The Professional Guide to Good Profile Pictures

eHarmony Advice talks to a professional photographer for tips on how to take the best profile pictures.

by eHarmony Staff

Profile pictures can tell your story. If done well, your profile pictures can act as a photo album of your life, illustrating the different layers that make you such a great catch. Good photos let your personality shine, underscore your interests and give a glimpse into your life, without methodically spelling out your stats.

1. Simplify

The most important rule of an effective profile photo is that the main snapshot should focus on you. Robert Craig from Robert Craig Photography advises, “You want the photo to highlight you; not your new car, your rose garden or your dog. The photo should highlight the subject and the subject only.” He suggests cropping or zooming a photo to remove the superfluous space around you. Especially if you are only featuring one photo, avoid other people stealing your glory.

Standing next to your brother, a sports team or a group of friends at a barbecue can complicate matters. Extra people may make the visitor confused as to which person is you, what your relationship is with these other people or − worst of all − spark interest in the supporting cast.

2. Let the Sunshine In

Taking photos outdoors allows you to make the most of your scenery. If you love sports, take an action shot of you behind the ball. If you like to stay active, perhaps you should choose a photo of you climbing to a mountain summit or playing Frisbee at the beach. Choosing your backdrop tells a lot about you and what you like to do.

Craig also advises shooting photos outdoors in the morning or late afternoon, which offer a natural light that is more flattering to your skin. He warns to avoid the harsh light from “looking directly in the sun,” since being squinty-eyed “is not a very flattering look for anyone.” Instead, he recommends facing the sun with your profile, keeping the scary squint at bay and presenting a more becoming natural glow.

3. A Thousand Words

Since pictures can reveal what is important to you, use this introduction in your favor. If you like walks on the beach, take a photo of yourself on the shoreline at sunset. If you like to create landscape paintings, feature yourself and the easel mid-project. Perhaps you value an animated sense of humor, so have a photo of you in the throes of laughter. Use your imagination and think about what you would like to see about someone else. Profile pics don’t always have to look like headshots. Jump in the air, model a favorite hat or strike a pose to jazz it up. By presenting an action in front of a thoughtful or fun background, your profile photo can show your personality without saying a word.