Recognition beats perfection
Your profile photos should make it easy for someone to recognise you at a café. A flattering portrait is fine; an image edited beyond recognition is not doing either person a favour. Recent pictures, natural light and a relaxed expression tend to carry more warmth than a highly staged collection.
Show a little range
A close-up, a full-length photo and one scene that hints at how you spend time make a useful set. If you love cycling, a photograph from a weekend ride tells a story. If you never wear formal clothes, five black-tie images may give the wrong impression. Your pictures should feel like different pages of the same person.
Avoid making people work to find you
Group photos can be lively, but not if every image is a guessing game. Likewise, endless sunglasses, distant silhouettes and heavy filters obscure the very thing the profile is supposed to show. Keep it simple. Choose photos you would be comfortable explaining in one sentence.
Keep in mind
- Use variety without confusion.
- Keep group shots limited.
- Choose pictures that reflect your real atmosphere.
Continue reading
If this question has been on your mind, these stories explore another side of it.