![\"profile](\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/mcfade_thompson_13.jpg\" "\\"mcfade_thompson_13\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nRecognise Yourself – The 10 Profile Photo Types?<\/strong><\/h1>\n1 Egghead – No Picture<\/h2>\n
Some have no profile picture, this leaves the picture holder empty or with a default grey silhouette. What does this say about you?<\/p>\n
Having no avatar can give messages like:-<\/p>\n
\n- “You’re hiding something” or<\/li>\n
- “You’ve not bought into this yet” or maybe even<\/li>\n
- “You’re a spammer”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So if its not a good idea to leave your profile empty, you could still hide by putting up a stock images, perhaps a cartoon figure or something on those lines. This gives a more powerful message than the empty avatar, but you have to beware of the message its giving.<\/p>\n
2 Cartoon Hero<\/h2>\n
Maybe\u00a0taking\u00a0on the persona of Captain Caveman is amusing for a few days, but perhaps a potential client seeing that on LinkedIn would get the wrong impression.<\/p>\n
An exception would be to use your\u00a0company logo, but only do this on company accounts, not personal ones. It promotes brand consistency across your social media<\/a> platform.<\/p>\n3 Pet-Tastic<\/h2>\n
Other common avatars are peoples pets, which are usually very endearing and often invoke an “ahhhhhh” reaction, but it’s not really appropriate for business (unless you’re a vet or run a cattery\/kennel)!<\/p>\n
Maybe use these on Facebook – but not your LINKED IN profile.<\/p>\n
4 Little Jonny<\/h2>\n
People with new children often use their baby’s smiling face as an avatar, which again gets the “ahhhhhhhh” reaction, and can act as an ice breaker if other new parents are looking at your profile, but its not really “business”. For some non-parents, the prospect of “baby talk” can be quite off putting.<\/p>\n
![\"profile](\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/mcfade_portarits_159.jpg\" "\\"mcfade_portarits_159\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n5 Be Brave – Show your Face<\/strong><\/h2>\nSo we come to the portrait<\/a> – are you big enough to let people see you?<\/p>\nWith digital cameras, phones, webcams and probably the next generation of toasters, we can now all capture images digitally and get them online very easily. Just about every website has made it so incredibly easy to do so, its second nature.<\/p>\n
6 DIY Photographer<\/h2>\n
Most portraits are “self portraits” that follow this\u00a0formula:-<\/p>\n
\n- taken at arms length<\/strong><\/li>\n
- the camera high above the sitters head,<\/strong><\/li>\n
- often with a bit of arm on one side of the shot,<\/strong><\/li>\n
- certainly an un-natural shoulder position and<\/strong><\/li>\n
- usually with a facial expression they only ever have when taking a self portrait!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
They are fine for the social side of the Facebook, they are friendly, engaging, easy to relate to and you can change them every day, keep people guessing what look you will have on the next day. But for business they’re not giving that “slightly serious” look which “means business”. All a bit heath-robinson.<\/p>\n
7 Group Shot<\/h2>\n
Another favourite is the group shot (or just your face cut out of a group shot). These are usually taken in the pub after Tequilla Slammers, arms around your mates, bleary eyed, rosey face and generally looking very very merry. Fantastic for social use, conveys that fun loving persona and the fact that you’re still able to party hard… but is it business?<\/p>\n
8 The Wedding Shot<\/h2>\n
How about the “wedding shot” – not just the bride and groom, often the guests and especially the bridesmaids. These are photos of you looking at your very best, its a wedding after all. But what does it say about you…. maybe you only look good at weddings, the rest of the time… ?<\/p>\n
![\"profile](\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/mcfade_portarits_140.jpg\" "\\"mcfade_portarits_140\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n9 Get a Professional in<\/strong><\/h2>\nSo we come to the professional photograph, this certainly gets across a feeling of credibility. The fact that you “value” your profile sufficiently to invest in great photos says a lot.<\/p>\n
But not all “professional photographers” are the same. Its a bit like assuming that all authors write the same book or all artists paint the same\u00a0pictures. They\u00a0are a diverse breed, with ideas bubbling away in their brain like a\u00a0cauldron\u00a0full of magic potions. Some may be amazing at shooting woodpeckers or the Dales at sunset, but would have no idea how to work with a “human”.<\/p>\n
It’s definitely worth researching the local pool of photographers rather than plumping for the first one you see.<\/p>\n
You can do this easily on their websites, Flickr, Facebook and even Twitter.\u00a0Google is an option, but the photographers who are on the top<\/a> pages are there\u00a0because\u00a0of great SEO, not\u00a0necessarily\u00a0great photography.<\/p>\nAlso ask for recommendations from your network.\u00a0Take care to look at their portfolio, because the “look” they achieved for the guy who recommended them may not be what you are after.<\/p>\n
Another approach is to go through your friend lists on social media, look at their avatars and find ones you like the look of, then message that friend to find out who did their shots, they’ll be more than happy to pass on their details.<\/p>\n
![\"profile](\"https:\/\/www.mcfade.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/mcfade_portarits_171.jpg\" "\\"mcfade_portarits_171\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nGet the Right Shot by Talking<\/strong><\/h2>\nMany business profile shots are quick affairs, shot in the office or in front of a blue background<\/a>, shirt and tie (or equivalent for women), lighting which you got in your school photos and an expression that’s “old school” or solemn.<\/p>\nThat’s fine and what many people want, especially corporates – it gives a strong impression and means business, but it doesn’t make you stand out from the crowd. Standing out for the\u00a0entrepreneur differentiates them from the competition.<\/p>\n
