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How to get a good profile picture


Cool Profile Picture Ideas & How to Shoot Them (Social Media)

Are you looking for cool profile picture ideas? The formula for cool profile pictures is flattering angles, expressions, lighting, and poses.

Better and creative self-portrait photography skills will impress your friends and attract more clients. We have cool profile picture tips to help you stand out from the social media crowd!

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What You Need for Our Profile Picture Ideas

  • Tripod: The taller and sturdier, the better (like the Abithid)! It should reach your height so that you can be comfortable when posing.
  • Camera: This can be a smartphone camera too. But for the best results, I’d recommend using a DSLR.
  • Camera Remote: This will take photos for you. So you won’t have to run back and forth to get the perfect photo.
  • Editing program: Lightroom or Photoshop is great for light retouching work.

Why is it Important to Have Great Profile Pictures?

Social media is a puzzle in which profile pictures play an important role. First impressions are difficult to forget.

Accounts without profile images are suspicious. But low-quality photos aren’t an option either.

Think of real-life scenarios. Imagine going to a business meeting dressed in pajamas and slippers. Your clients will think you’re unprofessional and won’t forget that! The same applies to the world of social media.

Profile pictures with friendly smiles, simple backgrounds, tidy hair, and good light will attract people to the subject.

Choose the Right Profile Photo for the Right Platform

There are lots of social media platforms out there, and they all have different purposes. You need to adjust your profile photo style to fit the specific platforms.

To get even further ahead with your social media profile, read our ebook, Social Success Strategies!

Profile Picture Ideas for Facebook

Facebook is for connecting with friends and classmates. Your profile photo can be more casual. And you don’t need to keep that many rules in mind.

It can be a travel photo you took. Or it can show you while you do something you love. For example, I’m using the one below. I like hiking. And I admire the beautiful colors of Lago di Sorapis. (It’s a lake in the Italian Dolomite region.)

Notice that it isn’t a professional photo. My face has unwanted shadows. And there is a tree trunk in the background. But you don’t have to be a perfectionist about a Facebook profile photo.

A casual Facebook profile photo. It shows what I like doing in my free time.

I used to have another Facebook profile photo when I worked as a tour guide. It’s me sitting in a gondola in Venice. I have my clipboard and phone in my hands. It’s how my tour groups usually saw me. I’m smiling. And I don’t wear sunglasses, which make my face open and friendly.

I always created Facebook groups for my travel groups. They saw my profile before they saw me. So it was important to convey the impression of a friendly yet committed tour guide.

If you use Facebook to promote your business, you should have a more professional profile photo. That’s especially true if you have a photography business.

I liked using this photo because it shows me working. It shows I’m a tour guide who is always busy. But I have fun with my group and enjoy the job’s perks.

Profile Picture Ideas for Instagram

Instagram is very similar to Facebook. Go casual if you use it for personal reasons. Opt for professional photos if it’s for business.

Using the same profile photo for several social media platforms is smart. People can find you much easier that way.

But you should avoid a few things, even for the casual look. Do not choose a profile photo that shows you in sexy lingerie or with too much skin.

Also, it’s better not to have your new partner in your profile photos when the relationship is very fresh. You might end up changing your profile photos frequently. And everyone will know about your current relationship status.

© Jermaine Ulinwa (Pexels.com)

Profile Picture Ideas for LinkedIn

We shouldn’t forget to talk about LinkedIn profile photos. It is a social media platform for professional networking. People post their CVs, and employers post jobs.

It is a platform where you need to have a professional portrait photo. It can be a simple one where you wear business attire or a simple white shirt.

You also want to get your hair and makeup done. Why? Because it shows the effort your put into the photo.

But make sure that you still look recognizable. Otherwise, you might experience some awkwardness during a job interview.

© Andrea Piacquadio (Pexels.com)

Technical Tips for Self-Portraits

Before you plan your shoot, you must know how best to use your camera’s settings for portraits.

