Profile portrait: important aspects of social networks
Creating an avatar is an aspect of building online identity and other users’ impressions. Today we’ll look at a few key aspects to consider when choosing and creating a photo for a personal account.
9 basic rules of photos for social media
To make your social media photos attractive and interesting, and carry exactly the message you want to put in them, you should pay attention to a few nuances.
- Editing and processing. Remember that less is sometimes better. Avoid over-processing your photo, such as over-retouching or using lots of filters. The goal is for your image to be natural, credible, and sympathetic. Sure, you can touch up a pimple on your forehead or use the app https://retouchme.com/service/hide-bald-spot-app to create luxurious hair, but making your face “doll-like” is not a good idea.
- Image quality. One of the main aspects is the resolution of the photo. The portrait should be clear, well-lit, without distortion. Use high-quality photos so that the image looks professional and attractive. You can take a quality picture yourself on a smartphone with a good camera or use the services of a professional photographer.
- Pose and facial expression. Use such non-verbal signals that will help to create the right image. It can be a smile, a serious look, or a relaxed facial expression. It is important that the image is sincere and conveys your positive emotional side.
- Background. It should not distract attention from you or compete with the portrait in brightness. It’s best to choose a neutral background or a background that complements your image but doesn’t compete with it in colorfulness.
- Clothing and style. Think about what outfit best reflects your personality and/or professional role. Avoid flashy, flashy outfits if your goal is to create a business or serious image. Conversely, for a personal page, you can choose photos in more open, casual, and colorful clothing if you like.
- Cropping. It is important to crop the image correctly because your face should be the center of attention. Avoid excessive space around it, crop the photo so that your face can be seen clearly and distinctly. Note that social networks usually have automatic cropping options if the image does not meet the set standard. Therefore, it is better to choose on your own what part of the picture will be visible to other users.
- Profile relevance. Take into account the context and features of the social network where your portrait will be used. For example, a LinkedIn profile picture may be different from an avatar for an Instagram or Facebook profile. Tailor your image to your target audience and context of use.
- Size. This parameter is usually the last thing social media users think about. The problem only becomes apparent when uploading a new image. For example, only the nose is visible in the thumbnail or the full photo is “lost” in the space allocated for it. To avoid this, take into account the size requirements of each particular social network for avatars, banners, and other images. It is easy to find relevant background information on the Internet.
- Relevance. A social media account should reflect your actual appearance. The temptation to put on the avatar perfect portrait of 15 years ago is great, but in addition to it in the profile must be fresh photos. This is a sign of respect for other users and a way to get your account found faster. Besides, if the profile is a business profile, a radical discrepancy in real appearance will be perceived negatively.
Overall, creating a portrait for a social media profile is a process that requires attention to detail and careful selection. Remember that your photo is your face in the online world, so try to convey your personality, and professional image with the help of a high-quality, attractive image.
