There's a specific look that says "I'm a professional" on LinkedIn. It's not about expensive cameras or studio lighting — it's almost entirely about the background. Take a look at the headshots on any recruiter's or executive's profile: clean, solid-coloured background, even lighting, head-and-shoulders framing.
The good news is that the background is the easiest part to fix after the fact. If you have a photo where your face is well-lit and in focus, you're 90% of the way there — even if the background is your kitchen, a car park, or a crowded pub.
What Actually Makes a Headshot Look Professional
A professional LinkedIn headshot has a clean, solid-coloured background, even lighting on the face, and a head-and-shoulders frame centred for LinkedIn's circular crop.
Background matters more than you think. A clean, solid-coloured background instantly elevates even a casual photo. The most common choices are navy blue, neutral grey, and white.
Even lighting is non-negotiable. Face a window. Natural daylight from in front of you gives the most flattering illumination. Overcast days are ideal.
LinkedIn crops to a circle. Your face needs to be centred.
Keep it current. Update your photo every couple of years.
The Process
Pick your best recent photo
Any photo where your face is clearly visible and well-lit works. A photo a mate took at dinner, a shot from a conference, a holiday snap where you looked sharp.
Remove the background
Upload to the Background Remover. The AI strips away whatever was behind you.
Choose a background colour
| Context | Recommended Colours |
|---|---|
| Corporate, finance, law | Navy blue, dark grey |
| Tech, startups | Teal, slate blue, soft gradients |
| Creative, design, media | Muted earth tones or gradients |
| Healthcare, academia, nonprofit | White, light grey |
| Sales, real estate, consulting | Warm grey, muted blue |
The Change Background Colour tool lets you try different colours quickly.
If your original photo had a decent background, the Blur Background tool softens the original while keeping contextual depth.
Crop and download
Crop to a head-and-shoulders frame. Download in HD.
Specific Advice
Don't over-edit. LinkedIn is a professional network, not Instagram.
Match your industry's expectations. Look at the profiles of people in your role.
The "professional photographer" question. Is it worth paying $150-400 NZD for a professional headshot? If you're actively job-searching at a senior level, maybe. For everyone else, a well-lit photo with a clean background replacement is genuinely indistinguishable from a budget studio shot.
Batch-update your other profiles too. Once you have a good headshot, use it everywhere — email signature, Slack/Teams avatar, company website bio, Seek profile. Consistent photos across platforms build recognition.
Check the mobile preview. LinkedIn profile photos display very small on mobile (about 56x56px in the feed).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a selfie? Yes, but a photo taken by someone else usually has better perspective.
My current photo has a distracting background. Can I just fix the background? That's exactly what this approach is for. The background is a 30-second fix.
How often should I update my LinkedIn photo? Every 1-2 years, or whenever your appearance changes significantly.