Your LinkedIn photo is often the first thing a recruiter, client or new colleague sees, usually before they’ve read a word about you. In a split second it tells them whether you look current, approachable and credible. That’s a lot of work for one small circle.

So who you hire to take it matters. Here’s what I’d tell a friend in Seattle who asked me how to pick the right headshot photographer, including the questions to ask before you book.

Why your LinkedIn headshot matters more than you think

People decide whether to click, connect or reply very quickly, and your photo shows up everywhere your name does: search results, comments, messages, job applications, speaker bios and your company’s team page. A dated selfie or a cropped vacation photo quietly undercuts everything else on your profile.

A strong headshot does the opposite. It signals that you take your work seriously, it makes you recognizable when you finally meet in person, and it gives you one consistent image to use across every platform.

What a LinkedIn headshot actually needs to do

Before you compare photographers, know what you’re asking them to deliver:

Read clearly at thumbnail size. Head and shoulders, filling the frame, so your face is recognizable in a tiny circle.
Look like you, today. Current hairstyle, current glasses, current you. Polished, not unrecognizable.
Show real expression. Confident and approachable, with eyes that connect with the viewer, not a frozen “say cheese” smile.
Fit your industry. An attorney, a startup founder and a creative director shouldn’t all look the same.
Work everywhere. Clean background and enough room around you to crop for LinkedIn, your website, press and print.

How to choose the right photographer

Plenty of people own a good camera. Fewer can get a natural, confident expression out of someone who would honestly rather be anywhere else. Here’s what separates them.

1. Their portfolio is full of people like you

Look for professional headshots specifically, not just weddings or landscapes. Do the people in their photos look confident and like themselves? Do they shoot your kind of client: executives, business owners, teams?

2. They direct you, so you don’t have to know how to pose

Most people don’t know what to do with their hands, their chin or their shoulders, and they shouldn’t have to. A good headshot photographer coaches you through posing and expression the whole time. Ask how they run a session. If the answer is “just relax and be natural,” keep looking.

3. You see your photos before you leave

Waiting two weeks to find out if you blinked in every frame is stressful. Many headshot photographers now review images with you during or right after the session, so you leave knowing you have the shot.

4. Retouching is clear and natural

Ask what’s included. Good retouching cleans up stray hairs, blemishes and distractions while still looking like you. Over-smoothed, plastic skin is the fastest way to make a professional headshot look fake.

5. You know exactly what you’re getting

How many final images? What sizes and formats? Can you use them on your website, in press and in marketing, or only on LinkedIn? How long until delivery? A clear answer up front saves surprises later.

6. Their reviews talk about the experience

Read Google reviews for words like “comfortable,” “fun” and “didn’t feel awkward.” The photos matter, but how you felt in the room is what shows up on your face.

Questions to ask before you book

Can I see headshots you’ve done for people in my field?
How do you help people who are nervous in front of the camera?
Will I see the images during the session?
How many final images are included, and what retouching comes with them?
Can I use the photos for my website, press and marketing?
Do you come to our office for team headshots, and can you match the look for new hires later?
How should I prepare, and what should I wear?

Red flags

No headshots in the portfolio, only other kinds of work.
No planning conversation before the session.
Vague answers about how many images you’ll get or how you can use them.
Every person in their portfolio has the exact same pose and expression.

A few quick tips to prepare

Wear solid colors that you feel great in. Avoid busy patterns and logos.
Bring a second option or two, like a jacket or a different top, to change up the look.
Get a haircut a week before, not the day before.
Sleep and hydrate. It shows.
Bring a playlist. Music you love relaxes your face faster than anything I can say.