Resume With Picture: Examples, Templates & How to Add a Photo (2026)

Quick answer: A resume with a picture is standard in many countries in continental Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, and for jobs like acting, modeling, and some customer-facing roles, but it's usually best avoided in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. If you do include one, use a recent, professional head-and-shoulders photo with a plain background, place it in the top-left or top-right corner at about 1.5 x 2 inches (4 x 5 cm), and keep the rest of the layout simple. In Word, use Insert > Pictures and set text wrapping to "Square." In Google Docs, use Insert > Image and choose "Wrap text." Keep a photo-free version for applications that don't expect one.

So you've decided your resume needs a picture. Maybe you're applying in Germany, Dubai, or Brazil. Maybe you're an actor, a model, or a hospitality professional. Or maybe the job posting simply asked for it.

Whatever the reason, there's a right way to do it, and a way that makes your resume look like a social media profile that wandered into the wrong inbox.

This guide covers when a resume with a picture makes sense, what makes a good resume photo, layout examples, and how to add a photo in Word, Google Docs, Canva, and Pages. For the full country-by-country rules and the case against photos, see should you put a photo on your resume.

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When to Use a Resume With a Picture

A photo is often expected or helpful when:

• You're applying in a country where photos are common, such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, much of Eastern Europe, Japan, China, South Korea, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and many other countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America
• Your job depends partly on appearance or presence: acting, modeling, TV presenting, some hospitality, cabin crew, and luxury retail roles
• The employer asks for one in the job posting or application form

Skip the photo when:

• Applying in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, unless asked
• Applying to large companies that use strict ATS screening
• Applying to international companies that follow US or UK norms

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Pros and Cons of a Resume With a Picture

Pros:

• Meets expectations in countries where photos are standard, so your resume doesn't look incomplete
• Helps recruiters remember you after a career fair or interview
• Shows professionalism and presentation in appearance-focused roles
• Can make a resume feel more personal

Cons:

• Can introduce unconscious bias based on age, gender, race, or appearance
• Some US and UK employers screen out resumes with photos to avoid discrimination concerns
• Takes space from achievements
• Can complicate layouts and cause ATS parsing problems
• A poor-quality photo hurts more than no photo at all

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What a Good Resume Picture Looks Like

• Professional headshot: head and shoulders, facing the camera or slightly angled
• Recent: taken within the last year or two
• Plain background: white, light gray, or soft blue
• Good lighting: even, natural light with no harsh shadows
• Professional clothing: what you'd wear to an interview at that company
• Natural expression: a friendly smile and eye contact
• High resolution: sharp, not pixelated
• Just you: no friends, pets, sunglasses, or vacation scenery

Avoid: selfies, cropped group photos, party pictures, heavy filters, and anything that looks like a dating profile.

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How to Take a Resume Photo With Your Phone

You don't need a professional photographer:

1. Find a plain wall (white or light gray) and stand about 2–3 feet in front of it to avoid shadows
2. Face a window for soft, natural light. Avoid overhead lights and direct sun
3. Ask a friend to take it, or use a tripod and timer. Selfie-arm angles are easy to spot
4. Hold the camera at eye level, framing from mid-chest to just above your head
5. Wear solid, interview-appropriate colors. Avoid busy patterns and logos
6. Take 20+ shots and choose the one with the most natural smile
7. Make light edits only: crop, straighten, and adjust brightness. Skip beauty filters

AI headshot tools can produce polished results, but make sure the photo actually looks like you. Showing up to an interview looking noticeably different is an awkward first impression.

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Resume With Picture Layout Examples

Layout 1: Photo top-left, details beside it

Classic and clean. Your name and title sit to the right of the photo.

Layout 2: Photo top-right, name left

Common in modern templates. The photo balances the header.

Layout 3: Sidebar with photo

A narrow left column with your photo, contact details, skills, and languages, and a wider right column for experience and education. Stylish, but two-column layouts are riskier for ATS. See two-column resume.

Layout 4: Europass-style

The European Union's Europass CV format includes an optional photo in the header. See Europass CV.

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Resume Photo Size and Placement

• Size: about 1.5 x 2 inches (4 x 5 cm). Japan's traditional rirekisho uses a 3 x 4 cm photo
• Placement: top-left or top-right corner, aligned with your name
• Shape: rectangle or square is most traditional; a circle works for modern designs
• Proportion: your photo should never take up more space than your name and title

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How to Add a Photo to Your Resume

In Microsoft Word

1. Click where you want the photo (in your header area)
2. Insert > Pictures > This Device and choose your photo
3. Click the photo, then Picture Format > Wrap Text > Square (or "In Front of Text" for precise placement)
4. Resize by dragging a corner handle while holding Shift to keep proportions
5. Use Picture Format > Crop to trim it, or Crop to Shape for a circle

See how to make a resume in Word.

In Google Docs

1. Insert > Image > Upload from computer
2. Click the image and choose Wrap text
3. Drag to the corner and resize using the corner handles
4. Use Image options or the crop tool to trim it

See how to make a resume in Google Docs.

In Canva

1. Search for "resume with photo" templates
2. Pick a design and click the photo placeholder
3. Uploads > Upload files, then drag your photo into the frame
4. Download as PDF Standard. Check that your text is real text (you can select and copy it), not part of an image

In Apple Pages

1. Choose a resume template with an image placeholder, or Insert > Choose an image
2. Drag your photo onto the placeholder
3. Use Format > Image > Mask to crop
4. File > Export To > PDF

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Tips for a Resume With a Picture

• Keep the content strong. A great photo doesn't replace achievements and numbers. See resume tips
• Keep two versions: one with a photo and one without
• Check the PDF on another device to make sure the photo didn't shift
• Keep file size reasonable: compress the image if your PDF is over 2–3 MB
• Match your LinkedIn photo so recruiters recognize you

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I make a resume with a picture?

Only if it's expected in the country or industry, or the employer asks for one. In the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, a photo-free resume is the norm.

Where should the picture go on a resume?

In the top-left or top-right corner of the header, next to your name and contact details.

What size should a resume photo be?

About 1.5 x 2 inches (4 x 5 cm). It should be noticeable but never larger than your name and title.

Can a photo on my resume affect ATS?

Images themselves are usually ignored by ATS, but photos placed in text boxes or complex layouts can sometimes cause parsing problems. Keep the rest of your layout simple.

What should I wear in my resume photo?

Dress as you would for an interview at that company: business attire for corporate roles, smart casual for creative or hospitality roles.

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