How to Take the Perfect Profile Picture: 8 Tips for Acing Twitter, Tinder and More

Date June 17, 2014

We may have taught you how to take the best Instagram photo, but what do you know about taking the perfect profile picture? We all know Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and dating apps like Tinder each serve a different purpose in our lives, so naturally each platform should be given special attention. And since it’s the first picture a follower comes across, it’s important that it’s a memorable one.

When it comes to choosing the perfect profile picture, bloggers, editors and other social media stars have the skill down pat. But what’s their secret to having such recognizable profiles? Thanks to years of social media experience and connecting with thousands of followers, they’ve come to know the ins and outs of what pictures works best for them. Cases in point: Using one consistent photo across her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, Nicole Warne of Gary Pepper Girl can easily be recognized on all her social media platforms, while Fashion Toast‘s Rumi Neely‘s different head shots is easy to pinpoint amongst the sea of people we follow via her iconic nonchalant look and beach-wavy hairstyle.

Before we decide to give up because we a) don’t have professional photographers on speed dial or b) have as many years of experience in the digital world like many of the social media stars, it doesn’t mean we can’t strive for the perfect picture for our social media accounts. To help us figure out the secret on how to take the perfect profile picture, we tapped into the brains of Chriselle Lim, personal style blogger, Youtuber and wardrobe stylist of The Chriselle Factor (she has over 315 thousand followers on Instagram alone!) and Canada’s Maybelline New York lead makeup artist, Grace Lee. You know, just in case you were thinking of using that spring break picture for your professional LinkedIn profile. From our personal Facebook page to our fun Tinder profiles, we present you eight expert tips and tricks on how to take the perfect profile picture for all your social media platforms.

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how to take the perfect profile picture

FACEBOOK
“For me, my personal Facebook page is more so private than Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin. I like to choose profile pictures that tell a story- a story of my life. I like to choose photos like those that I am laughing, playing with my French Bull Dogs, or talking with to my husband. If you are a business owner, your personal Facebook page should be separate from your business page and your choice of profile pictures should different.” – Chriselle Lim

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how to take the perfect profile picture

TWITTER
“Keep it simple. This means that we want to see you. Because Twitter is all about the things you have to say, it’s best to choose a photo in which your face is easily distinguishable so that followers know who is behind those catchy and witty tweets.”- Chriselle Lim

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how to take the perfect profile picture

INSTAGRAM
“More than any other social media platforms, I view Instagram as my creative portfolio. Instagram is a powerful tool to showcase your projects, artistic capabilities, personality, and visual aesthetics as a whole. When choosing a profile picture, choose one that embodies your feed’s essence. I tend to get more creative with my Instagram profile pictures than I do with other mediums.” – Chriselle Lim

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how to take the perfect profile picture

LINKEDIN
“Since Linkedin is a professionally oriented platform, make sure that your photo depicts you in a manner appropriate for your field. However, regardless of whether you are in the financial sector or an up-and-coming photographer, headshots are the way to go. Because profile photos appear as small thumbnails, your photo should be of only your head, neck, and a bit of your shoulders.” – Chriselle Lim

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how to take the perfect profile picture

TINDER
“When it comes to dating site platforms like Tinder, its best to look fun, approachable and with a hint of ‘sexy’. This is a great time to wear a beautiful lipgloss and fresh skin. Remember, you want to look like yourself so this is no time for the #duckface pose!” – Grace Lee

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how to take the perfect profile picture

MAKEUP TIPS
“For Facebook, Instagram or Twitter first you want to think about what kind of mood or message you want to put out there with your selfie. Are you feeling fun and fashionable? Then go for a bright lip like a pop of pink or coral or bright red. If your mood is more mysterious and sultry I recommend creating a defined eye. One thing is for certain: Never do a photo without curling your lashes and applying mascara! The trick is to look like yourself, just enhanced.

For a more professional site like Linkedin I would recommend looking more polished and refined as it’s used more for work. Keep the eyes soft and defined, blush is a great way to look healthy and approachable. With lips, make sure they look their best and not dry and cracked. I would also recommend giving a nice smile and look directly into the camera and make eye contact. Don’t do a selfie for the professional shots.” – Grace Lee

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how to take the perfect profile picture

LIGHTING TIP
“For all social media platforms, good light is an essential element of a great selfie or profile picture. Nobody wants to see a blurry or dark image. Use natural light if at all possible and don’t over do it with retouching apps as it can look overdone.” – Grace Lee

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how to take the perfect profile picture

BUSINESS TIP
“If you a business owner with multiple social platforms, it is a good idea to use one profile picture across all mediums. This will create branding and allow followers to better identify your brand.” – Chriselle Lim