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How to Retouch a Headshot for LinkedIn

6 min read
Quick Answer

To retouch a headshot for LinkedIn, upload your photo to EditThisPic and describe what to improve — 'smooth skin and whiten teeth,' 'fix the lighting on my face,' or 'make this look like a professional headshot.' The AI polishes your photo while keeping it natural and authentic. Free, no signup required.

Your LinkedIn Photo Is Your First Impression

Recruiters, clients, and colleagues form opinions before they read your profile. A polished headshot signals professionalism. But not everyone has access to a professional photographer or retoucher, and even professional shots sometimes need minor fixes — a blemish that appeared on shoot day, uneven lighting from the venue, or teeth that look yellower than they should. AI retouching closes the gap between a decent photo and a polished professional headshot.

What to Fix in a LinkedIn Headshot

  • Blemishes, acne, or temporary skin issues that don't represent how you normally look
  • Uneven skin tone, redness, or blotchiness from studio lighting
  • Under-eye circles or puffiness from a long day
  • Teeth that look yellow due to lighting or camera white balance
  • Flyaway hairs or frizz that distracts from your face
  • Harsh shadows from overhead or side lighting
  • Wrinkled collar or shirt that looks sloppy

What Makes a LinkedIn Headshot Look Professional

Professional headshots share a few qualities: even lighting on the face, clean skin without distracting blemishes, a natural expression, and a non-distracting background. You don't need a studio to achieve this. AI can fix the lighting, clean up the skin, and refine the overall look of any reasonably well-composed photo. The key is subtlety — the goal is to look like yourself on your best day, not like a different person.

How AI Headshot Retouching Works

EditThisPic's AI analyzes the portrait and applies targeted edits based on your description. It understands facial structure, skin tone, and lighting direction, so corrections blend naturally. Ask to 'smooth skin' and it removes blemishes while preserving your natural pores and texture. Ask to 'fix the lighting' and it evens out shadows without flattening the dimensionality that makes a photo look professional.

Best Prompts for LinkedIn Headshot Retouching

For a general polish: 'retouch this headshot for LinkedIn — smooth skin, whiten teeth, and brighten my eyes.' For specific fixes: 'remove the blemish on my cheek' or 'reduce the dark circles under my eyes.' For lighting issues: 'even out the lighting on my face and reduce the harsh shadow on my neck.' For a subtle touch: 'make this headshot look slightly more polished and professional without overdoing it.'

Retouching Mistakes to Avoid

Over-retouching is the most common mistake. If your headshot looks like an AI-generated image or a magazine cover, people will notice — and not in a good way. LinkedIn connections may eventually meet you in person, so the photo should look like you. Stick with prompts that describe fixes rather than transformations. 'Remove blemishes' is good. 'Make me look 10 years younger' is a red flag. Keep wrinkles, smile lines, and other features that define your face.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Upload Your Headshot

Drop any headshot or portrait into EditThisPic. Phone selfies, webcam shots, and professional photos all work — the AI adapts to any image quality.

2

Describe the Retouching

Type what you want improved: 'retouch for LinkedIn,' 'smooth skin and whiten teeth,' or target specifics like 'fix the shadow under my chin and remove the blemish on my forehead.'

3

Check the Result

Use the before/after slider to verify. The retouched version should look like you on a good day — polished but recognizable. Skin should retain texture, not look plastic.

4

Iterate If Needed

If the result is too subtle, ask for more: 'also brighten my eyes and smooth the forehead more.' If it went too far, try 'lightly retouch, keep it natural.' One or two rounds usually gets the perfect balance.

Try These Tools

Smooth Skin Remove Blemishes Whiten Teeth AI Skin Smoother AI Headshot Enhancer

Frequently Asked Questions

Upload your headshot to EditThisPic and type what to fix — 'smooth skin,' 'whiten teeth,' 'fix the lighting.' The AI retouches the photo while keeping it natural. Free to use, no account needed, no watermarks.
Not if you use natural retouching prompts. EditThisPic preserves skin texture, pores, and natural features by default. The result looks like you on your best day. Only extreme prompts like 'make me look 20 years younger' produce unnatural results.
AI can significantly improve a selfie — smoothing skin, fixing lighting, whitening teeth — but it works with what's there. A well-lit selfie with a clean background can absolutely become a strong LinkedIn photo. A dark, blurry selfie in a cluttered room has limits.
Try 'retouch this headshot for LinkedIn — smooth skin, brighten eyes, whiten teeth, and make the lighting even.' This covers the most common improvements without overdoing it. Add specific fixes like 'remove the blemish on my chin' as needed.
That depends on you. Minor lines and natural aging features make you look authentic. Most professionals keep them. If you want to soften them without removing them entirely, try 'slightly reduce wrinkles while keeping a natural look.' Removing all wrinkles can make the photo look dishonest.

Get a Polished LinkedIn Headshot in Seconds

Upload your headshot and let AI handle the retouching. Free, no signup needed.

Retouch My Headshot