What should the photo be for the avatar?
Published: 31.12.2019
The first thing everyone does when joining a new social network is upload a profile picture. Have you ever thought about the influence your avatar has on your audience? If you want to gain as many followers or subscribers as possible, you need to choose the right image for your profile.
7 rules of avatar
It takes less than half a second to draw conclusions about a person based on a photograph. This discovery from the field of psychology underscores the vital importance of a profile picture and the impact it has on the viewer.
To create a profile on social networks, follow the basic rules when taking a profile picture:
1. Smile to show your teeth. A closed-mouth smile reduces attractiveness. A full smile draws attention, but can also indicate lack of seriousness.
Show 32 teeth to the dentist. For a profile picture, the smile should be open. It is inviting. People perceive it as positive.
Contrary to popular belief, overly sexual photos and pictures with a slightly open mouth are not suitable for an avatar. To make your smile look natural, relax your face. Before pressing the camera button, exhale air through your lips. A smile on the exhale looks natural.
2. Wear clothing that adds solidity.
Men look best in shirts and suits.
A blouse or a dress would be suitable for women. A turtleneck hides the neck. A deep neckline is considered vulgar.
Young people should give up multicolored T-shirts in favor of plain clothes without loud prints.
3. Slightly squint your eyes. Children look at the world with wide open eyes. And in adults, round eyes indicate fear or vulnerability. Slightly squinted eyes are perceived as confidence and determination.
4. A professional photographer knows that it is better to photograph people from the left side.
Do you want to check?
Ask your friend to take pictures of you from the left and from the right. Then compare the photos.
Sure, you will choose the photo where the camera was shooting from the left.
When taking a selfie, move your hand holding the camera to the side without turning towards it.
5. Lower your chin. The camera should not be held below the face. This emphasizes flaws. Even if you have never had a double chin, shooting from below will "draw" it in. A camera directly below and a protruding chin add 5-10 years and emphasize shadows under the eyes. Keep the camera higher, and tilt your chin slightly down. This angle will make you look perfect in the photo.
6. Do not cover your face.
Leave photos in sunglasses, scarves, and bulky hats for Instagram posts.
Do not even consider using images where the face is covered for your avatar.
Friends and acquaintances should recognize you from your avatar.
7. Use a single portrait for your avatar. Even if you are the only one looking into the camera in a group photo, do not consider this shot for your avatar. Group photos mislead people who want to communicate with you.
A cool portrait can not only be set as a profile picture, but also printed on canvas.
Common mistakes when choosing an avatar
The avatar will work and make a positive impression if the photo is chosen correctly.
Do not use as a profile picture:
Reflection in the mirror. The latest model of iPhone or socks on the radiator in the bathroom is of no interest to anyone.
A photo against the background of monuments, cars, and mess in the apartment. The goal of an avatar is to tell about you, not about landmarks and expensive things.
Photo from ten years ago. Even if you looked great at your prom. A simple change of hairstyle can sometimes make a person unrecognizable. Choose a recent photo for your profile picture.
Photo with alcohol. Leave the shots with drinking in your personal collection.
Set the accents
There are many ways to draw attention to the avatar. But it's not worth using them all at once.
The girl's avatar stands out when bright red or pink lipstick is used in the makeup.
A photo of a guy with a beard will be remembered faster. Brutality is attractive.
Short about important things
You can take a photo for your avatar on your phone. But the resolution should be high.
Dullness and blurriness of the frame will not make the proper impression.
For the avatar, choose a close-up or medium shot.
Create a portfolio of cool photos for your avatar. You don't have to go to a photo studio for this. Upload images to the free editor Mapi7 and create a thematic Light album. You can upload photos from your phone. We will print your photos directly on the pages of the Light album.
Photo editing
Complexes prevent us from showcasing our photos to the public. Often, shortcomings are a product of our imagination.
If imaginary "flaws" do not give you confidence, edit the photo for the avatar in Photoshop. The program helps to perfect the photo and meet the technical requirements of websites.
Appropriate volume.Some social media profiles restrict the parameters of uploaded photos. Crop or compress the image without losing quality.
Retouch.Correction tools blur or sharpen specific areas of the image. Correction brushes smooth out fine wrinkles and make the gaze expressive.
To remove a small flaw on the shoulder or a pimple on the face, a clone stamp tool can help. This tool can cover imperfections by copying a similar area from another part of the image.
Background replacement.If the background is spoiling the portrait, blur the background or replace it. To replace it, choose an image and place the portrait on it.
Cropping.Select a section in the photo and crop out unnecessary megabytes. Cropping helps to cut yourself out in a group picture or enlarge the image when shooting from a distance.
Effects.The avatar should attract attention. The photo can be aged or turned into a pencil drawing. Play with shades. Cold and warm tones give the frame originality.
Design.Put the photo for the avatar in a frame. Apply a vignette effect to the image. Add some decoration. The photo will highlight the profile among others.
Visualization is stronger than a thousand words. An avatar forms an image on the Internet. The impression is formed in the first few seconds.
Profile picture - reflects individuality. Give up built-in images on websites in favor of an avatar that is made by yourself.