Setting up your camera should take around 5-10 minutes.

Find a Well-Lit Location to Flatter Your Features

This can be a shaded area in a park, a room on a bright day, or any place with good lighting for portraits.

Natural light is the best source of light for good profile pictures. It makes your face glow, adds depth to your eye color, and lights up your portrait background. Unlike artificial light, natural lighting won’t create difficult to edit colors.

© Anna Shvets (Pexels.com)

Avoid Hard Light for a Softer Image

Hard light will add too much texture to your photos and make you squint.

Don’t take photos outside at midday. Instead, go out when the sun isn’t too strong. Golden hour is a great time to take warm, well-lit self-portraits. Soft and ambient lights will make your skin and facial expressions smoother!

If you’re indoors, photograph yourself in front of a curtained window. Diffused window light is one of the best lights for classic profile pictures.

© Daniel Xavier (Pexels.com)

Take Vertical Photos to Show a Pose

If you want to emphasize more than your face, rotate your camera to a vertical position.

Vertical photos will show off your outfit, posture, and pose. They work better for that than a horizontal photo. Vertical photos are considered to be a rule in portrait photography.

Choose the aspect ratio wisely and stick to the common ones like 4:3, 5:7, and 4:5!

© Artem Beliaikin (Pexels.com)

Use Autofocus to Ensure Sharp Images

Instead of guessing where you’ll stand, set your camera to autofocus. This will ensure that you’ll look sharp no matter where you stand.

Be careful when taking self-portraits in places with lots of foregrounds. If something is covering your lens, your photos can look blurry.

If your camera can’t find you for whatever reason, hold your hand above your head to catch its attention. And try to use a manual remote trigger or a remote app on your smartphone if your camera has built-in WiFi!

Have a Mini-Test Photo Shoot Before You Start

Even if you’re using a remote, you must ensure that your self-portraits are focused. During the first few minutes of your photo shoot, go back and forth to check.

Make sure that you’re standing in the right place, that the composition looks great, and that your image is tack sharp. Ideally, your eyes should have a crisp focus in your photo.

Finally, check that nothing is covering your face!

This test shoot helps you improve your weak spots and find your best creative strengths.

Sometimes, pre-shoot outtakes end up becoming the best photos! Be as silly and open as you want before taking professional photos. The results might surprise you!

Use a Large Aperture to Separate Yourself from the Background

A large aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/1.4, will separate you from your surroundings. And it will create beautiful background bokeh.

A smaller aperture like f/6 will capture more details on your face and in the background. The aperture you choose depends on your taste.

For me, the perfect profile pics use a large aperture. Separating the subject from the background makes them stand out. But keep in mind that a wider aperture always requires more precise focus!

I took this self-portrait with an aperture of f/1.8. Larger apertures are harder to work with because they focus on very specific parts of a subject. But they’re worth the hard work. The composition wouldn’t have looked appealing if I hadn’t blurred the background.

Profile Picture Posing Tips

Posing might seem like a daunting task. But it’s easy to master once you find your favorite go-to poses.

These tips and tricks have helped many photographers look cool in front of the camera.

Take Smartphone Selfies Before You Begin

Likely, you don’t stare at yourself in the mirror all day. This means that you’re not aware of your best angles and poses!

You don’t have to practice in front of the mirror. Instead, use your smartphone camera to try different expressions, angles, and poses.

You can even take a few photos to reference during your actual photo shoot.

Stand Up to Look More Comfortable

If you sit straight on a chair, you’ll look stiff. But if you stand upright, you’ll look both professional and comfortable.

© Julia M Cameron (Pexels.com)

Face the Sky to Avoid Unappealing Highlights

This is to avoid highlighting textures or under-eye circles.

Face the sky or any other light source you’re using. You don’t have to look away from the camera.

All you have to do is raise or move your head so that an even amount of light covers your face.

