Are Professional Headshots in Social Media a Bad Idea?
I was trolling #journchat last night, periodically weighing in with my usual blend of calculated nonsense when I found something worth blogging about. I think a lot of new grads and job seekers read Socialbyte, so I thought it would be extra intriguing for those peeps.
(For the record, #journchat is a weekly tweetchat centering on media, PR, journalism and social media. Questions are asked, and loads of Twitter peeps respond. It’s a gas, and I recommend checking it out sometime.)
One of the questions put forth was “What can new graduates do to market themselves, esp. online?”
My response was “New grads should leave the headshot at home when marketing themselves online. So hideously formal. Ew.”
A conversation happily ensued with folks weighing in on different aspects of professional portraits and their utility in the social web. Some pointed out that broadcast professionals’ credibility is tied to their faces and that starchy portraiture is the only means of capturing their austere stewardship. Others implied (privately) that a lack of work experience can be somewhat mitigated by a professionally captured photo.
I have never found a use for my professional headshot that didn’t end in ridicule. Largely because I don’t care about being a professional. I’d rather be personable. And I think that’s a better bet for most new grads who are trying to market themselves online. So when it comes to selecting an avatar for any social network (whether it’s Twitter or Gowalla), I would advise against anything too stiff.
Here’s mine. Incidentally, the file name is dorkasaurus.jpg.
I should clarify that some professional shots are totally sweet. The ones that are lively and artistic. Lots of my friends are photographers, and they’re capable of amazing portraits. For the purposes of this post, I’m talking about the suit & tie, studio background, “Did someone say insurance?” kind of photos.
When I see professional headshots on Twitter, I brace myself for a sales pitch. There are exceptions – there are ALWAYS exceptions – but for the most part, a dressy photo trips an alarm in my pointy head.
What do you think? Is it peachy to rock a formal headshot in social media?
I completely agree with you! The corporate headshots with the blue backgrounds just remind me of when I was in grade school and was forced to get my picture taken every year. They do not show any personality as everyone has the same stiff posture and smile, which is not what I want in my Twitter stream all day. Your professional picture is at least interesting, unique and I would say it is usable.
I am either lucky that most (if not all) of the people I follow on Twitter do not have those types of avatars, or I subconsciously do not follow those with corporate headshots. Either way I definitely prefer the more personable avatars.
Agreed. Portraits are totally “picture day” – which is never awesome.
I wonder if most peeps just don’t have any good photos handy, so they go with something that at least looks fancy?
My answer to that would be to use a stock photo, or a picture of a pet. I did not have a picture I liked of myself when I first joined Flickr, so I just used a picture of my puppy (which is still my avatar today).
I prefer creativity, but that may also be because I do not work in a setting that would ever require me to get a professional photograph.
OK, as someone who uses my corporate head shot, let me explain why I choose to do so.
I have used all manner of funny avatars, ranging from my second grade school photo to pets to cartoons. It was fun Then, I started going to Tweet-Ups in various cities (and I’ve been to a bunch) and found that when I used a photo that people could recognize, it was easier for people to find me to chat, which is why I go to Tweet-ups in the first place. It sure beats trying to see a name tag in a dark bar. I found the same thing with others… it just made it easier to find folks that I already had a relationship with and hoped to meet. Other tweeps told me they appreciated it, so I stuck with it. Could I go with a snapshot? I suppose, but I’d rather put my time into interesting posts and comments.
When I choose to follow (or not follow) someone, it has lots to do with what they say, and pretty much nothing to do with what they look like or choose for their avatar. I’d like to think I judge people I meet in person the same way.
Great conversation!
Doyle Albee
http://www.metzgerblog.com
I was wondering when someone would explain their reasoning – and yours makes sense. Recognition is pretty crucial at a tweetup, so being somewhat obvious about what you look like surely enables you to meet peeps easier.
That said, I still think you should swap out your current avatar with one of you hoisting “the Doyle shot” at bside in triumph.
Well, I do have a reputation to maintain. Wait, that pretty much is my reputation, so maybe it’s not a bad idea!
True, I do not follow or unfollow based on photos (since I do follow you Doyle) I just prefer the avatars with more personality (no offense). I also agree that having a picture of yourself as an avatar vs some stock picture or cartoon is best for people who go out to Tweet-Ups or conventions as it is easier to make that first connection.
I agree with Doyle in that you need to use a photo for recognition and to build/represent your personal brand. Although, I do have to side with Ef on this one. A formal head shot seems to impersonal for the social sphere. That’s not to say I think people should use an unprofessional images but you can still show personality and style while being professional.
This is an interesting conversation from my viewpoint, considering that I am a professional photographer. So I thought I’d weigh in on this one.
So far, I would say that we have different definitions of “Professional”. I don’t think that having a professional portrait taken means that it has to be stuffy, impersonal, or cheesy. But the problem is that people also need to express this to a photographer. To me, professional is about having a well exposed, in focus, flattering picture of yourself. Nothing in that category means that you a) have to be in a studio, or b) can’t show off you personality and have fun!
Photography has come a long way in the past ten years and not all people who consider themselves pro photogs can take a decent and fun headshot! But, for people in business, especially young people, I don’t think there is anything wrong with getting “pro” shots taken to step things up a bit. Just choose a photographer that can show off “you”! After all, that is what you’re selling, right?
Great perspective. Perhaps I should have spent more time clarifying that professional shots don’t always equate to stodgy results.
And I think you captured the essence of it in your last two sentences. Social media (at least lately) doesn’t allow much space for explanation or bulleted lists of accomplishments. So capturing yourself (as in YOU) in a photo is pretty important.
Absolutely. Well and I think it depends on your industry. As a pro photographer if I had a snapshot taken with my iphone as my avatar you wouldn’t really take me seriously as a photographer. If I can’t produce something decent for myself, why would you hire me to do that for you?
The same would apply for possibly say a lawyer? If a young law grad is trying to use social media to make business connections and possibly get a job, it wouldn’t be smart for him to have a picture of his dog or of himself in flip flops with a beer as his avatar. If you’re using it to make friends and people to have beer with, then it’s perfect! haha.
I like to mix business AND pleasure in my use of avatars. The more formal the medium, the more formal the profile pic. For example, my LinkedIn profile features a picture not that much unlike the aforementioned Dorkasaurus, while my Twitter avatar reflects in a subtle, tasteful way my everlasting desire to become Kanye West. Find me on Facebook and you’ll see sporty Blake. On my blog, it’s Blake – The Visual Pun. I don’t think I intentionally took the “a pair of shoes for every occasion” approach. It just kind of happened. Someday, I’ll probably unify everything. But for the time being, it’s fun to see people tweet: “Wow. You look so different IRL.” That’s a compliment, right? Right?
I once polled my Twitter followers to determine who was the Kanye West of Denver/Boulder. You did not make the list.
However! You are in a great position to claim that mantle in OKC, where the population is, like, 89 or so. Did you hit 90 yet?
91 counting me. Don’t hate the player. Don’t hate the game. Just hate the city where the game is played. Pssshhhh!
Are you dishing out some ‘blue steel’ in that photo?
Honestly, I’m waaaaay more blue steel in my default avatar. I need to lighten up, haha.