How to Make a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo

A Review of the Dragons’ Headshots from Dragons’ Den Canada Season 19

I’m back with another headshot review, and this time, I’m diving into something special: the LinkedIn profile photos of the Dragons from *Dragons’ Den* Canada, Season 19! 🐉 If you’re familiar with the show, you know these business titans don’t mess around when it comes to their professional presence, but how do their LinkedIn headshots measure up? Whether you’re just starting out on LinkedIn or you’re a seasoned pro, there are some serious lessons to learn here on how to make a great LinkedIn profile photo.

Let’s break it down, Dragon by Dragon:

1. Simu Liu (Celebrity Dragon)

Simu Liu is a world-famous action star, but he’s not really active on LinkedIn. In fact, his profile photo is just a low-res image from his Instagram. Big missed opportunity! If you look at someone like Ryan Reynolds, he’s killing it on LinkedIn with his active presence, and Leo could do the same. His Instagram photo works for his fitness brand, but he needs a higher-quality, zoomed-in image for LinkedIn. This way, he could really show off his professional side while still staying true to his fitness image.

2. Wes Hall

Wes’s headshot is fantastic. The low camera angle he uses in his photo instantly communicates authority and power — it’s a trick used in movies to make characters look larger than life. His serious expression demands attention, without being off-putting. My only critique? The shot is too wide. He’s photographed from the waist up, and on LinkedIn, that just doesn’t work. You want your face to fill 60% of the frame, so zooming in would make his photo even more impactful.

3. Michele Romanow

Michelle’s headshot is a bold black-and-white, high-contrast photo, and let me tell you, it grabs your attention. It’s a great photo, but it’s not ideal for LinkedIn because she’s not looking at the camera. On LinkedIn, eye contact is essential. It creates that human connection, which is so important when you’re trying to make a first impression. So, while her photo stands out, she should pick one from the same shoot where she’s actually looking at the lens.

4. Brian Scudamore

Brian’s headshot breaks all the typical rules, and yet, it works perfectly for him. He’s wearing a hat, and even using a banana as a phone! Normally, I’d tell clients to avoid props and hats in their headshots, but Brian nails it. His hat says, “It’s all about the people,” which is central to his brand. The banana phone adds a bit of humour, which matches his personality. The key here is authenticity. If you’re going to break the rules, do it with intention, and Brian does exactly that.

5. Manjit Minhas

Manjit’s headshot is a textbook example of how to make a great LinkedIn profile photo. It’s perfectly cropped for LinkedIn, showing her head and shoulders, with a confident expression. Her hair and makeup are spot on, and you can tell this photo was carefully planned. She likely used a wider shot that was cropped for LinkedIn, which is a smart move. You want to get the most mileage out of your headshot, whether it’s for LinkedIn, website bios, or event banners.

6. Arlene Dickinson

Arlene’s headshot caught me by surprise — it’s a selfie! While I love the authenticity and casual feel of selfies for certain posts, it’s not the best choice for a LinkedIn headshot. The high angle of the photo makes people subconsciously look down on her, which is the last thing you want when you’ve built a career as impressive as Arlene’s. A lower, eye-level shot would better communicate her authority and success. The CBC Dragon’s Den website actually has some fantastic professional shots of the Dragons — I’d love to see her use one of those instead.

Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Headshot

Looking at these Dragons, there’s a lot to learn about how to make a great LinkedIn profile photo. Your LinkedIn headshot is a key part of your personal brand, and it should communicate who you are in a way that’s intentional and authentic. Whether you’re keeping it classic like Manjit or breaking the rules with humour like Brian, the most important thing is to make sure it aligns with your personal brand.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

– Zoom in: Your face should fill about 60% of the frame.
– Lighting matters: Whether it’s natural or studio lighting, make sure it highlights your best features.
– Angles communicate power: A low angle communicates authority. A high camera angle communicates that you are less than and an eye-level angle is best for most corporate headshot photos because the viewer sees you as an equal.
– Keep it professional: Props and casual photos can work if they align with your brand, but for LinkedIn, a more polished image often has the greatest impact.

If you or your company is ready to level up your LinkedIn Headshot game take a look at my website for more information and email me at rob@robtrendiak.com for more information and headshot inquiries!