You're losing opportunities and you don't even know why. While your resume is polished and your skills are sharp, your headshot might be silently sabotaging your career. Here are 7 mistakes that recruiters, clients, and networking contacts notice immediately.

1. The Ancient Photo

If your headshot is more than 2 years old, it's hurting you. People expect to meet the person in the photo. When you show up looking different, trust drops instantly.

Recruiters report that 36% of candidates look noticeably different from their LinkedIn photo. This creates doubt before the interview even starts.

2. The Crop-From-Group-Photo

We've all done it — cropped ourselves out of a wedding or party photo. The result is always obvious: weird angles, someone's arm on your shoulder, uneven lighting. Just don't.

3. The Selfie That's Obviously a Selfie

Extended arm, bathroom mirror, car seat — we can all spot a casual selfie. For social media it's fine. For LinkedIn and your resume? It screams 'I don't take my career seriously.'

4. The Sunglasses / Hat / Filter

People need to see your eyes to trust you. Sunglasses, heavy filters, and hats all create a barrier. Your headshot should show your face clearly and naturally.

5. Wrong Dress Code

A tech startup founder in a three-piece suit looks out of touch. A corporate lawyer in a hoodie looks unprofessional. Match your attire to your industry and audience.

6. The Dead Stare

A neutral expression reads as unfriendly online. You don't need to grin ear to ear, but a slight natural smile makes you 20% more approachable according to LinkedIn data.

7. Low Resolution / Bad Lighting

Pixelated photos and harsh shadows scream amateur. If your photo looks like it was taken on a flip phone in a basement, it's doing more harm than having no photo at all.

The Fix

You don't need to spend $300 on a photographer to fix all 7 of these mistakes. AI headshot generators solve every single one: professional lighting, clean backgrounds, natural expressions, and high resolution — all from your selfies.