(First published on LinkedIn February 13, 2015)

One of the key elements of a LinkedIn profile is a photograph. Photographs can be very revealing about a person. They can reveal if a person is happy, approachable, confident and professional. Or they can do the opposite. They can convey negative emotions, a threatening pose and show an unprofessional side. I suggest you chose your photo wisely because your photo does matter.

When people join LinkedIn, you assume they want to make positive connections, so I am always stunned when I see a professionally accomplished person putting up a photo of themselves that shows a negative, threatening, or unprofessional image. I can’t help but think they don’t realize the messages they are sending.

No one wants to reach out to a grumpy face, or a face that is looking down upon you (contemptuous). Or worse, a face that looks threatening or ominous. People will turn away.

So to aid people, here are my guidelines on how to submit a photo with a facial expression that will communicate a positive vibe for you:

1. Make sure your picture shows you relaxed and comfortable
2. If you are happy with yourself smiling, post a photo of you truly feeling happy or positive. This is the best profile picture you can post!
3. If you don’t like to smile or its not natural for you (that’s okay!), post a neutral expression, but make sure there are no negative undertones in the photo
4. Avoid negative undertones in a photo:
   (a) Looking down your nose
   (b) Forehead back, chin forward
   1. (“a” and “b” above both denote arrogance)

   (c) Tension in your face

   1. i. Lines in your forehead
   2. ii. Tense or tight lips
   3. iii. Squinting or glaring eyes
   4. iv. Eyebrows pulled down
      1. (ii-iv are suggestive of anger)

   (d) Frowning or down turned lips
   (e) Drooping eyes, heavy eyelids or heavy face

   1. (d) and (e) are signs of sadness, can suggest lack of motivation

   (f) Upper lip pulled upwards without a smile
   (g) Nose wrinkled and pulled upwards

   1. (f) and (g) are signs of disgust

None of these elements in number four above are going to signal positive traits about you. But by far the worst offenders I see are those who post pictures of themselves making the contempt expression, which is a half-smile. A contempt expression is a universal expression identified by scientists that is expressed by all people. So if you are human and feel contempt, you will make this expression regardless of where you live on the planet, what your race or ethnicity is, what language you speak, etc.

And while we all make contempt expressions–it’s a fact of life–I do not recommend putting a photo of yourself in your profile expressing this emotion. It is a very negative emotion which can signal a looking-down-upon-others attitude, an attitude of superiority as in “I’m better than you”, or in a low level situation a complete disbelief and disregard for what a person is hearing or seeing.

Here is an example of a contempt expression for you.

And here is a link to another one.

If you are going to take the time to publish a profile of yourself on anywhere on the web, put your best face forward!