© Martin Péchy (Pexels.com)

Don’t Press Your Arms Against Your Body

If you press your arms against your body, you’ll make them look large. Keep your arms away from your body to avoid this. You can put your hands on your hips or stretch them away from your body instead.

Hands in pockets is another great pose for casual profile pictures.

Stand in Front of a Simple Background

Vibrant backgrounds can be distracting. So make sure your location isn’t filled with busy background details.

Neutral and pastel colors, like this light shade of pink, will complement your profile picture.

Make Sure Nothing is Covering Your Face

The photograph below is a well-executed one. But it wouldn’t make a great profile pic. The subject’s face and expression are barely visible.

This includes hair, hands, sunglasses, or random objects in the foreground. If your face isn’t easy to identify, your profile picture won’t stand out.

Be Extra Tidy for Professional Profile Photos

While fun profile pictures can be a little messy, professional ones demand tidiness. Before your shoot, iron your outfit and style your hair.

And be sure your eyebrow hairs aren’t all over the place (this is a common problem!). This way, you can also save a lot of time on editing and retouching!

The subject’s hair, eyebrows, skin, and outfit are all tidy. But you don’t need to look this perfect to take professional profile photos. You can remove a few stray hairs, blemishes, and dust in Photoshop.

Best Backgrounds for Awesome Profile Pictures

Here are some background ideas to make your profile pictures pop.

Textured Walls

A slightly textured wall will make your profile photo stand out.

When taking photos in front of a textured background, such as a brick wall, ensure your aperture is large so that any distracting details are blurred out.

Plain Walls

A plain wall will put the spotlight on your subject.

When choosing a plain wall, ensure its colors complement your subject. In this case, the light brown wall works well with the subject’s hair and skin and the cat’s fur.

Nature

Parks, beaches, and forests are all great background subjects. The mild greens and yellows of nature will complement your features.

This is especially true in autumn. But do not forget to use a lower aperture value to avoid distractions in the background!

A Mirror

You can use a mirror as your background to create surreal effects in Photoshop. First, take a photo of yourself with a camera. Then, stand next to your mirror.

Merge the two photos in Photoshop. And you’ll get an awesome profile photo with an even cooler background!

Profile Picture Myths You Can Ignore

We want to debunk a few myths about profile photos. This will help you take even better pictures.

Myth #1: You Must Look at the Camera

Some of the most endearing and best profile pictures I’ve seen feature people laughing. Or they’re looking down or having fun in their own world. You don’t need to look at the camera if you don’t feel like it.

© Tuấn Kiệt Jr. (Pexels.com)

Myth #2: You Must Stand Still

You may have had to sit still for your high school photos. But that’s no longer the case. Do you love dancing? Then dance!

B active. Or do anything else that involves movement if you want to! The more expressive you are, the more comfortable you’ll feel. And the more authentic your photos will look.

Myth #3: You’re Not Allowed to Fake a Smile

Fake smiles don’t have to look unflattering. You can practice in front of a mirror.

This skill will come in handy in a variety of situations. The best thing is if you imagine making eye contact with somebody!

Myth #4: Self-portrait Editing is Wrong

There’s nothing wrong with light retouching. When I edit my profile pictures, I often lighten dark circles, remove blemishes, and brighten my eyes.

To look good, you don’t need to blur your skin or remove every pore. But to achieve a high-quality image, the photo needs a bit of editing.

Conclusion

You won’t look flattering in a profile photo if your photography skills aren’t strong. No matter how beautiful you are.

Knowing how to take self-portraits will save you lots of time and money. And it will help you leave a positive impression on anyone who visits your page. Now, check out our article on how big your Instagram profile picture size should be!

How to Take a Good Profile Picture: 10 Tips and Tricks

Would like to know how to take a good profile picture without hiring a professional photographer? Today, it is necessary to have a high-quality profile photo for almost everyone no matter who you are – a freelancer, business owner, blogger, for dating, etc.

