It is important to have a great profile picture if you are using social networking to help improve your business. One way to make sure your photo is fabulous and shows your personality is to hire a professional. You have to make sure the professional has retouching skills and will give you the image on a DVD. The image should be in at least two sizes, a web and email friendly size and a print size that works for the newspaper, magazines and brochures. I will also give my clients a thumbnail in addition.
It is important to feel comfortable and like your photographer because that is how to get your personality to show up in the photo. Know what you want from your photo. Actors need a photo where their energy jumps out to a tired agent who has been looking at about a 1000 different photos just this morning. Actors also have to be concerned about what market they are hoping to get work in because commercial work is photographed different than stage work. Business people need their head shot to look dynamic and above all trust worthy. For groups such as linked-in you need a shot similar as business people with a little more personality because it is so small.
Always discuss what you are wearing with your photographer. You should have your hair nicely done and a little make up. I always suggest bringing different ties. a couple of jackets and even shirts for the gentlemen. For women I suggest bringing different jewelry, a few different blouses with different necklines, and if for business a few choices of jackets also. It is very important to like what you bring because when you feel attractive you look more attractive. Also get a good night sleep the night before.
I have photographed hundreds of different types of head shots for every kind of need. They are retouched and wonderful and it is always fun. I get to meet really interesting people. But guess who doesn’t have a decent profile picture or head shot? Me! I really need to set up my tripod put on some makeup and work my magic on myself. I’m using a picture from a vacation my husband took probably 4 years ago and it would be an example of what not to use as a profile picture. Oh well maybe I’ll get to it this weekend.
Below are some examples of great head shots which could also be used for profile pictures.
by admin