TEP Talk: The Importance Of and Science Behind Profile Pictures

We’ve all heard the old adage "A picture is worth a thousand words.” But what is an updated headshot worth? How important is it to have a recent image of yourself? Is there deeper meaning behind it all? And is there even such a thing as the perfect profile pic? 

As with everything we do, we wanted to better understand the research and science behind selecting the “best” profile picture. So, last week we got camera-ready and headed over to Technology Enterprise Park (TEP) to take complimentary headshots of our community members for all their digital needs. 

 
 

While our in-house photographer made sure to capture everyone’s best angles, we asked attendees when they last updated their profile pic. The majority of responses were two years ago, with three years ago being the next most popular answer. So is everyone out there just getting catfished? Is it even a big deal if you don’t update it that often (Or ever? Asking for a friend.)?

Well, according to a LinkedIn article, experts recommend having professional headshots taken “at least every 18 months to two years,” though some would suggest even as frequently as once per month. The importance of this cadence is that it’s a key component of your social media strategy. And for your personal brand. 

Think about it – in the digital realm, your profile picture is someone’s first impression of you, especially if they don’t know you. It gives others insight into who you are as a person, so you need to be mindful when crafting what your “message” says about you. More so, in the current climate of massive job-searching, it’s important to remember that recruiters spend 19 percent of their time on your online profile just by looking at your picture. So, having a picture that best represents you is now equally as important as your past experiences and skill sets, at least in terms of attracting recruiters’ attention. 

There’s also been a plethora of research done around this topic, like the different elements that have the largest impact on an audience, the psychology and science behind influencing via your profile pic, and even this finding from Psychological Science that “underscores the vital importance of a profile picture and the effect it has on making an impression.” 

Fortunately for you, an overview of all the best practices (backed by science) has been outlined here.


DID YOU KNOW?

In 40 milliseconds, we’re able to draw conclusions about people based on a photo. That’s less than one-half of one-tenth of a second.


When’s the last time you updated your profile picture? Are you in need of a new headshot? Let us know in the comments below – we just might be able to help you out with that!

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