How to Create a Profile Picture That Opens Doors

Think of your profile picture as your online handshake. It's the “hello” before the hello. Because before someone reads a single word of your bio and before they scroll through your posts, they’ve already formed a feeling about you. And that feeling? It’s shaped by one little profile image.

The good news is that creating a profile picture that makes people want to lean in is not about being photogenic or having a huge amount of confidence. It’s about being intentional, authentic, and well-lit.

Why Your Profile Picture Matters

These days, we scroll and scroll and consume an enormous amount of visual content. That first impression happens in seconds. On LinkedIn, for example, your profile photo can be the reason someone accepts your connection request or keeps scrolling. In fact, research shows that profiles with professional headshots receive significantly more engagement we’re talking up to 14 times more views and 36 times more messages (see this LinkedIn Marketing Blog Post).

Your photo isn’t just a head-and-shoulders shot. It’s about building trust. It’s a confidence signal. Something that says "you can count on me" and showcases you as a headliner in your field.

What Makes a Great Profile Picture

1. Lighting: Often the reason as to why you might hate your photo. Whether natural light or a skilled studio setup, we're looking for lighting that suits your representation and looks professional. This can be soft shadows that brighten your features, or stronger shadows that create a more contrasting style. As long as we're the light isn't in a place that looks naff or creates shadows where we don't want them, such as around your eyes!

   
   

2. Clarity: A professional image isn't just about have a super high-resolution photo. Because let's face it, most profile photos are viewed as a tiny bubble on your screen, and rarely enlarged. But it's important to consider what the investment of professional photo says about you. Not only will you look awesome and professional, you are elevating your status to a level of confidence and success shown through the purposeful creation of your photo.

   
   

3. Framing & Composition: You are the main event, the headliner! So let's keep the focus on you. We can experiment with various backgrounds, colours and looks, but at the end of the day it's about whichever style best makes you jump off the screen. Even though as standard for a headshot we will only see your head and shoulders, this is a deliberate attempt to show your face and to share your energy, personality and enthusiasm through your eyes and facial expression.

   
   

4. Expression: This is where many have been stung in the past. "I hated my last photos, I looked tired" or "I looked so serious" or "I was doing this awkward smile". If we want these photos to be authentic, we have to capture true feelings and expression. To look confident and bold in your photo, we need to make sure you are feeling like that when the camera button is clicked. Sure - lighting and body positioning can assist this, but expression is something that your photographer should help and direct you on.

   
   

5. Brand Alignment: From your clothing to the backdrop, your photo should feel like part of your professional story. It's so easy to upload a photo sometimes simply becuase it's one that we love of ourselves and feel comfortable sharing, but actually it isn't on point with our professional messaging and from an audience perspective detracts from the impact we're having. Instead, we always work backwards from what is the desired message we want the viewer to receive from the photos, then we can make sure that we are filling photos with as many signals to this as we can through the expression, wardrobe choices, backgrounds and colours.

   

How to Upgrade Your Profile Picture (Without the Stress)

So we've discussed what makes a profile photo effective, but how do you now go about ensuring your profile is working at it's optimum. Well, here are a few thoughts:

• Work with a Photographer Who Gets You: In order to feel great in front of the camera, you need to work with a photographer that you trust and have a good feeling about. Someone who listens to your requirements and has expressed creatively how can help you acheive your goals. Because it's all well and good jumping in to booking a photographer based on their fantastic portfolio, but if you don't click or get the feedback you need, your photos won't look like the others. It's about selecting a photographer that will best capture personality.

• Dress with Intention: Always bring more outfit options that you think you will need and dress for the occasion. Wear something that feels like “you” but is also aligned with how you want to be seen in your industry. If it means making a few purchases to feel how you wish to be portrayed, then do it! A little Headshot Hack: If you do make a last minute photoshoot purchase, you can always keep the tags on and return them after your session?! You didn't hear this from me...

• Refresh Regularly: Aim to update your image every 12-18 months. You'd be amazed how much you actually change until you put an updated photo side by side with your old photo. Many clients who book in with me open with "I need a new photo, it's been years since my last ones". You not only change physically, you change professionally too. Your brand direction, your ambitious goals, or even personal milestones of getting married and starting a family - these are all elements of growth and we want to make sure your photo reflects this.

Confidence in Front of the Camera

So here’s the thing, you don’t need to love being photographed to have a brilliant headshot. My role as your photographer is to guide you from helping you choose the right setting and angles to making sure you feel relaxed in the moment. It's the result that matters. A profile picture that not only looks like you but feels like you. You recognise yourself. That's when you achieve photos of yourself that you just love and want to share.

So have a good look at your current profile picture. Think about what has changed for you both professionally and personally, and let's book in a video call to see how we can capture photos for you that will help you make those really valuable connections.

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