The Do’s and Don’ts of Professional Profile Pictures: I’ve talked about this a lot, but your professional image means a lot. Be it in person or in photos, giving off the right impression is crucial. For instance, LinkedIn members who include a profile photo receive 21x more profile views and up to 36x more messages than those without one.
Whether or not it’s right, it’s human nature to judge others based on their clothing and appearance. Since this is a known fact, (people with straight teeth are considered more successful) take control of how people see you and follow the do’s and don’ts of professional profile pictures.
DO:
Make sure you remain approachable and consistent with your professional appearance. You shouldn’t look different in photos and in real life. A good professional photo reflects you and who you truly are. Especially if you’re in a client facing role, you want your profile photo to reflect what people see when they meet you face to face, if it doesn’t people might get confused and may be given the wrong perception of you.
DON’T:
Stray from your normal routine on picture day. Yes, you want to look groomed and professional, so if you don’t normally brush your hair, please do that for everyone’s benefit, however if you don’t normally wear makeup, this is not the time to pile it on. Again, you should look the same in your pictures as you do in real life.
DO:
Choose a neutral background. This is not the place for a picture of you standing in front of your Christmas tree, or with friends, or at a club. Find a neutral background that won’t distract the viewer. You want to be the focus point, not the background. Standing in front of a plain wall or simple gardens and greenery work well. If you can find a lot of open space where you can stand and have just the sky or far away landscape in the background, that’s also a good option.
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 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 unprofessional.
DON’T:
Take a selfie. Have someone else take a photo of you. It’s as simple as that. Selfies may be all the rage on Instagram and snapchat, but not in the professional world. Ask you mom or sister or friend. Someone will be able to snap a shot of you.
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Professional profile images are important, so take the time to actually make your photo worth it. While professional headshots are a good investment, there’s no need to spend the money as long as you follow the do’s and don’ts of professional profile pictures. Click here for a more in depth article on how to take a professional photo at home. When in doubt, put on a blazer and ask a friend for help. There will always be someone willing to take a picture and give you their opinion.