Your profile picture is the first thing your next potential client will see. It can mean the difference between making a sale and going unnoticed. You don’t need an expensive camera or specialized equipment to take an enticing profile pic.
Avoid these common lighting mistakes to put yourself ahead of the curve.
Bright sunlight might be good for tanning, but it’s terrible for portraits.
The sun has a magical way of increasing contrast, highlighting wrinkles, and aging camgirls. Add poolside and beach-going pictures to your portfolio by using a screen to shade yourself. Bikini pics are hot and in demand.
Avoid directional lighting.
Lighting from multiple sources or diffused through a screen is your best choice. Even if you are going for a spotlight effect, have a second point of soft lighting to fill in your image.
Dim lighting is like a grainy cancer for your pictures.
Even a $10,000 camera will produce low-quality pics if there isn’t enough light. Human eyes can detect and interpret images in low lighting, but camera technology isn’t there yet. If your eyes are comfortable in the amount of light you’re using, add more.
Flash is not your friend.
Don’t be lazy with the lighting and think the flash on your camera will solve anything. It’s a directional source of light and chances are the color temperature will be wrong.
So, what does good lighting look like?
Treat your profile pic kind of like your head shot in traditional acting.
Represent yourself in a way that makes you comfortable and tells customers what they might expect. You don’t need to be nude. In fact, many cam sites and social media platforms strictly prohibit it! Besides, you don’t want to give all the goods away for free before they even click on your profile.
Experiment with poses to find your best angle.
Unless you are a dominatrix, avoid low angles.
The most flattering angle is taken from slightly above your forehead. If you are taking a selfie, hold the camera at arm’s length and above eye level. This angle naturally accents a pretty face, pouty lips, and of course, cleavage.
Tiny adjustments can make a big difference in a photo.
As you gain experience, you’ll learn when to make subtle shifts like leaning forward, twisting your torso, or bending one leg.
You can wear a sexy outfit or costume that shows guys what they can expect.
Show off your hips and legs. Full-body profile pictures with the model standing are most popular.
You don’t need expensive equipment to take an enticing pic.
No photographer? No problem!
Invest in a low-cost selfie stick or make your own. You can find affordable and lightweight tripod stands online. Many newer smartphones have voice-activated cameras. Always take full advantage of barking orders at your phone. If yours doesn’t comply, or if you’re using a traditional camera, use the timer feature.
Hog your profile picture by using the crop tool.
Don’t decapitate your body because cropping from the neck down makes you seem more like a mannequin. For privacy reasons you can of course crop out part of your face. Just be sure to leave sexy lips in view. Gazing seductively at the camera is a sure way to engage your viewer. Crop out all the background. Nothing should distract guys from you, especially if your profile picture shows up as a tiny icon.
You’ll probably take 20 selfies and get 3 good ones.
So, save the mediocre ones to experiment with later. Add a filter and tweet them randomly. Or crop similar ones at bold angles to rotate through. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
I take advantage of the timer because sometimes it is difficult to do a decent selfie while your arm is extended out. I also crop my selfies by cropping the part of my extended arm. This way, it doesn’t come off, so much as a selfie.
Lastly and VERY important! Avoid bathroom selfies/pics! Guys are guilty of this a lot! Can be a very attractive guy but you can see part of his toilet behind him. But I’ve also seen some ladies guilty of this.
Hey Mia,
I also use the timer for most of my pics as I find they are better quality. These are great tips- thanks for sharing!