I tried a high-end photoshoot to see why people are paying hundreds for the 'perfect' headshot on LinkedIn. It was a fun experience, but maybe not worth the money for the average worker.

Samantha DelouyaAug 28, 2022, 16:13 IST

Michael Benabib

A good, professional LinkedIn profile has grown in importance in a post-pandemic world, some career coaches say.
A growing number of people are reportedly paying upwards of $1,000 for a professional LinkedIn photo.

For some, an actively managed LinkedIn profile is the lifeblood of their professional reputation.

LinkedIn is important "because it is the currency for credibility in establishing yourself as a professional today," said Jay Mandel, a professional career coach.

He said he advises his clients to be active participants on LinkedIn, not just when it's time look for a new job.

But the seriousness with which some users take their LinkedIn presence is often mocked online. A LinkedIn "viral post generator" has recently made headlines for automating quintessential viral LinkedIn posts with varying "cringe levels" and producing some funny results.

Despite the online snark, I spoke to several career coaches who all agree: a quality LinkedIn profile is more important now than ever as more work becomes hybrid or remote.

Alexander Hails, who lives outside of Boston and works at Toast, a restaurant software company, recently decided to change his LinkedIn profile photo after 10 years.

"We're going to forever be in this hybrid world, and there's an increasing number of people that I work with and communicate with. I don't know when I'll get a chance to meet them in person," Hails said.

"When I changed my headshot on LinkedIn, I put a post that said I wanted to kind of take a step back to make it easier for folks to engage with me in an increasingly digital world," he added.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that a growing number of people are spending a small fortune for high-end headshots and even facial-expression coaching for their LinkedIn photos.

It got me thinking about my own LinkedIn photo, which was taken a full 9 years ago on a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge...on a Blackberry. I decided to take the plunge and get a "high-end" LinkedIn headshot worth $475. Here's what it was like.

First, I asked a career coach to analyze my current LinkedIn photo. "I would think of you as somebody that was recently out of school. Obviously, that would have an impact on how I might think of your role and what you do in your job," said Babs Rangaiah, a career coach in New York.

My LinkedIn picture since 2013.Samantha Delouya

First, I asked a career coach to analyze my current LinkedIn photo. "I would think of you as somebody that was recently out of school. Obviously, that would have an impact on how I might think of your role and what you do in your job," said Babs Rangaiah, a career coach in New York.

I found Michael Benabib, a high-end headshot photographer, by searching for "LinkedIn headshot photographer" on Google.

Taking professional photos requires a lot of gear.Samantha Delouya

Bebabib told me he spent the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s shooting photos of celebrities like David Bowie, Jerry Seinfeld, and Snoop Dogg. He shot album covers for Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Dr. Dre.

Some of Benabib's pictures hung up in his studio.Samantha Deloua/Michael Benabib

Bebabib told me he spent the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s shooting photos of celebrities like David Bowie, Jerry Seinfeld, and Snoop Dogg. He shot album covers for Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Dr. Dre.

"As the music industry changed, with the advent of online streaming, the money sort of went out of it, and I decided to make this corporate stuff my specialty," Benabib said.

A photo of Snoop Dogg that was taken by Benabib.Samantha Delouya/Michael Benabib

"As the music industry changed, with the advent of online streaming, the money sort of went out of it, and I decided to make this corporate stuff my specialty," Benabib said.

He said demand for corporate headshots has exploded since the pandemic. "There's been a reshuffling of jobs, so people need new photos for LinkedIn to look for work... it's been a huge uptick," he said.

Getting started in Benabib's studio.Michael Benabib

He said demand for corporate headshots has exploded since the pandemic. "There's been a reshuffling of jobs, so people need new photos for LinkedIn to look for work... it's been a huge uptick," he said.

Benabib has some tricks to put his clients at ease. "When I'm shooting, I don't say 'bring your chin down, turn to the left, open your eyes.' I just talk with people. That seems to get the best results," he said.

Benabib chats with clients to put them at ease.Samantha Delouya

Benabib has some tricks to put his clients at ease. "When I'm shooting, I don't say 'bring your chin down, turn to the left, open your eyes.' I just talk with people. That seems to get the best results," he said.

He said he usually shoots corporate executives and tech professionals at their offices. For my photoshoot experience, I went to his studio, which doubles as his personal apartment. It was a walk up four flights of stairs in Manhattan.

Benabib's studio.Samantha Delouya

He said he usually shoots corporate executives and tech professionals at their offices. For my photoshoot experience, I went to his studio, which doubles as his personal apartment. It was a walk up four flights of stairs in Manhattan.

