Your professional profile picture is extremely important because it gives people a first impression of who you are, and lets them make the connection of your face to your name and career. If you use an unprofessional picture on a professional document or profile, you will be hurting your reputation, causing unnecessary judgement and leading others to believe that you lack professionalism. While it can be very beneficial to invest in a professional photograph to use throughout your career, it can be expensive. If you do decide to take your own photo, follow these steps for a flawless professional profile picture.
Have someone take a photo of you. Do not under any circumstances use a selfie as a professional image. You will make yourself look unprofessional, immature, and lazy. If you’re too lazy to have someone take a picture of you and want to take the easy route of snapping a pic of yourself, how does that represent you professionally? Badly.
If you really don’t have someone to take a picture of you, purchase a tripod which you can set up and click to take a photo of yourself. While you are technically taking the photo yourself, this image won’t appear that way, and won’t be considered a selfie. Basically, don’t hold the camera yourself. Employ a friend or a tripod to do that for you.
Dress the part. There’s nothing more unprofessional about a picture than dressing in unprofessional clothing. Some general rules of thumb include:
- Be conservative
- Don’t show too much skin
- Make sure your clothing is ironed and wrinkle free
- Don’t wear sunglasses or a hat
When taking a professional picture, you want to make sure that you are dressed appropriately. If you work in an industry or company that requires a certain dress code, stick to those rules for your picture. (i.e. if you wear a suit to work every day, wear a suit when taking your picture) If your dress code is very casual, it’s still a good idea to dress up a bit for your picture, as it will give off a more professional image.
If you work in a very casual environment or industry, think of wearing a simple button down shirt, or a wrinkle free basic t shirt. If you are going to opt for a t shirt, stick to white, black, navy or grey, and make sure that there are no graphics on it. Simple is always better, and if you are going to go super casual, make sure that you’re still appearing clean and polished.
Find a neutral background. Don’t have a picture of you standing in front of your Christmas tree, or with friends, or a club. Find a neutral background that won’t distract the viewer. You want to be the focus point, not the background. Simple gardens and greenery work well, or find a lot of open space where you can stand and have just the sky or far away landscape in the background.
Another great tip is to use a sheet from your bed. Don’t have a neutral background? Make one! Take an extra sheet in either white, grey, or black and tack it to your wall so it falls to create a neutral picture background. If you are going to do this, make sure that the sheet is freshly ironed or steamed. Wrinkles will give you away and make the shot look very amateur.
Good lighting is key. Natural light is always best, but sun isn’t your friend. Natural lighting can be great, but it can also cast weird shadows if you’re in the direct sun. The best time for outdoor photo shoots are early in the morning or late afternoon’/early evening. You want to be in a well lit area that isn’t in direct sunlight.
Taking a photo inside? Find a spot across from a window where light can stream in but isn’t hitting you directly.
Use the best camera you can. While it’s possible to take good photos on a camera phone, if you have access to an actual camera such as a DSLR, use it. So many people have great cameras, so ask around. Chances are that someone you know will have a high quality camera that you can borrow, or they may even be willing to shoot a few pictures of you.
While this isn’t a make or break deal, you can almost always tell the difference between a high quality camera and a phone. If you can use a camera, take advantage of it.
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A good quality professional profile image will last you years. Make sure to update your photo every couple of years to ensure that you look the same, however if you have one good image, you can use this across multiple platforms such as LinkedIn, a website, brochure, business card, etc.
Whether you decide to have a professional take the picture or to have a friend take it, follow these steps for a flawless professional profile picture.