A picture is worth a thousand words. It was the truth a hundred years ago, and it is true now more than ever. Nowadays, everything revolves around having a perfect profile picture. Stakes are high because your potential relationships or jobs depend on that. There’s almost a whole science behind taking the perfect pic and how to edit it to make it look even better. Luckily you don’t have to have a degree or a wild set of skills to do that. Numerous apps make things a lot easier. Those apps are so advanced that it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between amateur and professional photos.
Keep reading, and we’ll tell you all you need to know. You’ll learn the difference between certain types of profile pictures and what are the best camera and photo editing apps.
Main categories of profile pictures
Like everything in life, profile pictures have different categories. There’s a difference between a dating profile picture and a business profile headshot. Read on and learn how to take them.
Dating profiles
Every person who joins a flirt website knows that a profile picture is crucial for grabbing attention. Depending on the type of dating platform, the look & feel of the profile picture should change. On flirt dating sites, it’s better to lean toward striking and appealing pic. While on serious dating platforms, people should try to show their other qualities, not just their good looks.
If a guy is a fireman (just an example), uploading a photo that could fit any calendar is wise both on flirt and serious dating platforms. It’s attractive and gives other people on the site info about his personality, lifestyle, and interests.
That’s the goal of every profile picture on any site. But on dating platforms, it matters even more because members don’t waste time there. Just a second is usually enough to create the first impression, so those who don’t stand out don’t get many dates or matches to flirt with.
Social media and forums
Remember some things when taking a profile picture for social media or forums. First of all, show your face. That’s pretty obvious, but many people don’t do that. You have things you’re passionate about (your dog, running, or cars), but a profile picture isn’t a place to show that. Another thing you should pay attention to is your smile. Don’t upload a photo where you look grumpy or annoyed. That sends the message that you’re a grumpy, annoyed person. Show the world your pearls. That’ll take you places. People feel attracted to people who are smiling and look warm.
When it comes to background, you can either go with a simple one or one that’s vibrant and shows your personality. Too many can backfire because there’s a possibility that your face won’t grab attention, and that’s not the point. Social media shapes public opinion and is essential for branding, so it’s vital to pick perfect profile pictures.
Business profile headshots
When taking a business profile picture, your focus must be on your face. You are trying to show your potential partners and customers that you’re trustworthy, professional, and dependable. That’s not a place to show people you traveled to the Bahamas or lost weight. In the headshot, your face should dominate the picture, but not too much. You can include a bit of your brand in the photo, too. That means you can wear your brand’s colors or put your logo in the background. But don’t put your logo as a profile picture. That can be a missed opportunity to be personable and human, and your customers must see that.
Best camera apps
Once you decide what profile picture you need, it’s time to choose from many camera apps that will help you take a perfect shot.
ProCam X Lite
You can turn your phone into a professional camera with ProCam X Lite. It offers professional camera HD features that can be useful when taking a pic for a dating site. It also can be controlled remotely and use a timer. That can be handy for those who spotted a perfect spot to take a pic, but nobody is around to take the shot.
Open Camera
This app doesn’t offer filters that are usually common on social media, so it’s handy for taking unfiltered and professional pictures for your business profile. Many manual photography controls can help you take your profile picture to a new level.
Lightroom Camera
Using Lightroom’s camera will give you flexibility when editing photos. There’s auto-edit that quickly fixes things on your picture, but there are many more features you can use to edit your pics, such as lighting, selective masks, and color mix. This app is handy for those who like to edit their photos to perfection and post them on social media.
Photo editing apps
Now let’s see what apps can make your profile picture look even better.
Snapseed
Google developed this app. It contains 29 tools and filters for editing pics. Enhancing color, exposure, and detail are available for pictures more suitable for social media or dating platforms like flirt websites. That’s where you want to show the world the best version of yourself while still lightly bragging about your travels or passions.
PicsArt
PicsArt is another app for those who want to take a perfect social media profile picture. PicsArt enables individuals to be creative as much as possible. You can choose from numerous photo effects and filters that’ll help you express yourself. There’s a feature that can be useful for those who want to have a perfect business pic – removing the background. If you found the perfect pic of yourself but some unwanted things are behind you, this app is a place to go.
VSCO
VSCO is a photo editing app, but it can also serve as a platform where you can share your pictures with other users. Like the apps above, this one is mainly for those on social media or dating sites. Too many filters and editing is not desirable on a business profile pic. You want to be realistic with your clients and customers, not create a fake image of yourself.
You probably already knew some of these things, but we hope you learned something new. Now go, grab your phone, and amaze people with your new skills.