In this article, you can learn about how to take a profile picture, avoid common mistakes and make your pictures appealing to the viewers.

10 Tips to Look Good on Profile Pictures

A profile image in social networks plays a significant role in interacting with other users. Each of us sees hundreds of profile pics of other people every day, but only some of them can catch our eye and make us interested in a person.

1. Don’t Hide Your Face

Instead of using a photo of your favorite animal, flower or cartoon character in your profile, show your face. Demonstrating your face in the picture is the best option for social media engagement.

Faces affect the decisions and judgments that people make about the picture owner.

2. Crop Your Profile Pictures Properly

Even the best photo can be spoiled by the improper cropping in the social network itself. At the same time, try to capture a background area and position the face so that it takes up more space. Do not place the face too close.

3. Use the Same Photos for All Profiles

This tip will be useful for people with common names. If you have a business profile, make it easy for your customers to contact you on different social media pages by using the same profile photo.

4. Smile While Shooting

Photos of smiling people attract more attention and intuitively make the profile owners more friendly. However, you should consider some nuances. Natural or broad smiles are suitable for women. In men’s profile picture, it is better to smile in a restrained manner.

5. Don’t Use Group Photos as a Profile Picture

I don’t recommend uploading group pictures because it may confuse your new followers. Always use your own photos without friends, relatives, pets or even too big objects.

6. Use Contrasting Colors

Use the colors in your profile photo that are contrasting to the design of your social network. For example, the main color on Facebook is blue. Add orange color to your picture and it will become more eye-catching.

7. Don’t Upload Selfies

Try to take a selfie so that the viewers wouldn’t notice it was taken by yourself. This way your account will look more attention-grabbing.

  • Read more about correct selfie poses for your social media page.

8. Add Your Brand to the Photo

If you are a businessman, you can easily add a company logo to your profile photos. You also have the opportunity to add your job attributes, for example, a camera if you are a photographer, or mountains in the background if you are a climber.

9. Choose a Place with Good Lighting

Photography lighting matters. You can choose the place under the tree or shoot in the room near the window.

Natural light is the best option to take first-class photos. With good lighting, you can highlight the subject, accentuate eye color and even brighten up the background.

  • Read more about cheap lighting hacks in photography.

10. Carry Out a Survey

Find out what people really think of your pictures by uploading some photos to PhotoFeeler. Pay about $20 and get objective feedback from target voters on three criteria.

It is possible to vote on other people’s pictures and earn extra credits. You can upload a few photos and see which one is more appealing to the audience. Wait for several hours and get your results!

Bonus Profile Picture Tips

Use the tips that will help you present yourself in the most favorable light. Some of them will be unexpected and not always obvious but very useful!

Don’t Apply Too Many Filters

Do not get too far with various Snapcat filters or overphotoshopping. This makes even a nice profile picture less appealing and you - unrecognizable.

  • Read more about funny Photoshop fails in Facebook.

Don’t Use Collages

If you want to create a good profile picture, do not use collages. Such shots are very popular among social network users, but they aren’t suitable for a profile photo.  Firstly, you will not be able to properly crop the shot. Secondly, it will be rather difficult for users to get a clean look at your face.

Use a Good Camera

If you want your photo profile to be really catchy, I recommend using a camera with a large image sensor. With its help, you can receive detailed images and more possibilities for photo post-production.

When choosing a camera, pay attention to the model with a flip screen to easily take pictures of yourself. In addition, I recommend using a lightweight tripod for convenience.

  • Look though all selfie cameras with a flip screen.

Use a Smartphone as an Alternative

The majority of modern smartphones features the camera that is capable of producing rather good images. So, if you do not have a digital camera, you can use a smartphone as an alternative.

Keep in mind that you need to shoot with a rear-facing camera instead of the front-facing. To get a better result, I recommend you to buy a tripod for the smartphone or a selfie stick.

Choose the Perfect Angle

To take a good profile pic, you need to find your flattering angle. This is a natural pose which is unique for you.

