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In the last few days, as I've been perusing and commenting on different blogger's posts, I happened to stop in my tracks, as I noticed far too many images that looked like they'd been taken by the same person, while holding the camera at arm's length. They looked more like a picture I would have on my 
same! If you only knew how much time I put into painstakingly getting professional-looking photos (not necessarily BY a professional photographer) that I feel are a good representation of my business persona, as opposed to the quick, and/or 
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78 Comments on Does Your "Professional" Photo Look Like A Facebook Picture?
Lisa....you could use any of those displayed photos.....people do like a more relaxed photo today....
A casual look maybe more appropriate nowadays. .
but many will question and characterize a photo as professional when you are wearing a sleeveless blouse and jeans or. . one of your partners is wearing a casual short sleeves shirt with no tie.
Professional is in the eye of the beholder.
<----this is a dreaded arm-extended, self-portrait via old flip-phone. But it's taken at my desk at the office. Does that make it more professional? My "professional" shots are beautifully retouched, I'm wearing "professional" attire, the lighting is perfect, and I hate them. They don't look/feel like "me".
While my pro shots are on our website and on my biz cards, I'm seriously rethinking them and am leaning toward a more casual photo. Why? Because that's who I am.
Making assumptions regarding one's professionalism based upon a photograph is like judging a house based upon the color of its front door. It matters to some, and not to others. Those willing to look a bit deeper, may be pleasantly surprised. I'm willing to take that risk.
My last AR photo was of me at my sister's wedding in a duck hat. I want to be known as approachable & fun to work with. A professional type shot just doesn't work with my personality. I have one that I used to use and a client remarked that even though it looked like me, it didn't seem like me. So I haven't used it since.
Well, I am envious that you look great in all the photos you showed. It certainly helps to be young, sparkly and pretty!
Personally, I truly dislike the practice of using photos in our promotions. I have never hired a lawyer, a dental hygienist or a house painter based on seeing their photos before calling them. I keep thinking of changing to an avatar, but then get caught up in the this very discussion of
"what does the image represent?"
I kinda like the pictures where people are on horseback, or a photo with their pets... makes them seem approachable. My picture was taken in my courtyard in from of some vines that I had planted and cared for. I need a new shot, but I have to really think it through on what and where.
My Facebook picture is from a Jimmy Buffet Concert, maybe I'll switch them around! LOL!!
Some professional photos make the person look "stoic" and too business like. No smile, etc. I want to do business with someone I can feel comfortable being around.
Lisa - I've been thinking about this myself . . . I recently did a blog on how much we should censor our own Facebook activitiy. This topic is similar in that you are trying to connect with the portion of the audience who MIGHT actually CHOOSE you! The best advice I took from there was simply, BE YOURSELF! No one will appeal to everyone, so you want to draw in those who will actually bond with you if you get past the initial hurdle!
Lisa There are times I refuse to accept an invitation on Facebook - the photos are too suggestive for my conservative outlook - my photos reflect that - no flash
I stopped reading about halfway through these comments because I obviously didn't do a good job of explaining myself. Somehow, this post went public before I was finished, so I just left it that way. When I say "professional" I DO NOT mean it had to be taken by a professional photographer. And I did mention our personal branding (Go for it!), which will change the feel of an image.
But I personally would never use the shot of me in jeans! I NEVER wear jeans unless I'm showing acreage and/or farm land, and even then, I would never wear jeans on my first appointment with a new customer! And I would never post a shot with that garish yellow light hitting me on one side.
I have absolutely no problem with having a friend or family member take your pictures for you. BUT, I ran across the type of pictures right here on AR, where it was VERY obvious that the so-called professionals had obviously held their arms out and taken their own pictures. One of them even had her chin tilted up so I was looking up her nose! Another was out of focus.
To clarify even more, I have used "approachable" photos in the past. I'm just not using one with that "feel" at the moment. I'm even working on selecting a new one. (And again, I didn't have time to choose better representations since this post went active prematurely.) How about if you consider the types of Facebook pictures (on general pages; not for business) that are taken by, and for teenagers? Does that help with the mental image? Because those are the types I found right here on Active Rain!