Climbing multiple flights of stairs on a summer afternoon doesn't produce favorable conditions for a glamorous photoshoot. Luckily, Benabib's studio was equipped with makeup and hair tools for touchups.

Touchups.Samantha Delouya

Climbing multiple flights of stairs on a summer afternoon doesn't produce favorable conditions for a glamorous photoshoot. Luckily, Benabib's studio was equipped with makeup and hair tools for touchups.

We took photos in multiple locations in Benabib's studio, including his hallway and in front of a wooden door. By blurring the background, Benabib was able to make it look like the photos were taken in an office or corporate boardroom.

A regular doorway makes for a nice background in professional photos.Samantha Delouya/Michael Benabib

We took photos in multiple locations in Benabib's studio, including his hallway and in front of a wooden door. By blurring the background, Benabib was able to make it look like the photos were taken in an office or corporate boardroom.

Benabib's studio had different color backdrops that we experimented with, as well.

Benabib pulled down a black backdrop in his studio.Samantha Delouya

When all was said and done, he had taken more than 900 photos. We glanced at some after the shoot. Going through them all would have taken hours.

More than 900 photos were taken.Samantha Delouya

Overall, having nearly 1,000 options just for one LinkedIn profile photo feels excessive, and the price tag of $475 may not be worth it for the average person.

Getting my photo taken.Samantha Delouya

Having so many photos to pick through meant that at least one would look good. After scrolling through Benabib's pictures for a bit, I finally settled on one I'm really happy with.

My new, expensive LinkedIn photo.Samantha Delouya

Having so many photos to pick through meant that at least one would look good. After scrolling through Benabib's pictures for a bit, I finally settled on one I'm really happy with.

At the same time, good lighting and a good cell phone camera might do the trick. Benabib took one photo of me on an iPhone to compare. In fairness, we would need to take 900 more for it to be an accurate comparison.

My eyes were almost completely closed in the one iPhone photo we took.Michael Benabib

At the same time, good lighting and a good cell phone camera might do the trick. Benabib took one photo of me on an iPhone to compare. In fairness, we would need to take 900 more for it to be an accurate comparison.

Overall, the experience was lots of fun. I even got to take a few photos with Benabib's dog.

Photo with Benabib's dog.Michael Benabib

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I tried a high-end photoshoot to see why people are paying hundreds for the 'perfect' headshot on LinkedIn. It was a fun experience, but maybe not worth the money for the average worker.

First, I asked a career coach to analyze my current LinkedIn photo. "I would think of you as somebody that was recently out of school. Obviously, that would have an impact on how I might think of your role and what you do in your job," said Babs Rangaiah, a career coach in New York.

I found Michael Benabib, a high-end headshot photographer, by searching for "LinkedIn headshot photographer" on Google.

Bebabib told me he spent the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s shooting photos of celebrities like David Bowie, Jerry Seinfeld, and Snoop Dogg. He shot album covers for Usher, Mary J. Blige, and Dr. Dre.

"As the music industry changed, with the advent of online streaming, the money sort of went out of it, and I decided to make this corporate stuff my specialty," Benabib said.

He said demand for corporate headshots has exploded since the pandemic. "There's been a reshuffling of jobs, so people need new photos for LinkedIn to look for work... it's been a huge uptick," he said.

Benabib has some tricks to put his clients at ease. "When I'm shooting, I don't say 'bring your chin down, turn to the left, open your eyes.' I just talk with people. That seems to get the best results," he said.

He said he usually shoots corporate executives and tech professionals at their offices. For my photoshoot experience, I went to his studio, which doubles as his personal apartment. It was a walk up four flights of stairs in Manhattan.

Climbing multiple flights of stairs on a summer afternoon doesn't produce favorable conditions for a glamorous photoshoot. Luckily, Benabib's studio was equipped with makeup and hair tools for touchups.

We took photos in multiple locations in Benabib's studio, including his hallway and in front of a wooden door. By blurring the background, Benabib was able to make it look like the photos were taken in an office or corporate boardroom.

Benabib's studio had different color backdrops that we experimented with, as well.

When all was said and done, he had taken more than 900 photos. We glanced at some after the shoot. Going through them all would have taken hours.

Overall, having nearly 1,000 options just for one LinkedIn profile photo feels excessive, and the price tag of $475 may not be worth it for the average person.

Having so many photos to pick through meant that at least one would look good. After scrolling through Benabib's pictures for a bit, I finally settled on one I'm really happy with.

At the same time, good lighting and a good cell phone camera might do the trick. Benabib took one photo of me on an iPhone to compare. In fairness, we would need to take 900 more for it to be an accurate comparison.

Overall, the experience was lots of fun. I even got to take a few photos with Benabib's dog.