Try to take several photos from different angles and choose the one that you like best. For some people, this is the right part of the face or a picture taken above the face.

  • Check out the most successful portrait photography poses for profile images.

Edit Your Images Before Posting

Order Portrait Retouching $5 per photo

Improve colors, eliminate different skin imperfections and enhance the overall look of the image in Photoshop, Lightroom or other free photo editing apps. In case you don’t have time or experience to edit the shots on your own, you can address the services of professional photo retouchers.

Shoot in Visually Interesting Locations

To get an eye-catching portrait, shoot in beautiful and unusual places. Take pictures against the interesting patterns and textures, for example, the red brick wall, a flower glade or the azure sea. This way you will make the shot more artistic and expressive.

Use the Rules of Composition

Use the rule of thirds to get a perfect profile picture. This rule is very simple: do not center the face in the image. Instead, position the subject on one of the horizontal or vertical lines. This way you can draw the viewer's eye into the composition.

  • Read more about the rule of thirds in photography.

Show Your Hands

If you are taking a full-length photo, then you shouldn’t hide your hands in the pockets or behind your body. Instead, show them off. This will add more openness to the image and make you more appealing to the viewer’s eyes.

  • Check out more Instagram Picture Ideas.

Consider Your Apparel

If you want to take a nice profile picture, it is not necessary to wear an expensive suit. You can wear your favorite T-shirt. However, make sure it has a tidy look and there is no dirt or wrinkles on it.

Don’t Forget to Apply the Right Makeup

I recommend wearing not too bright makeup. However, it is only up to you what makeup to apply. I like when the makeup is natural with light color accents.

Hide a Double Chin

When the person is relaxed or even trying various profile picture poses, the chin usually looks flabby. To fix this problem, I recommend pulling your face forward towards the camera.

Make Arms Thinner

If you don’t want your arms to look disproportionately large in a full-length or waist-high photo, I recommend you to slightly lift them or even put them on your hip. In this case, your arms will look thinner.

Turn Your Shoulders to Look Slimmer

This is one of the best poses for profile pictures. The shoulders directed into the camera visually make the body fatter. If you turn your shoulders, your shapes will appear slimmer.

  • Read more about female poses recommended for profile pictures.

Pay Attention to Your Nose

If you are shooting a side face profile so that we see both eyes in the frame, you can create an effect of imbalance. If you turn your head too much, the nose will seem longer and as if breaking the line of the face.

Slightly turn your face to the camera, so that there would be a space between the tip of the nose and cheek. This way the profile will look natural with proportions preserved.

Don’t Shoot in Direct Sunlight

Harsh sunlight can spoil your photo by adding unnecessary texture to it. So, do not shoot under bright, glaring daylight.

It is better to choose a golden hour for taking profile photos. A specially designed Golden Hour App for Android and IOS will help you choose the perfect time for shooting.

Look Directly at the Camera

To take a good profile pic, it is recommended to shoot full-face. On an intuitive level, an open pose and spread shoulders are perceived as signs of respect. The profiles which include such photos are more popular.

  • Read more about male poses recommended for profile pictures.

Use the Most Recent Picture

It is normal if you want to share your best picture on social networks. However, uploading images taken a long time ago isn’t a good idea.

If you meet someone in person, it may be surprising for them that you look different from your profile image. So, the important thing in learning how to take a good profile picture is not to mislead your followers.

Use the Self-Timer and Burst Mode

Most modern cameras allow you to adjust the time delay by at least 10 seconds. It is enough to take the right poses for profile pictures in the right place. Activate burst mode to take multiple shots at once and choose the best one.

  • Check out these popular Instagram photographers and their profile pictures.

Use Wi-Fi

Most modern digital cameras are equipped with built-in Wi-Fi. This feature is very useful when shooting self-portraits, as you can view the images immediately on your smartphone or tablet without having to run to the camera all the time.

