FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Joyce Hoff joyce@pachter.com 10 Social Media Guidelines for Photographs
Many businesspeople have posted photographs of themselves on LinkedIn, and other sites, that detract from their professionalism.
"Your image is conveyed through your photograph, and it's part of the first impression you make on others," according to business communications and etiquette expert Barbara Pachter, author of the recently released,
The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet Your Way to Success (McGraw-Hill, Aug. 2013.) She adds, "You want to post a photograph that is professionally appropriate. You want to look like a credible, approachable person, not like you just came from the beach."
Pachter, a former professional photographer, provides the following 10 guidelines for posting photographs of yourself on social media:
1. Post a headshot. This type of photograph highlights your head/face, but often shows your shoulders and part of your chest. You are the focus of the picture.
2. Choose a photo that flatters you. Sounds obvious, but people don't always pay attention to their choice. This does not mean a glamour shot, but you should look like a competent professional in the photograph.
3. Appear in front of a clear, uncluttered background that is well lit. There shouldn't be any dark shadows obscuring your face. People must be able to see you clearly.
4. Make sure your face is in focus. The background can be slightly out of focus, but your features need to be sharp, not blurred.
5. Wear appropriate professional or business-casual attire. Appear as you usually would in a business situation. This may also mean that you are freshly shaven, or wearing make-up and jewelry.
6. Look at the camera and keep your head straight. Women have a tendency to tilt their heads and they look less self-assured when they do.
7. Have a pleasant facial expression. If you are frowning or scowling, why would someone want to hire or work with you?
8. Look like your photograph. If your photo is more than 8-10 years old, people may be very surprised when they meet you. If you had long hair in your photo and now have short hair, people may not recognize you.
9. Be cautious with an environmental portrait. This type of photo places you in a setting that relates to your profession. This is generally a wider shot and your face is a smaller part of the photograph. These pictures are often used as additional photos on a website, and are not recommended for headshot postings.
10. Hire a professional photographer. If all of this seems overwhelming, hire someone who takes photos for a living. It's worth the investment.
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Barbara Pachter is a speaker, coach and author of numerous business books, including
The Power of Positive Confrontation and
When the Little Things Count.
She specializes in business etiquette and communication for companies worldwide. Her client list features major organizations, including Con Edison, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Microsoft, Chrysler, Cisco and Genentech.
For a review copy of
The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet Your Way to Success, contact: Laura Yieh at McGraw-Hill.
laura.yieh@mheducation.com.
For a free copy of Pachter's communication e-newsletter, "Competitive Edge," your readers can go to
www.pachter.com.