Shooting Yourself For A Selfie Is ALMOST As Bad As This:

by Lily Bradic

This week, a 21-year-old from Mexico City accidentally shot himself in the head while posing for a selfie with a gun. And while shooting yourself in the head is pretty awful, so is shooting yourself in the foot  —  and that's exactly what you could be doing with your PROFESSIONAL portrait photos.

We're talking social sabotage again. With social media turning everyone into a celebrity in their own life, many business-minded people have taken their selfie game up a level by getting professional photographers to take their head-shots instead. Which, in theory, is not a bad thing, if personal branding and online presence is a big part of your professional life. At least, it's not a bad thing if it stops you posting things like this:

But, if you decide to let a professional take your profile pictures for you, it's important to avoid these (surprisingly) common mistakes. Here's what you need to remember:

• You're not modelling for the cover of Vogue. OR Playboy. Or even Men's Health (put your shirt back on).  Although you don't want to make yourself look unattractive, your goal isn't to look sexy or seductive, either. You'll come across as narcissistic and vain  —  and that is NOT what people are looking for in a potential business associate.
• On the other hand, nor are you posing for a graduation portrait  —  so forget the cheesy smile and the mottled backdrop, unless you want business contacts thinking you're still a socially awkward teenager inside. 
• You only need a headshot. Your clothes are important, but they're not the focus  —  so full-body pictures really aren't necessary. 
• Think about the image you want to convey. Then pick a natural, neutral setting that reflects that. 
• Consider where this picture will be appearing. For LinkedIn, dress like you would for a business meeting. With Facebook and Twitter you can be a little bit more flexible (smart-casual makes you look more approachable). Dress appropriately for your field, and avoid distracting hats/beards/necklaces/hairstyles.
• If you plan on using the same profile picture across all networks (this does help people recognize you) dress for the most formal platform you use (normally LinkedIn).
• Black and white images might work if you're a hipster with your own tech startup, but most people should just stick to plain old color.  
• A good professional portrait is like "natural" makeup  —  it shouldn't be obvious. Good lighting, smart composition and a barely noticeable retouch to stop your face from shining is all you really need. 

One more thing: if you speak at conferences or other public events, try to get high-quality photos taken. These will do more for your online presence than studio shots will, as they give an impression of competence, confidence, and dedication to your work.

Have any tips for taking professional profile pictures, or seen any really terrible ones lately? Let us know what YOU think works  —  or doesn't  —  in the comments!