What does linkedin headshots cost?
LinkedIn headshots are a short, single-purpose session: 20–30 minutes to produce a profile photo that reads well in LinkedIn’s small circular crop, plus a wide banner image. It suits job-seekers and anyone whose current photo is a cropped holiday snap. Sessions start from €150; the final quote varies by photographer, location and retouching.
Your LinkedIn photo is seen at thumbnail size hundreds of times before anyone meets you: in search results, comments, messages and recruiter lists. It needs to work as a small circle on a phone screen. That is a narrow technical brief, and this session is built around it.
It is deliberately simpler than a full headshot session. One look, one purpose, fast turnaround.
What makes a LinkedIn photo work
LinkedIn currently recommends a 400 × 400 pixel profile photo and shows it as a circle, so:
- Your face should fill most of the frame. Head and top of the shoulders, with a little space above the hair. A full-length photo becomes a tiny figure.
- Simple background. A soft blur of greenery or a plain wall. Busy canal houses turn into noise at thumbnail size.
- Eye contact and a real expression. Approachable beats serious for most roles.
- Recent. It should look like the person who turns up to the interview.
The photographer frames with the circle crop in mind and checks it on screen during the session.
The banner image
The background banner behind your profile photo (LinkedIn recommends 1584 × 396 pixels, a 4:1 strip) is usually wasted on a stock photo. The session includes one wide frame to use there: you slightly off-centre with space around you, or a context shot of your city or workplace. On mobile the profile circle overlaps the lower left of the banner, so the photographer keeps the important part to the centre and right.
LinkedIn headshots vs full headshot session
| LinkedIn headshots | Headshot photography | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 20–30 minutes | 30–60 minutes |
| Looks | One | One to three |
| Delivered | 2–3 retouched profile photos + 1 banner | 3–12 retouched headshots |
| Best for | LinkedIn and similar profiles | Company website, press, speaking, casting |
| From | €150 | €150 |
They share a starting price; the difference is what you get for it. The LinkedIn session trades variety for speed and a banner. If you need photos for a whole team's LinkedIn profiles, company headshots will be more efficient.
Good times to book
People book this before a job search, after a promotion or move, when relocating to the Netherlands (a recruiter-ready profile helps with the Dutch job market, where LinkedIn is widely used), and before speaking at an event.
Weekday lunchtimes and early evenings are popular with people working in Amsterdam's Zuidas, Rotterdam's centre or Eindhoven's Strijp-S and High Tech Campus, because the session fits in a break. Say where you work and the photographer can suggest a nearby spot.
Common mistakes the session fixes
Most LinkedIn photos fail for the same few reasons, and a short professional session is designed around them:
- Cropped from a group photo. A shoulder, a stray hand or half of someone else's face at the edge of the circle.
- Too far away. A full-length holiday photo becomes a tiny figure in the thumbnail.
- Shadows under the eyes. Midday sun or overhead office lights. The photographer uses open shade or soft light from the front.
- Old. A photo from ten years and two haircuts ago surprises people when you meet.
- Wrong register. Sunglasses, a wedding outfit, a pint on a terrace. Fine elsewhere; distracting on a recruiter's screen.
- Low resolution. Heavily compressed images from messaging apps look soft on large monitors.
The photographer checks the crop on a screen during the session, so you can see the result in the circle before you leave.
What to wear
Wear what you would wear to a meeting in the role you want, one level smarter than your normal day. Plain colours in a mid-tone (navy, forest green, burgundy, soft grey) keep attention on your face. Avoid white shirts against a pale background and anything with visible logos.
What’s included
- A short session near your workplace or home
- Framing designed for the LinkedIn circular crop
- Live check of the crop on screen
- Two to three retouched profile photos
- One wide banner image sized for LinkedIn
- Files optimised for upload
Optional extras
Second look
A more formal or more relaxed version for other platforms.
Express retouching
Finals within a day or two, useful before an interview or event.
Extra retouched image
For a company intranet or conference profile.
Durations and what you receive
| Session | Edited photos |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | 2 retouched profile photos + 1 banner |
| 30 minutes | 3 retouched profile photos + 1 banner |
Starting prices are indicative. Your final quote depends on the photographer, duration, location, number of people, date and specific requirements.
Who books this
- Job-seekers and people changing careers
- Expats looking for work in the Netherlands
- Recently promoted professionals updating their profile
- Freelancers who use LinkedIn to find clients
LinkedIn Headshots by city
LinkedIn Headshots: questions
What size is a LinkedIn profile photo?
LinkedIn recommends 400 × 400 pixels and displays the image in a circle. You receive files at a higher resolution, cropped to square.
Should I smile in my LinkedIn photo?
For most roles, yes: a relaxed, closed or slight smile reads as approachable. The photographer will take a range so you can choose.
Can I also use the photo on my company website?
Yes, for your own professional profile. If you need several formats or looks, a full headshot session gives you more options.
Is an outdoor background OK for LinkedIn?
Yes, as long as it is soft and simple. Recognisable landmarks are usually too busy at thumbnail size.
How quickly will I get the photos?
Turnaround depends on the photographer, often within a week. Express retouching is available as an extra from many photographers.