Ideally you should have in mind the kind of look you are after so you can talk it over with your photographer. You don’t have to get technical, maybe just mention a TV program or bring a magazine with photos in, or just try your best to say what you want to look like, that’ll give the photographer a great head start in his thinking process.<\/p>\n
So if its not a good idea to leave your profile empty, you could still hide by putting up a stock images, perhaps a cartoon figure or something on those lines. This gives a more powerful message than the empty avatar, but you have to beware of the message its giving.<\/p>\n
2 Cartoon Hero<\/h2>\n
Maybe\u00a0taking\u00a0on the persona of Captain Caveman is amusing for a few days, but perhaps a potential client seeing that on LinkedIn would get the wrong impression.<\/p>\n
An exception would be to use your\u00a0company logo, but only do this on company accounts, not personal ones. It promotes brand consistency across your social media<\/a> platform.<\/p>\n Other common avatars are peoples pets, which are usually very endearing and often invoke an “ahhhhhh” reaction, but it’s not really appropriate for business (unless you’re a vet or run a cattery\/kennel)!<\/p>\n Maybe use these on Facebook – but not your LINKED IN profile.<\/p>\n People with new children often use their baby’s smiling face as an avatar, which again gets the “ahhhhhhhh” reaction, and can act as an ice breaker if other new parents are looking at your profile, but its not really “business”. For some non-parents, the prospect of “baby talk” can be quite off putting.<\/p>\n So we come to the portrait<\/a> – are you big enough to let people see you?<\/p>\n With digital cameras, phones, webcams and probably the next generation of toasters, we can now all capture images digitally and get them online very easily. Just about every website has made it so incredibly easy to do so, its second nature.<\/p>\n Most portraits are “self portraits” that follow this\u00a0formula:-<\/p>\n They are fine for the social side of the Facebook, they are friendly, engaging, easy to relate to and you can change them every day, keep people guessing what look you will have on the next day. But for business they’re not giving that “slightly serious” look which “means business”. All a bit heath-robinson.<\/p>\n Another favourite is the group shot (or just your face cut out of a group shot). These are usually taken in the pub after Tequilla Slammers, arms around your mates, bleary eyed, rosey face and generally looking very very merry. Fantastic for social use, conveys that fun loving persona and the fact that you’re still able to party hard… but is it business?<\/p>\n How about the “wedding shot” – not just the bride and groom, often the guests and especially the bridesmaids. These are photos of you looking at your very best, its a wedding after all. But what does it say about you…. maybe you only look good at weddings, the rest of the time… ?<\/p>\n So we come to the professional photograph, this certainly gets across a feeling of credibility. The fact that you “value” your profile sufficiently to invest in great photos says a lot.<\/p>\n But not all “professional photographers” are the same. Its a bit like assuming that all authors write the same book or all artists paint the same\u00a0pictures. They\u00a0are a diverse breed, with ideas bubbling away in their brain like a\u00a0cauldron\u00a0full of magic potions. Some may be amazing at shooting woodpeckers or the Dales at sunset, but would have no idea how to work with a “human”.<\/p>\n It’s definitely worth researching the local pool of photographers rather than plumping for the first one you see.<\/p>\n You can do this easily on their websites, Flickr, Facebook and even Twitter.\u00a0Google is an option, but the photographers who are on the top<\/a> pages are there\u00a0because\u00a0of great SEO, not\u00a0necessarily\u00a0great photography.<\/p>\n Also ask for recommendations from your network.\u00a0Take care to look at their portfolio, because the “look” they achieved for the guy who recommended them may not be what you are after.<\/p>\n Another approach is to go through your friend lists on social media, look at their avatars and find ones you like the look of, then message that friend to find out who did their shots, they’ll be more than happy to pass on their details.<\/p>\n Many business profile shots are quick affairs, shot in the office or in front of a blue background<\/a>, shirt and tie (or equivalent for women), lighting which you got in your school photos and an expression that’s “old school” or solemn.<\/p>\n That’s fine and what many people want, especially corporates – it gives a strong impression and means business, but it doesn’t make you stand out from the crowd. Standing out for the\u00a0entrepreneur differentiates them from the competition.<\/p>\n Ideally you should have in mind the kind of look you are after so you can talk it over with your photographer. You don’t have to get technical, maybe just mention a TV program or bring a magazine with photos in, or just try your best to say what you want to look like, that’ll give the photographer a great head start in his thinking process.<\/p>\n3 Pet-Tastic<\/h2>\n
4 Little Jonny<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n5 Be Brave – Show your Face<\/strong><\/h2>\n
6 DIY Photographer<\/h2>\n
\n
7 Group Shot<\/h2>\n
8 The Wedding Shot<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n9 Get a Professional in<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nGet the Right Shot by Talking<\/strong><\/h2>\n