Stop taking LinkedIn photos that scream “unemployable.” Your iPhone can fix this if you know the right settings.
We all know professional photographers charge rent money for headshots. And honestly, when you’re choosing between looking employable and eating this week, groceries usually win. But here’s the thing—your iPhone is basically a professional camera that happens to make calls. You just need to stop treating it like a drunk-selfie machine.
This isn’t another “just smile and use natural light” tutorial. We’re talking actual technical setup, real posing advice that doesn’t make you look like you’re being held hostage, and editing tips that won’t turn you into a plastic Instagram filter victim.
By the end of this, you’ll have headshots that make people want to hire you instead of wondering if you own adult clothes. Let’s fix this mess.
Your iPhone is surprisingly capable of professional-looking results, but only if you nail the fundamentals. Most people skip these basics and wonder why their photos look amateur. Let’s fix that.
Natural light is your best friend. Not just any light, specifically natural light from a window. Here’s why it works:
What to do:
What to avoid:
Budget hack: If your apartment has terrible natural light, a 5500K LED light panel costs around $30 and makes a huge difference.
The goal is to make people focus on your face, not wondering about your life choices based on what’s behind you.
Backgrounds that work:
➡️ Plain white, gray, or beige wall
➡️ Clean, organized office space
➡️ Simple bookshelf (emphasis on organized)
➡️ Outdoor settings that aren’t too busy
Important: Stand 2-3 feet from your background. Too close and you’ll look pasted onto it; too far and your iPhone’s portrait mode gets confused about what to blur.
Quick fix: If your space is messy, hang a clean bedsheet on the wall. It’s simple but effective.
Getting the technical setup right is the difference between “decent iPhone photo” and “wait, this actually looks professional.” These settings matter more than most tutorials admit.
Use the back camera, always. The selfie camera is a wide-angle lens that makes your nose look like Pinocchio. We’re not doing that to ourselves in 2025.
Portrait mode settings:
Why focal length 10 matters. It gives you that professional depth of field where the background is pleasantly blurred, but not so extreme that it looks artificial. Sweet spot for natural-looking headshots.
Camera height = slightly above eye level. This angle is way more flattering than straight-on. Avoid shooting from below (hello, unflattering chin angles) or too high above (weird forehead distortion).
Timer is your friend. Set it to 3+ seconds so you’re not doing that awkward arm-stretch-phone-grab thing.
Focus tap. Tap your face on the screen before shooting. iPhone cameras are smart but not mind readers.
This is where most people completely lose it. You can have perfect lighting and camera settings, but if you look like you’re being held at gunpoint, none of it matters. Here’s how to actually look human.
The 45-degree approach. Turn your body 45 degrees away from the camera, then turn your head back toward it. This creates natural dimension instead of that flat, driver’s license look.
Chin positioning. Push your chin slightly forward and down. It feels awkward but photographs well. This defines your jawline without looking forced.
Shoulders. Keep them back but relaxed. You want to look confident, not like you’re at attention.
For genuine smiles. Think of something that actually makes you happy right before taking the shot. Forced smiles are obvious and uncomfortable to look at.
The slight smile option. Small upturn at the corners of your mouth plus a slight squint (like you’re listening carefully). Approachable but professional.
No smile approach. Slight squint with a relaxed jaw. You look confident without seeming unfriendly.
Breathing tip. Take a breath and exhale before the shot. This releases tension you didn’t know you were holding in your face.
Alright, you’ve got the theory down. Now let’s actually execute this without spiraling into perfectionist paralysis. The key is being methodical without overthinking every single detail.
This is where the magic happens—or where everything falls apart if you rush it. Take your time here. You’re creating something that represents you professionally, so invest the few extra minutes to do it right.
1️⃣ Set up your lighting and background
2️⃣ Position your iPhone at eye level, 3-4 feet away
3️⃣ Switch to Portrait mode, 2x zoom
4️⃣ Set a timer for 3 seconds
5️⃣ Get in position (45-degree body, chin forward)
6️⃣ Take 20+ shots (seriously, don’t be cheap with digital storage)
7️⃣ Review and repeat with different expressions
You’ll know you nailed it when you look at the photo and think “damn, I actually look professional” instead of cringing. Here are the concrete signs you got it right:
Here’s where you can save a mediocre photo or completely ruin a good one. The editing stage is all about restraint—think subtle enhancements, not Instagram filter madness. Your goal is “naturally polished,” not “obviously edited.”
Basic adjustments that matter:
What NOT to do:
iPhone’s built-in editing is solid, but sometimes you need more control. These apps won’t turn you into a plastic-looking social media clone—they’ll just help you look like the best version of yourself.
Meitu: Good editing tools, retouch options, and filters
Lightroom Mobile: Industry standard, free version is solid
Snapseed: Google’s editor, surprisingly powerful
Golden rule. If someone can tell you edited it, you edited too much.
Sometimes, the smart move is to recognize when DIY isn’t the best path forward.
The process is refreshingly straightforward—no complicated setups, no posing anxiety, no wondering if you remembered to turn off all the right camera settings. Just upload, choose, wait, done.
Upload 4 clear selfies (even casual ones work fine).
Choose your professional style (corporate, creative, or approachable professional).
Wait about 20 seconds while AI handles what would take hours of trial and error.
Download your results.
Practical benefits:
When AI makes sense over DIY:
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—all the ways this can go spectacularly wrong. Learning from other people’s mistakes is way less embarrassing than making them yourself. Here are the most common disasters and how to dodge them entirely.
Blurry photos: Use the timer, brace your phone, and tap to focus
Bad cropping: Leave space above your head and below your shoulders
Wrong orientation: Shoot vertical for social media, horizontal for websites
File quality: Shoot in the highest resolution, resize later
Your outfit can make or break the whole vibe. It’s not about having expensive clothes—it’s about understanding what works on camera and what makes people question your judgment.
Distracting outfits: Solid colors > patterns that make cameras cry
Wrong formality level: Match your industry’s vibe
Visible bra straps/tags/wrinkles: Check everything before shooting
Outdated styling: This isn’t 2015, update your look
Your face is telling a story in that headshot—you just want to make sure it’s the right story. The wrong expression can undo all your careful setup work in about 0.2 seconds.
Fake smile: Practice genuine expressions
Dead eyes: Think happy thoughts or slightly squint
Weird angle: Keep your head straight, no dramatic tilts
Mouth breathing: Close your mouth unless you’re mid-laugh
Different platforms, different rules. What works for LinkedIn might look weird on Instagram, and your corporate website probably has different vibes than your personal brand. Here’s how to optimize for each without needing completely different photo sessions.
Your professional image matters more than it should. Is it fair? Absolutely not. Is it reality? Unfortunately, yes.
The hierarchy of headshot solutions:
Choose your fighter based on:
Whether you master your iPhone’s portrait mode or let AI handle the heavy lifting, just replace whatever chaotic energy you’re currently representing yourself with.
Your future career (and LinkedIn connections) will thank you.
Now stop procrastinating and go update that profile picture. The internet is waiting.
About the author
Adeline Knight. Content writer at Icons8. She started as a professional photographer before falling for design. She enjoys experimenting with new tools and uncovering tips and tricks to simplify her life and boost her creativity.
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