Ugly LinkedIn photo?

Some executives favor their high school yearbook likeness. Others just choose to ignore the aging process. Either way, an outdated profile photo is not the best way to represent yourself on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network.

Our guest for this segment Debi Cramer, founder and principle photographer at Thirty-Eighth Avenue Photography in Plymouth, MA, outlines “There are a number of professional profile photo ‘no-no’s’ including scowling, wearing sunglasses or clothing items with prints, as well as standing alongside other people - or next to someone’s shoulder and arm in the case of a cropped image.”

A LinkedIn profile photo is also not the best place to show off a cherished boat, sports car or pet. It’s okay to wear ski goggles if you’re a ski resort owner, but not okay if you’re a ski enthusiast and your profession is selling life insurance. It should be noted that NOT having a profile photo doesn’t work in your favor either. Will fellow networkers and recruiters want to connect? Perhaps not. Those who do have a profile photo on LinkedIn may receive up to 21 times more profile views than those lacking profile photos (according to LinkedIn).

Tune in and smile for the camera.