LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes Professionals Should Avoid | Houston Headshot Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)  and Craftsman based in Houston, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in corporate headshots and can tell you about LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes Professionals Should Avoid.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes Professionals Should Avoid

LinkedIn can be a powerful platform for professionals looking for new career opportunities and those who want to network. Your LinkedIn profile picture is an integral part of the first impression you create – it gives people some insight into who you are and what your personality is like.

If you want to make sure your LinkedIn profile picture has the right effect, here are a few mistakes to avoid:

Mistake 1: You’re Using an Outdated Photo.

If someone wouldn’t be able to recognize you in person after seeing your LinkedIn profile picture, it’s time for an update. Whether you’ve changed your hair, style, or you’ve simply lost a significant amount of weight, it’s best to update your headshots.

Mistake 2: The Backdrop is Distracting

If your eye is drawn to the background of your photo instead of your face, it’s not the right image. Ugly, outdated, or distracting backdrops should be avoided for any and all headshots.

Mistake 3: You’re Wearing an Unprofessional Outfit

While it’s perfectly fine to wear something that represents your personality and creativity, you should always look professional. What are you currently wearing in your profile photo? Would a potential client or employer find it off-putting? If so, it’s time to update your LinkedIn profile photo.

Mistake 4: Your Profile Photo Lacks Personality

As much as you want to appear professional, your headshot should still tell some sort of story. Using a stiff and overly formal LinkedIn profile picture is a sure-fire way to blend into the background. If you want to stand out, bring a bit of personality into your headshot.

Mistake 5: Using a Poor-Quality Photo

The last mistake you want to avoid is using a low-quality LinkedIn profile picture. If you took it with your phone and the photo looks grainy and unprofessional, it’s time to invest in a headshot session with a photographer.

By avoiding these mistakes, you can upload a LinkedIn profile picture that stands out and tells your personal brand story.

Update Your Headshot

Here are some recent updated headshots…

LinkedIn Profile Photo

LinkedIn Profile Photo Professional

professional woman's headshot
medical professional doctor headshots
professional headshots for women in Houston
medical professional headshots doctor
doctor headshots medical professional headshots
Houston professional headshots

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)  and Craftsman based in Houston, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in corporate headshots.  See more headshots in the gallery.  Contact me to book your professional headshot today!

- INSTAGRAM -

@taraflanneryphotography

If your team is constantly changing… this is worth knowing. 👇🏼

Group photos can be one of the hardest things to keep updated—especially for businesses with high turnover, growing teams, or people who aren’t always in the same place at the same time.

That’s where a group composite comes in.

Instead of trying to coordinate everyone for one big photo, I photograph each person individually—so you get cohesive, professional headshots—and then build the group image from there.

The biggest benefit?

When someone joins or leaves your team, you don’t have to start over. We simply update the composite—no need to reschedule a full team session.

It’s a much more flexible (and realistic) way to keep your team looking consistent and up to date.

If your team photos have been on your to-do list, this might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

📩 You can book a consultation through the link in my bio.
2027 graduates… this is your moment. ✨👇🏻

Senior year comes up faster than you think—and before you know it, calendars are full and you’re trying to squeeze something in last minute.

The best sessions happen when there’s time to plan.
Time to choose the right location, the right outfits, and create photos that actually feel like you.

Every senior you see here had a session that was intentional, relaxed, and built around who they are.

That’s what makes the difference.

If you’re part of the Class of 2027 (or the parent of), now is the time to start thinking about your session.

📩 You can book a consultation through the link in my bio.
If you’re just starting a photography business… you need to watch this.

I recently showed up to a headshot session at an office building with all my gear—ready to go—and security wouldn’t let me in.

Not because anything was wrong… but because there was a miscommunication, and I didn’t have a certificate of insurance on file with the building.

It’s one of those things you don’t think about when you’re first starting out—but it matters.

As you grow and start booking more corporate or on-location sessions, these small admin details become part of the job.

Clear communication with your client (or their admin team) ahead of time can save you a lot of stress on shoot day.

👉🏻 If you’re in that stage of figuring everything out, I’ve put together a few resources to help you avoid mistakes like this—grab them in my bio.

What’s something you’ve learned the hard way on a shoot? 🤔⬇️
Think Tank Bags… if you see this… please sponsor me 🤝🏼

But in all seriousness—photographers love a good piece of gear.

And it’s really easy to convince yourself that the next upgrade is what’s going to take your work to the next level.

Sometimes that’s true.

If a piece of equipment makes your workflow smoother, more efficient, or solves a real problem for you—it’s worth every penny.

But if it’s just shiny, new, and replacing something that already works… it can probably wait.

The goal isn’t to have more gear—it’s to have the right gear for how you actually shoot.

🔗 If you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in, I put together a Photographer Gear Guide that breaks it all down—link in bio.

🤔 Curious… what’s one piece of equipment you’ve bought that was 100% worth it?

- STAY IN TOUCH -

Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

Facebook logo
Instagram logo
Pinterest logo
Linked In logo

FloDesk FREE STYLE GUIDE

Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.