LinkedIn Photo and Headshot Guide

Ok, ok - in the photo on the right I exaggerated a bit. Fewer wrinkles, drooping eyelid gone, age spots gone, slimmer, no circles under the eyes, etc., etc.

Every photographer knows such wishes and they come from men and women.

And of course I also do some kind of "optimization". You must not overdo it though. I my case there is no need at all. I prefer the rough look.

Just recently, one of my clients switched her old LinkedIn profile photo for a new one. The old photo was nice to look at, but that was about it.

Generally I like to ask and I also asked this customer:

"Do you want to look like the girl who serves the coffee, or the lady who runs the meeting?"

This may sound a bit disrespectful to the service staff and is definitely not meant that way, but my customer got the message. The photo I take of you is not for your partner or grandparents, but for your business, for your employers website or for your LinkedIn profile. You don't have to tilt your head nicely and smile like Miss World oder Mr. Universe.

This statement is also true: "You're allowed to show your leadership!"

And only two weeks after this customer had exchanged her profile photo on LinkedIn, she wrote me an enthusiastic mail and reported that she had never before received so many contact inquiries as after posting the new photo.

People sense exactly whether a photo has been retouched to death or is simply honest.