Social Media Photos

Average Social Media Photos

I think I’m an average person.  I’m average height, average weight, in general average looking and I don’t enjoy being the center of attention.  As such, I don’t like having my picture taken.

I’ve done it though.  It does not hurt.  There are many professional photographers out there who are quite skilled at getting a decent photo without charging a small fortune.  Also, almost everyone has a camera in their phone and the quality of those pictures are pretty impressive…or at the very least good enough to use on your professional on-line profile.

More and more I am hearing that no picture on LinkedIn or any of the other business social media sites makes far worse of an impression than the worst picture you’ve ever had taken of yourself!

The Logic of No Photo

On the one hand, no one can discriminate against you based on what you look like. Unfortunately, I cannot fix that.  But eventually you’ll get called in for an interview and if the discrimination is going to happen, you can’t stop it.  You can look at it the way I do: if you are being discriminated against based on what you look like, then you don’t want to work for that person in the first place.  I call that dodging a bullet!

I’m hearing, if you can’t at least post something that sort of looks like you, then there must be something seriously wrong.

• You can’t figure out how to post a picture.
• You are technically challenged.
• You have such a low level of self-esteem that you can’t put anything out there
• Or perhaps you have horns growing out of your head

So, don’t be afraid.  Get out the digital camera, a cell phone camera, hire a photographer or get someone to take a picture of you that you can use on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.

Just make sure the picture is professional/conservative.  Remember, the business social media sites are not dating sites.