What Your Headshot Says About You (Personal Brand Edition)
by Bobbin & Co
Your headshot isn’t just a photo—it’s your first impression. Here’s what you might not realize what you’re saying through your LinkedIn profile:
Smiling wide: Friendly, approachable, but is it you?
A wide smile in a headshot communicates warmth, approachability, and confidence all at once. It immediately creates a connection and can build trust in business and personal branding.
However, relying solely on a wide smile can also feel off, especially if you are insecure about your smile, or don’t naturally smile anyway (hello to my RBF sisters!). While effective, this expression may blend in with countless others, missing an opportunity to showcase unique personality or a distinctive brand voice. Don’t try to “fit the mold” if it’s not you. I promise there are other options.
Serious / smize: Confident, edgy, professional in a creative way.
I think it was God who said: A smize is worth a thousand smiles. I might be wrong there. You can be the judge, but in the creative world, I personally love a smize. And as a photographer, it makes the session feel more upscale, almost like you’re modeling for a magazine, rather than your mom trying to force you to take a picture on the first day of school. You know what I mean? Give your cheek muscles a break and try throwing out a smize at your next photo session.
Note: this is a tricky move on a sunny day. Let your face relax and find some shade before popping out this blue steel move!
Looking away / candid: Thoughtful, introspective, artistic.
This is just plain cute, right? In the art world, we have a lot more liberty to be nuanced with our headshots. A straight on smize or smile isn’t always going to convey your personal brand the best. Something like the photo above says whimsy, hope, magic. Something elevated. Did I just describe your brand? Give a candid headshot a try!
In the end, it’s entirely up to you. And as a creative, why care so much about what others think?
Match your headshot to your brand. Your audience should get a vibe immediately:
“This is who they are. This is what they do.”
That first part is super important.
Bobbin’s Quick Tips:
Own your headshot — don’t overthink what’s conventional. Make it you.
Don’t pick the photo you hate your face in — It’s your photo! Make sure you’re happy to share it everywhere. Headshots go a long way, so make sure you really like it.
Label them in your computer — or better yet, keep them in a folder so they are easy to locate.
Wherever you have a profile photo option, upload your headshot — nothing is more ominous than an empty, grey profile photo. Don’t waste your brand’s potential!