In addition, most mobile applications allow you to use your smartphone as a remote control to press the shutter button.

Adjust Sharpness in Advance

Adjust the focus in advance. Ask a friend to take your place in front of the lens or put some object that you can focus on. When the camera’s autofocus is directed to the desired point, stand in object’s place and take a photo.

Use the Right Aperture

If you use a large aperture like f/1.8 or f/1.4, you will be able to create amazing background bokeh. If you choose a smaller aperture, such as f/6.0, you will accentuate facial features and details in the background.

It is only up to you what aperture to use. I recommend choosing the large aperture as you highlight the subject and separate it from the background. This will make your photo profile more interesting to the viewers.

Use Artificial Lighting

Use softboxes, special lamps or bulbs if you have low light conditions at home. In fact, it will allow you not to depend on weather conditions.

  • Have a mini lighting kit to shoot self-portraits.

Use Split Lighting

Using one light source and black background, you can take a photo where you will only have one side of the face in the light. The background should be as black as possible. With this lighting scheme, you add depth and expression to the portrait.

Use this Method to Get an Expressive Portrait

By installing two light sources to the left and right of the face and using a white paper background, you will have a well-lit and expressive portrait. On each side, there will be a soft light pattern with slight shadows.

Use High Key to Get Gentle Pictures

By setting one light source in front of your face and directing two more sources against a white background, you will get a light photo with a minimum of shadows. Moreover, this way you will add gentle tones to the picture.

Show Your Hobby

To get a perfect profile picture, you can use items connected with your hobby. This will make the photo more original and demonstrate what you are fond of.

  • Read more about how to have a successful Instagram.

Lie Down

This is one of the best profile picture poses. Use this idea to make your photo stand out against other users. You can lie on the pavement, grass or on another contrasting surface.

Take a Photo of a Photo

Use paper cut out in the form of a polaroid photo, and place these polaroids in different places to attract the viewer’s attention. To make the image more original, you can use different color scheme inside and outside the polaroid photo.

Place a Face Between Your Hands

Such profile picture poses are very popular among young people and bloggers. This way you can accentuate your eyes and create an extraordinary frame for your portrait.

Take a Black and White Image

For some reason, not many people use black and white photographs in their profile. Well, they should, as such images are quite appealing and add an elegant finish.

Use Fairy Lights

To make good profile pictures extraordinary, you can use fairy lights for holiday photos. Everyone likes bokeh.

Illuminate Half of the Face

Among various good profile picture ideas, this one will be suitable for creating a mysterious look. It will definitely make people view your shot longer than usual.

Shoot Against a Bright Wall

In order to stand out against other users, use a bright wall as a background. It is recommended to take such shots on a bright sunny day.

Use Shadows

To make your home photo more original, use the shadow from the window. This way you can create patterns on your face. It is better to take such photos at noon when the sun is bright.

Freebies for Profile Photo Editing

To create a cool profile picture, you will need to edit it properly. I have prepared several free tools which will help you make your photo even more eye-catching.

Warm

Makes your shots warmer and reduces cold tones. This action effectively works with outdoor photos.

Black & White

This action will allow you to transform your photo into black and white without eliminating any necessary details in it.

Contrast

With this preset, your shots will become more contrasting and saturated. Also, the filter significantly improves white balance and makes the image cleaner.

Golden Hour

This preset allows you to achieve a golden hour effect in your pictures. This tool works best with outdoor photos.

Matte

This preset adds a slight matte effect to the photos. It makes too bright shots darker, softer and more appealing.


Tata Rossi

Hi there, I'm Tata Rossi - a professional blogger, read more

What should be the photo for the profile picture

The first thing every person does when joining a new social network is to upload a profile photo. Have you ever wondered what effect the avatar has on the audience? If you want to get as many subscribers or followers as possible, then you need to choose the right image for your profile

We want to reveal the secrets of the perfect avatar, which are based on research in the field of psychology. nine0002 It takes less than half a second to draw conclusions about a person from a photograph. This discovery from the field of psychology highlights the vital importance of the profile picture and the effect it has on the viewer.

