What is a profile picture?

Your profile picture is your personal brand and should reflect who you are while highlighting your best qualities. The same image should be used across all similar media channels, for example on Facebook and your personal blog or LinkedIn and other professional channels. This is so that people recognize you from one media to the next and can follow you more easily. This is especially important if you have a very common name. In time, this will lead to a more concrete brand and will create trust in your identity from all of your followers.

If there is more than one picture that reflects your personality, or that showcases different angles of your image, you can swap them out for a limited time and then go back to your official picture. Your official picture should be a “solo” image, because you don’t want to confuse your followers by showing several other people around you.

When should you change your profile picture?

Your profile picture should reflect who you are and should always look like you. It is advisable to change it every 12 months, but it should be updated at least every other year. Additionally, every time you change your hairstyle, your glasses, or when there is major change in your image, you should take a new photo.

How should your profile picture look?

First impressions are very hard to change. It only takes 3 seconds for somebody to form an opinion about you based on your appearance, so a good profile picture can be a very useful and crucial tool for your brand and image development.

Your profile photo is the first thing that potential employers or followers see from you, so make sure it’s good in every possible way.  It should be adequately lit and sharp. Out of focus, blurry images make you look careless and sloppy. Definitely do not crop yourself out of a group photo, it looks terribly unprofessional. Selfies can be fun, but don’t qualify as profile pictures. They distort your facial features and make you look unprepared.

Unless it is a glamour or special occasion photo, your profile photo should allow eye contact. Look for plain or subdued backgrounds. Remember, you’re the hero of the image, not what’s behind you.

For most business purposes, headshots are the best option. But depending on the business you’re in and the social media you’re using, a full or half body image might also be appropriate. Regardless of the type of photo you choose, make sure you look friendly and approachable.

Show a few good options to your friends and get some feedback. For more information about pre-photoshoot preparations, stay tuned for our next article.

Grafika Photography is having a Glamour/Profile Photo Shoot this September. For only S$199, you can have two amazing profile photos, including two 5”x7” and six passport size prints. You will also get the low resolution files of the printed images, perfect for online use. Bring a friend and get a discounted price of only S$150 each. Check Grafika Photography and Design for details.

 Visit Grafika Photography and Design page to find out more about Helga's work.

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