest.
- Eyes about a third of the way down the frame.
- A little air above your head, so the circle does not clip your hair.
- Square format, with a looser version too, so you can adjust later.
Ask for wider crops from the same session as well, which come in handy for your company's team page, a conference bio or a press mention. Web and print sizes are worth asking about.
The background
Headshot studios typically use neutral or dark backdrops with studio light.
- Light grey or white is the safe, friendly LinkedIn choice. It looks clean at any size and suits almost every industry.
- Dark grey or black is more editorial and works well for speakers, consultants and creative roles, though it reads slightly more formal in a small circle.
If your company has a standard look for profile photos, bring an example and ask your photographer to match it. For more detail, read which headshot backdrop to choose.
Expression: the part a good photographer coaches
The difference between a forgettable headshot and a good one is usually the expression. Most people either freeze into a stiff smile or go so serious they look annoyed. Neither helps on LinkedIn.
What tends to work is a relaxed, slightly warm face: eyes engaged, a hint of a smile, chin slightly forward. Nobody does that on command, so it gets coached in small steps:
- Small adjustments: chin down a touch, shoulders turned slightly, weight on the back foot.
- Little prompts: "think of a colleague you actually like", "breathe out through your nose", "almost smile, not quite".
- Short bursts: a few frames, a reset, a few more. Holding an expression too long kills it.
- A look at the camera screen, if it helps you, so you can see what is working.
If you are nervous in front of a camera, say so when you book. A good photographer starts slower, keeps it light, and the best frames usually come once you have stopped thinking about it.
Three looks in 30 minutes
Many headshot sessions include a few looks. For LinkedIn, a simple plan:
- Classic professional: a jacket or a structured top on light grey. This is likely your profile photo.
- Softer: same backdrop, jacket off, or an open collar. Friendlier, good for a company page or a conference bio.
- Different mood: dark backdrop, or a different color top. Gives you an option for speaking, press or your own website.
You do not need to use all three looks. But having them means you can change your profile photo in six months without booking again. The guide on what to wear for headshots helps you plan the outfits, and what happens during a headshot session walks through the half hour.
Retouching for LinkedIn
LinkedIn photos are small, but people still notice when someone looks nothing like their profile. Good retouching:
- Cleans up skin: blemishes, redness, shine.
- Tidies stray hairs.
- Balances color and light.
- Does not reshape faces or bodies.
The goal is you on a good day, not someone else.
Tips once you have your photos
- Use the same headshot everywhere for a while: LinkedIn, email signature, company directory, video-call profile. Consistency makes you recognizable.
- Use the tight crop for the circle and keep a wider one for bios.
- Update when you change. New hairstyle, new glasses, a few years gone by: time for a new one.
- Check commercial use. If your employer will put the same photo on the company website, confirm with the photographer that this is allowed.
LinkedIn headshots for a team
If your whole team needs LinkedIn photos that match, ask a headshot photographer whether they can schedule people back to back with the same backdrop and light. See team headshots in NYC for how that works.
Quick answers
How long does a LinkedIn headshot session take?
Usually around 30 minutes in the studio, including a few looks. Check each photographer's profile for exact lengths.
How much does it cost?
It varies. Individual headshot sessions in NYC typically run from about $150 to $400. Each profile shows real prices and what is included. You pay online when you book, and your card is only charged once the photographer accepts.
Can I use the headshots on my company's website too?
Often yes, but confirm licensing with your photographer. Ask for crops that work on a team page as well as in the LinkedIn circle.
Find your photographer
Choose a date and a time around your work schedule, and tell your photographer the photo is for LinkedIn so they plan the crops. Browse headshot photographers, or read the full guide to professional headshots in NYC.