SMILE 2

Bear in mind that I am no expert on photographs and these are just my personal observations just as they were in my commentary “Smile”. Here are my 10 helpful tips on photos used for your Linkedin profile:

1.  Group shots and photos with your best bud are not helpful because you cannot caption them. My question is always, which person are you? And, why do you feel the necessity of having someone else in your photo.

2.  The same goes for photos with “famous” people. They might be well known locally or in your own country but it may be meaningless to a person from somewhere else. Besides having a photo with someone does not mean that you really “know” them.

3.  This is a business photo so do not have it taken in a bedroom or a car unless that is your place of business.

4.  Some people choose to take a photo in an exotic location and that is fine but in many cases because of weather they looked disheveled or windblown. Take the time to straighten yourself up.

5.  Do not wear shades unless you are undercover or wish to be incognito. It implies that you are hiding who you are.

6.  Do not use caricatures. Remember what a caricature is according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary: “a drawing that makes someone look funny or foolish because some part of the person's appearance is exaggerated.” Unless that is your intent.

7.  Photos taken at a distance are useless. No one can see who you are.

8.  Look into the camera so people can see who you are. Do not look to the side or off into the distance. It looks like you are avoiding contact.

9.  Why would you use a photo of scenery to define who you are? Are you a tree?

10.                    Smile!