Tips for the best professional profile photos
Upload high-quality profile and portfolio photos to showcase your professional brand and stand out.
In this article
What are profile and portfolio photos?
When setting up your professional profile, you’ll need to upload a profile photo and portfolio photo. Together, they make your profile more appealing and help you attract more clients.
- Your profile photo:
Your profile photo helps clients recognize and connect with you. A strong photo creates a great first impression, making your profile look professional and approachable. - Your portfolio photo:
Your portfolio photo showcases your work and skills. Well-chosen portfolio photos highlight your expertise and build trust with clients.
Best practices for photos
To upload photos for your portfolio and profile, that best capture your personal brand:
- Use the right formats:
Upload a photo in JPEG or PNG format. - Optimize resolution:
The minimum resolution is 500 x 500 for a clear photo display. The aspect ratio is square (1:1). For your profile photo, we’ll crop this into a circle for you. - Use clear photos:
Keep the spotlight on you and your work without text overlays or heavy filters.
Tips for great photos
To make a strong first impression with your profile, follow these tips for choosing great profile and portfolio photo:
| Show your face or work clearly | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Your face should be the main focus. Use a clear, well-lit photo and avoid full-body or distant shots. |
| Portfolio photos | Focus on close-ups of your work to highlight your skills, avoiding logos or overly branded visuals. |
| Keep It professional: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Reflect your professional identity; avoid casual selfies, party pictures, or vacation snaps. |
| Portfolio photos | Ensure your photos align with your brand and feature polished, intentional visuals without personal or unrelated content. |
| Use good lighting: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Natural light is ideal - try taking your photo near a window or outdoors. Bright, even lighting works best. |
| Portfolio photos | Use natural, ring, or studio lighting to ensure your work is well-lit without shadows. Bright, even lighting works best. |
| Use a clear background: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Opt for a simple, distraction-free background like solid colors or neutral settings to keep the focus on your face. |
| Portfolio photos | Choose clean, neutral backdrops to ensure your work stands out. |
| Highlight your brand: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Match the style of your services, such as bold, creative looks for hairstylists or calm, serene imagery for wellness coaches. |
| Portfolio photos | Showcase your expertise and reflect the tone of your professional services. |
| Use high-quality photos: | |
|---|---|
| All photos | Use high-resolution photos to avoid blurry or pixelated visuals. A sharp, clear photo reflects attention to detail. |
Common mistakes to avoid
While choosing profile and portfolio photos, avoid these common mistakes:
| Group photos: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Focus solely on yourself—avoid including friends, colleagues, or teams in your profile photo. |
| Portfolio photos | Keep the spotlight on your work by avoiding unrelated people or distractions. |
| Heavy editing or filters: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Avoid over-editing or heavy filters. Use natural, polished photos that reflect your true self while maintaining a professional appearance. |
| Portfolio photos | Choose natural, polished visuals that showcase your skills authentically without over-editing or excessive filters. |
| Distracting props: | |
|---|---|
| Profile photos | Skip photos with large objects or props that distract from your face. |
| Portfolio photos | Ensure visuals are clean and focused, avoiding props or objects that detract from highlighting your expertise. |
Uploading your Profile photo
- Click on your Profile icon and select Profile.
- Select Edit on your profile card.
- Click the pencil icon and upload your profile photo, making sure to follow the guidelines above.
- Crop the image ensuring your face is centered and clearly visible.
- Click Apply then Save.
Uploading your portfolio photos
- Click on your profile icon and select Profile.
- Select Set up now on your portfolio card and click Continue.
- Next, choose how to upload your portfolio images:
- Upload images of your work manually:
Select Continue and click Upload images. Choose the files you want to add to your portfolio. - Connect your Instagram feed:
To display your latest work from Instagram directly on your profile, select Continue then Connect. Log in to display your latest work directly on your profile.
- Upload images of your work manually:
- Click Done to finalize your setup.
To connect your Instagram profile to Fresha, it must be a Business or Creator account. If its not already, Instagram will guide you through the steps to convert it.