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Tips for Choosing the Right Profile Picture

Choosing the right headshot for your business

First impressions matter, especially online. Living in the digital world, first impressions are often based on your profile picture. Think of it as the digital equivalent to your handshake. Your profile photo serves as your online introduction to others. This is why it’s important that you take time to choose the perfect headshot for your professional profile.

Here are some tips for choosing the right profile picture.

Choose a photo that is friendly and inviting

A warm, genuine smile will go a long way to attracting attention to your profile. Also, people will think that you’re friendly, pleasant, and approachable.

You don’t have to wear a big goofy grin. As the saying goes, “smile with your eyes.” It’s important that the image look real and authentic. Smile like you mean it!

Dress professionally

Your clothes matter. Choose a photo that depicts you in a manner appropriate for your field. You want to wow potential employers, clients, and partners with a headshot that makes you look like a professional.

Make sure that you’re wearing appropriate professional or business casual attire. That means a dress, suit, or blazer for women and a dress shirt or a suit for men. Dressing professionally also means you are freshly shaven (unless you have a beard) or not wearing too much makeup.

You should be the only subject in the photo

The photo should be of you, and only you. Never use a group photo as your profile picture. It can be extremely confusing to people who are viewing your profile. Cropped group photos are also a no-no. Nothing is more awkward than seeing someone else’s cropped shoulder in a photo.

Close-ups are your best bet for your profile picture. Remember, this is about you. Make sure that you are front and center and the focus of the photo.

Use a recent photo of yourself

Sometimes, people are tempted to use an old picture because they look young and attractive in that photo. The last thing you want is for people to be surprised when they meet you in person because you don’t like the person in your profile picture. Select a photo that reflects how you look on a daily basis. Make sure that your profile picture is up-to-date.

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How to Take Headshots That Reflects Your Brand

How to Take Headshots That Reflects Your Brand

Consistency is the key ingredient for business success. Having a brand and sticking to it is essential to continually growing a business that will last for years to come. Consistency goes beyond the products, social media, and marketing campaign. It also applies to your professional headshots.

As a business owner, you are the face of your brand. The quality and style of photos you use conveys a great deal, not only about you as a person, but also about how you conduct business. Whether you’re using the headshot for your company’s website or your social media profile, you want to make sure that it lines up with your brand.

With this in mind, we came up with a list of tips to help ensure that your headshots reflect your brand.

Do your research

Even little details like the background, props, and poses you adopt will help tell your brand story through your photos. Before the shoot, you should have an idea of what you want your headshots to look like. From here, it will be easier for you to plan the next steps. Know what you want ahead of time.  Some things you may wish to think about are whether you want studio or environmental style shots that show the space you’re in.  Do you want something traditional, or something with more edge?  If you’re not sure what you want, consult with an experienced photographer to help you create the right image for your company and budget.

Hire the right photographer

Now that you have an idea of what types of headshots you want, it’s time to look for a photographer. Whether your brand is serious and stark or colorful and fun, your headshot should be taken in the same style as the rest of your brand.

You need a headshot that perfectly encapsulates your professional life. Browse through each photographer’s portfolio and find a photographer who knows how to capture the essence a brand. Can you envision them capturing your brand in a similar way? Find a photographer who can shoot images that matches your brand.

Select your outfit wisely

The type of clothing you choose should reflect your everyday work attire. It should also match or complement the colors of your brand. Also, choose something you feel confident and comfortable in.

You also have the option of using different photos for different platforms. For your company profile and speaker profiles, a traditional business look is ideal. For your social media profiles and other marketing materials, a business casual look may be more appropriate.  Of course, there’s no “one size fits” all, so choose your wardrobe based on overall messaging and what’s appropriate for your industry.

Choose the right setting

The background of the photo is just as important as your clothing. The right setting helps you tell a visual story about you and your business. If you are a fitness guru, consider holding the photo session in a gym. If you are a designer or an artist, we suggest that you get some shots in your studio.

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