How to Prepare for LinkedIn & Branding Portraits

Your Photo Is Part of Your Personal Brand

Your role and industry should guide the tone of your photo:

  • Corporate & finance: polished, structured, confident

  • Creative & entrepreneurial: modern, relaxed, expressive

  • Healthcare & education: warm, trustworthy, calm

  • Leadership & consulting: confident authority with approachability

Your photo should feel natural within your field while still representing you.

A man with curly dark hair, glasses, wearing a white lab coat and a patterned tie, smiling against a plain grey background.

Clothing Tips for Branding & LinkedIn Portraits

For Men

  • Solid colors photograph best (navy, gray, earth tones)

  • Avoid bold patterns, logos, or distracting prints

  • Jackets elevate the look instantly, even without a tie

  • Shirts should be pressed and well-fitted

  • Minimal accessories keep the focus on your face

A woman with shoulder-length curly brown hair and glasses wearing a white lab coat with a pink shirt underneath, standing against a plain gray background.

Clothing Tips for Branding & LinkedIn Portraits

For Women

  • Solid colors or subtle textures work best on camera

  • Avoid loud patterns, logos, and shiny fabrics

  • Blazers, dresses, or structured tops photograph beautifully

  • Choose necklines that feel professional and comfortable

  • Layering adds depth and flexibility to your look

Expression and Body Language Matter

A strong branding or LinkedIn photo sits in the balance between confidence and warmth.

  • Forced smiles feel stiff

  • Overly serious expressions can feel unapproachable

A skilled photographer will guide both men and women into natural expressions that feel relaxed and genuine, not posed or awkward.

A smiling woman with long light brown hair, wearing a black floral dress and gray cardigan, standing outdoors near a Lapp Electric service van with ladders on top, surrounded by green trees.
A man with glasses and a beard smiling with arms crossed, standing outdoors in front of a Lapp Electric service vehicle, which has the company's logo and contact information.
A bald man with a beard, wearing a black polo shirt with a 'Union Community Care' logo, standing outdoors with a blurred green background.

Hair, Makeup, and Grooming

For Men

  • Schedule haircuts 3–7 days before your session

  • Keep facial hair neat and intentional

  • Use minimal product to avoid shine

  • Bring a comb or brush for quick touch-ups

A professional woman with long, wavy brown hair, wearing a black blazer over a white blouse, standing indoors with a neutral background.

For Women

  • Natural, polished makeup photographs best

  • Avoid heavy contouring or overly shiny products

  • Hair should feel controlled but natural

  • Bring simple touch-up items (lip color, powder)

Two people, a man and a woman, standing in a woodworking shop, both wearing gray T-shirts with a logo, smiling at the camera.

Background, Framing, and Consistency

  • Clean backgrounds keep the focus on you

  • Environmental backgrounds add personality when intentional

  • Tight framing works best for LinkedIn profile photos

  • Branding sessions allow for more variety and storytelling

Using a consistent photo across LinkedIn, your website, and professional profiles helps build recognition and trust.

Final Thoughts

A strong branding or LinkedIn photo isn’t about perfection.

It’s about presence.

When your image aligns with who you are and where you’re going, it quietly supports every opportunity that comes your way.

Let’s Connect.