To create a profile on social networks, follow the basic rules when taking pictures with an avatar:

1. Smile to show your teeth. Smiling with a closed mouth reduces attractiveness. A full-mouth smile draws attention to itself, but speaks of frivolity. nine0003

Show 32 teeth to the dentist. Ava must have an open smile. She disposes. The person is perceived as positive.

Contrary to popular belief, overly sexy pictures and photos with a parted mouth are not suitable for an avatar. For a natural smile, relax your face. Before pressing the camera button, exhale through your lips. Smiling as you exhale looks natural.

2. Wear clothes that add to your presence. nine0003

  • Men look best in shirts and suits.

  • A blouse or dress is suitable for women. Turtleneck removes the neck. Deep neckline - vulgar.

  • Young people should ditch colorful T-shirts in favor of plain clothes without flashy prints.

3. Squint your eyes slightly. Children look at the world with wide eyes. And in adults, round eyes speak of fear or vulnerability. Slightly narrowed eyes are perceived as confidence and purposefulness. nine0003

4. A professional photographer knows that it is better to photograph people from the left side.

Want to check?

Ask a friend to take pictures of you left and right. And then compare the photos.

I'm sure you'll select a photo where the camera was on the left.

When taking pictures by yourself, move your hand with the camera to the side without turning around.

5. Lower your chin. The camera must not be held below the face. It highlights the flaws. Even if you have never had a double chin, shooting from below will “finish” it. A straight camera and a protruding chin add 5-10 years and accentuate shadows under the eyes. Hold the camera up and tilt your chin down a little. This angle will make it look perfect in the photo. nine0003

6. Do not cover your face.

Leave photos in sunglasses, scarves and massive hats for Instagram posts.

Do not even consider as an option for Ava the shots on which the face is covered.

Friends and acquaintances should recognize you on your avatar.

7. Use a single portrait for Ava. Even if only you look at the lens in a frame of several people, do not consider this picture for an avatar. Group photos are misleading to people who want to chat with you. nine0003

You can not only put a cool portrait on your ava, but also print a photo on canvas.

Order a portrait on ava
on canvas

If you think a single portrait for Ava is boring, add a photo with your favorite pet.


Common mistakes when choosing an avatar

The avatar will work and make a positive impression if the photo is chosen correctly. nine0003

Do not bet on ava:

  • reflection in the mirror. The latest model of an iPhone or socks on a battery in the bathroom is of no interest to anyone.

  • a frame against the background of monuments, cars, a mess in the apartment. The purpose of the avatar is to tell about you, and not about sights and expensive things.

  • photo from ten years ago. Even if you looked great at prom. The usual change of hairstyle sometimes makes a person unrecognizable. For ava, choose a fresh photo. nine0003

  • photos with alcohol. Leave the drinking shots in your personal collection.

Set the accents

There are many ways to pay attention to the profile picture. But don't use everything at once.

Ava girls catch the eye when they use bright red or pink lipstick in makeup.

A photo of a guy with a beard will be remembered faster. Brutality is attractive.

Briefly about the important

nine0002 You can take a photo for an avatar on your phone. But the resolution must be high.

A dull and blurry frame will not make the right impression.

For ava, choose a large or medium shot.

Collect a Portfolio of cool photos for an avatar. For this, it is not necessary to contact a photo studio. Upload images to the free Mapi7 editor and create a Light themed album. You can upload photos from your phone. We will print your photos directly on the Light album pages. nine0003

Make an album Light
with a photo on the profile picture


Photo editing

Complexes interfere with putting the photo on public display. Disadvantages are often a figment of our imagination.

If fictitious "defects" do not give you confidence, process the photo for an avatar in Photoshop. The program helps to bring the photo to perfection and meet the technical requirements of sites.