Obviously there are varying degrees of "professionalism" and "comfortable" pictures. Life's too short to not do what you feel is right.
Lisa - I think a professional picture for you business website is the way to go. Hope to see you at RainCamp.
Lisa, great discussion your post generated!!
Sometimes this whole picture thing just makes me dizzy.
I like keeping my pictures current. So, in the past 9 years I have been in business I have updated my business pictures about 7 times. And when I update I always a professional photographer. I just personally appreciate the skill of a professional photographer.
However, none of those photographs had me in a business suit or anything similar. I always have chosen to wear what I wear in my everyday work, what I call dressy casual.
My problem is that I also change my hairstyle about every 18 months so all my pictures have looked totally different.
I mean, it's clear that I'm the same person but, as you may know, a woman can change her look entirely with a new hairstyle.
For example, I no longer have the hairstyle in my profile picture. Two weeks ago, I cut off all my hair and now I have a different look. See below. See what I mean?
Now, if I meet somebody new who has found me on my website or found me through any of my marketing that has my last picture which is the one in my profile, they may feel I don't look like the same person.
I also think next time I have to ask my photographer to tone down the touching up. My profile picture has such a beautiful golden tone to my skin and I feel that is not an accurate representation of what my complexion looks like.
That picture is only 10 months old. I had been contacted through Active Rain by a casting director for production company about a TV show. When I got to speak with her somehow the conversation lead to a discussion of my family and I mentioned by soo-t0-be-18 year old soon. She was incredulous that I would have a son that age. I told her I was 40 and she asked me how recent was my picture. I told her it was taken 10 months ago but I don't think she believed me. She asked me to submit a "more recent" photo.
Sometimes, I think I may be better off not changing my picture so often!!
Photos are everything... when I see a "shadow" on a website like AR or LinkedIn, or the Twitter Bird silhouette, or a Baby Picture on Facebook, or some other failure to provide a quality photo, it is hard for me to take that person seriously.
Great post!
What if the first place they find you is on your non-business Facebook page? I try to always use real pictures. I don't even like the "professional" pictures taken by professional photographers for professional purposes.
Julissa- LOL! To be honest, the only times I've used a "professional" photographer, I have NOT been pleased with the results! So I now rely on my family, OR... my camera has a remote control. YAY! :-D And I DO wear suits in the winter. But in Florida, that's just not possible in the summers. And with me, I'm just NOT PHOTOGENIC! I'll be at Rain Camp tomorrow, and I guarantee I'll gett a lot of comments about me not looking like my photos. *sigh* No matter what I do, I've resigned myself to the fact that that will always happen.
Fred- I'm not really THAT picky. I was just referring to the shots that are "bottom of the barrel", and people choose to use them as their profile pic for real estate. We should be ourselves... in "business" mode... IMHO!
Russel- I really don't like pictures that are taken be "professional photographers". That's really not what I meant. This post showed me a lot about how the word "professional: is very subjective! As for Facebook, I just don't use it for business. I got tired of trying to get everything perfect with all this social networking. And on Facebook, I want to just relax and be myself with my friends and family. And actually, THEY are the ones who send me the most business! But I don't use those same photos on my real estate blogs and web sites.
Thoughtful post...this is an important issue, as our visual presentation is definitely a part of our business persona.
I keep changing mine...take me for the ugliness:)
Interesting post. I like my clients to feel comfortabel with me. Image is important in all we do, though my concern is to be out-of-touch with the people who I am reaching out to.
Sea to Sky- There certainly are a lot of varying opinions!
Neal- At least you didn't break my camera lens :-P j/k I'll vouch for you that you're not ugly.
Janine- I tend to prefer an image that is both comfortable and professional. But I also change mine frequently. And I use a personal brochure which has several shots. But I never want to look too comfortable.
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