Do you really need a professional headshot? With everyone having a camera in their pocket, it’s sometimes hard to see the value in in paying someone else to take a photo that it feels like you could take just as well yourself.

Check out Amanda’s LinkedIn profile photos below. She got her headshot updated with a photo by a professional photographer. The difference is clear. The “before” photo was a good one in terms of expressing friendliness and approachability, and she chose a plain background and non-distracting clothing—all the right things for a DIY headshot! Unfortunately, the lighting gives her an orange cast. The close angle distorts her face as well.

Amanda’s updated headshot is a classic example of the advantages of professional equipment in a portrait. The lighting and the angle both give the photo a natural, true-to-life look. If you met Amanda in real life tomorrow, you would recognize her immediately.

Amanda changed her hair color, and she updated her headshot to reflect that.