  • Suitable volume. Some social network profiles limit the parameters of the uploaded photo. Crop or compress your photo without losing quality.

  • Retouch. Adjustment tools blur or sharpen parts of an image. Correction brushes smooth fine wrinkles and make the look expressive.

    A stamp will help to remove a lint from the shoulder or a pimple on the face. The tool masks the imperfection with an identical section of another part of the image. nine0003

  • Background replacement. If the background ruins the portrait, blur the background or replace it. To replace, select a picture and place a portrait on it.

  • Cropping. Select an area in the photo and cut off extra megabytes. Crop helps you cut yourself out in a group shot or zoom in when shooting from a distance.

  • Effects. The avatar should draw attention to itself. Photos can be aged or turned into a pencil drawing. Play with shades. Cold and warm tones give the frame originality. nine0003

  • Decoration. Put Ava's photo in a frame. Add a vignette effect to the frame. Add decoration. The photo will highlight the profile among others.

Visualization is stronger than a thousand words. Avatar - forms an image on the Web. The impression is formed in the first seconds.

Profile avatar - reflects individuality. Give up embedded images on sites in favor of ava, which is made by yourself.

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How to make the right avatar photo: 8 tips from a professor of psychology

June 5, 2018 A photo nine0003

You won't get a second chance to make a first impression. Take advantage of these tips and act for sure.

Increasingly, people get to know each other on the Internet, so the opinion about a person is formed by the photo in the profile. But different shots of the same person produce very different first impressions.

Alexander Todorov, PhD in psychology at Princeton University, has confirmed this in a number of studies (eg this and this). During one of the experiments, he photographed a volunteer in various poses and asked other people to rate the pictures on various characteristics: intelligence, reliability, attractiveness. The scores were completely different. nine0003

After the experiment, many people wondered how to take pictures correctly in order to present themselves in the most favorable light. To answer, another study was conducted: photos with the highest and lowest user ratings were taken from a dating site. Then patterns were identified between the highest rated and lowest rated photos. Based on these observations, advice appeared on how to take the right photo.

1. Don't hide your face

Glasses are certainly a stylish accessory, but don't post a photo with them if you are looking for a new relationship. When meeting, eye contact is important, even when it comes to photography. Eye to eye contact releases the trust hormone oxytocin. It makes you feel a connection with another person, makes you want to communicate with him closer and get to know him better. But when the eyes are hidden behind glasses, the brain does not receive any impulses. There are fewer people who want to meet. nine0003

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2. Look directly into the camera

People look more attractive when they are photographed from the front. On a subconscious level, an open posture and turned shoulders are perceived as signs of respect. We consider this person attentive to us. Consider real life communication. It's nice when during a conversation the interlocutor is completely turned to you. If the posture is closed, then it seems that it is unpleasant for him to communicate. nine0003

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One pretty face is not enough to interest. A photograph must have some history. In addition, a photo on the beach, in the mountains, a restaurant or a club will tell about your hobbies. It will immediately be clear whether you have something in common and whether it is worth starting an acquaintance at all.

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4. Smile

Photos of smiling people attract more attention. We consider them open, cheerful. There is a desire to meet and recharge their love of life. But you have to be able to smile. For women, natural or wide smiles “at all 32” are good. Men are better off doing it with restraint.

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5.

Show your hands

Hands are indicators of trust. If a person shows them in a photo, subconsciously we consider him reliable. Also, the hands in the photo tell us that the person is not dangerous: he is open and will not cause harm.

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6. For women only: follow the example of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is considered the standard of femininity. A coquettish look excites the male imagination. If you want to fall in love with yourself at first sight in the photo, take the same picture. nine0003 passion.ru

Tilt your head slightly, close your eyes. You need to look a little down through the eyelashes. Open your lips and expose your neck. The open neck is very popular with men. Remember Jessica from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

7. For Men Only: Show Yourself

"Don't I do this when I take pictures?" — you ask, and we understand your bewilderment.


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