What Makes a Good Profile Photo for a Bio?

More than a decade ago, when social networks such as LinkedIn and Instagram were becoming part of a new standard of online communications, a consensus emerged around the topic of acceptable profile photos. For a while, social media netizens played it safe and attached scanned passport photographs to their profiles; this was based on the established practice of including such photos along with a curriculum vitae when applying for jobs in Europe, but many of these images were not properly scanned and used to end up looking like poorly lit mugshots.

Things started to change when social media users started taking cues from dating websites and the online profiles of real estate agents; the latter featured portrait photography from professional studios while the former consisted of casual photos edited to look their best.

When you look at this conference bio photo posted on a website dedicated to news about employee benefits news, you can see that it meets the four widely accepted factors for modern profiles:

* The focus is on the face.

* The individual is facing the light source.

* The Rule of Thirds is applied to create an asymmetrical effect.

* The image resolution is adequate.

In case you are not familiar with the Rule of Thirds in photography, here is an explanation:

When composing an image, the subject matter should be placed in the center third of the frame. This is based on the idea that there are strong relationships between the composition of an image and the viewer’s emotional reaction to it. For example, if the viewer unconsciously prefers the subject matter to be at the center of the frame, then she is likely to be ambivalent to the right side of the frame. By applying the Rule of Thirds, you are avoiding the “in your face” effect of passport photos that force you to judge symmetry and inadvertently look for perceived flaws such as an eyelid that is slightly lower than the other.

Thanks to online dating websites and the wealth of data they have generated over the years, we know that the profile photos of women are always more effective when they look at the camera. This does not mean that they should look straight forward at the lens as if they were at the DMV getting their driver’s licenses; in fact, photos of women in 1/3 or 3/4 profiles can be highly effective, but they should still look at the camera with a full or slight smile.

When it comes to the profile photos of men, looking away from the camera works for dating websites. Probably, it might even benefit them to find a fuck date. However, it is not necessarily the scenario for business purposes. As long as the Rule of Thirds is observed, men should also look at the lens and deliver the kind of expression that is suitable for the purpose at hand. Toothy smiles will work for just about everyone; however, some professional photographers will recommend Mona Lisa smiles to some individuals whose facial features are classically striking and photogenic.

You always want to be the only person in the photo, but you can also show situations that depict your profession. A veterinarian, for example, can be photographed next to a dog; all the same, a sound engineer can be shown in front of a mixing board.