Should You Include a Resume Photo in 2025: Pros and Cons

A resume photo raises concerns about bias, and the decision to include one in your resume can make or break your job application. While some countries practically demand professional headshots on resumes, others view them as red flags that could land you in the rejection pile.

In this article, we’ll explain when to include a resume photo, when to avoid it, and how to align your approach with your target industry and location.

What Is a Resume Photo?

A resume photo is a professional headshot that appears on your resume, typically positioned in the header alongside your contact information. Unlike casual social media pictures or family snapshots, these images should meet strict professional standards as it’s your visual representation.

Theoretically, a resume photo helps employers connect a face with qualifications. However, this seemingly simple addition carries significant legal, cultural, and strategic implications that job seekers often overlook.

Resume Photo Requirements by Region

Knowing regional expectations isn't just helpful—it's essential for avoiding costly mistakes that could derail your job search before it begins. Let’s examine different regions and how they treat resume photos.

United States and Canada

In North America, including a resume photo can harm your chances of getting hired. Anti-discrimination laws protect job seekers from bias based on appearance, age, race, gender, and other protected characteristics. Most employers actively avoid resumes with photos to reduce their legal liability and maintain fair hiring practices.

For instance, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission specifically addresses pre-employment photographs, noting that requests for photos before hiring can violate federal anti-discrimination laws. Therefore, understanding resume design helps you create documents that highlight your qualifications without unnecessary visual elements that could introduce bias.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Similar to North America, U.K. and Irish employers typically discourage resume photos. The focus remains firmly on qualifications, experience, and skills rather than physical appearance. The Equality Act 2010 reinforces this approach, encouraging employers to avoid any practices that might introduce unconscious bias into their hiring processes.

Germany and Austria

German-speaking countries traditionally expect professional photos on resumes (called "Lebenslauf"). However, this practice is evolving rapidly. While older employers and traditional industries might still expect photos, many modern German companies have moved toward photo-optional policies.

The shift reflects growing awareness of discrimination issues and alignment with broader European Union employment directives. Young professionals in tech, consulting, and international companies increasingly omit photos without negative consequences.

Other European Countries

Requirements vary significantly across Europe.

Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark generally discourage photos, following the Anglo-American model. On the other hand, Southern European countries including Italy, Spain, and Portugal maintain more mixed practices, with some industries still expecting photos.

France presents an interesting middle ground, where photos aren't expected but aren't necessarily problematic either. The key lies in understanding specific industry norms within each country rather than making broad regional assumptions.

Resume Photo Requirements by Industry

The appropriateness of resume photos often depends more on industry than geography. Let’s see which industries require a photo and which ones do not.

Entertainment and Media

Acting, modeling, broadcasting, and similar fields represent the clearest exceptions to the no-photo rules. However, even here, headshots are typically submitted separately from resumes rather than integrated into a single document.

Professional actors maintain separate headshots and performance resumes, submitting both when required. This approach allows for high-quality, industry-specific photos while keeping the resume focused on credits, training, and skills.

Television news, radio hosting, and on-camera roles may benefit from professional photos, but these positions often require separate headshot submissions during later interview stages rather than initial resume inclusion.

Customer-Facing Roles

Some hospitality, retail, and sales positions may benefit from professional photos, particularly in regions where they're culturally accepted. High-end restaurants, luxury retail, and premium service industries sometimes prefer to see candidates' professional presentation.

However, this practice is becoming less common as companies recognize the discrimination risks and focus on customer service skills, communication abilities, and relevant experience instead of appearance.

For customer-facing roles, consider emphasizing your communication skills and service experience rather than relying on visual presentation to convey professionalism.

Corporate and Professional Services

Traditional corporate roles, including finance, consulting, law, engineering, and most office-based positions, strongly discourage photos. These industries prioritize credentials, experience, analytical skills, and technical competencies that can't be evaluated through appearance.

Including photos in these sectors may signal unfamiliarity with professional norms or suggest the candidate doesn't understand what employers value. The risk of appearing unprofessional typically outweighs any potential benefits.

Instead, focus on crafting compelling resumes and highlighting relevant hard and soft skills.

Resume Photo Best Practices

When photos are appropriate and expected, they must meet rigorous professional standards, as poor-quality images can damage your candidacy. Here’s what you need to consider.

Professional Quality Standards

Professional resume photos require proper lighting that evenly illuminates your face without harsh shadows or overexposure. Natural light from a window works well, but avoid direct sunlight that creates unflattering contrasts.

The background should be neutral—white, light gray, or subtle colors that don't compete with your appearance. Busy backgrounds, outdoor settings, or recognizable locations distract from your professional image.

Your expression should appear confident but approachable, with a genuine slight smile that conveys competence and likability. Avoid overly serious expressions that seem intimidating or forced smiles that appear artificial.

Composition Guidelines

The photo should show head and shoulders in a standard portrait orientation. Avoid full-body shots, group photos, or artistic angles that distract from your professional presentation.

Dress professionally according to your target industry's standards. Conservative business attire works for most situations, but creative fields may allow more personality in clothing choices while maintaining overall professionalism.

Eye contact with the camera creates connection and conveys confidence. Looking away or avoiding direct gaze can suggest uncertainty or discomfort that undermines your professional image.

Now that we’ve seen what the best practices are in taking a good resume photo, let’s see what to avoid:

• Casual photos from social events, vacation snapshots, or family gatherings. These images lack the professional quality and appropriate context for job applications.
• Social media profile pictures. These rarely meet professional standards, even if they show you looking professional. The lighting, composition, and background typically aren't suitable for resume use.
• Group photos. Being cropped out looks unprofessional and raises questions about your judgment. Always use photos taken specifically for professional purposes.
• Heavily filtered or edited images. These can backfire during in-person interviews when your appearance doesn't match your photo. Subtle retouching is acceptable, but major alterations should be avoided.

Potential Risks of Including Resume Photos

Understanding the risks helps you make informed decisions about whether photos serve your interests or create unnecessary obstacles.

Alternatives to Resume Photos

Smart job seekers use alternative approaches to provide visual representation without the risks associated with photos. Here are two alternatives you can use instead of a resume photo:

1. LinkedIn. A strong profile with a professional headshot serves multiple purposes while keeping your resume photo-free. This approach allows employers who want to see candidates' professional appearance to find that information voluntarily rather than having it forced upon them.
2. Personal website. Creative professionals can showcase both work samples and professional photos through portfolio websites. This approach demonstrates technical skills while providing visual context for your work style and professional presentation.

How to Decide Whether to Include a Resume Photo

Making the right decision requires careful analysis of multiple factors rather than following generic advice that might not fit your situation. Let’s examine what you should do.

Creating Professional Resume Photos: DIY vs. Professional Services

When you determine that photos are necessary and appropriate, you might be in a dilemma between taking your own resume photo or hiring a professional.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Final Thoughts

The decision to include a resume photo depends on regional customs, industry expectations, and specific job requirements. Most job seekers benefit from strong resume content, clear formatting, and relevant experience rather than visual elements that may introduce bias or distract from qualifications.

When photos are required, they must meet high professional standards. Research your target market thoroughly, follow specific application instructions, and when in doubt, prioritize substance over appearance.

However, remember that even the most compelling resume photo can't compensate for weak qualifications. Therefore, focus on quantifying achievements on your resume and writing a compelling cover letter.