Profile Picture on website and social media

Is airbrushing profile picture acceptable for professionals? 

Didn't find your answer?

Hello

We are living in a visual world of airbrushing pictures and using filters in videos and pictures. 

My profile picture on my website was taken over 10 years ago. Age has taken its toll. I have wrinkles,  less elastic skin not so perfect teeth colour. I am thinking of updating the pictures to reflect my age. 

From Apple's App store on one of its Airbrushing apps:

"Remove pimples, smooth wrinkles, even out skin tone, whiten teeth, and more to get the perfect photo every time." 

In other words, made up picture-perfect person is not the real person as people would see. 

When I met some clients I was surprised to see the real person as compared to their picture. I think they were equally surprised to see an older person than what my profile picture portrayed.

I am looking into refreshing my website. It is important to get small details right. 

On your website is your picture Airbrushed?  Does it reflect your current age or near enough?

Is the trend airbrushing now?  I do not know what the trend is now. Is Airbrushing profile picture acceptable for professionals? 

 

Thanks

 

Replies (16)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By Tax Dragon
20th Jul 2021 07:55

Tzu Chang asked Confucius about jen. Confucius said, "If you can practise these five things with all the people, you can be called jen." Tzu Chang asked what they were. Confucius said, "Courtesy, generosity, honesty, persistence, and kindness. If you are courteous, you will not be disrespected; if you are generous, you will gain everything. If you are honest, people will rely on you. If you are persistent you will get results. If you are kind, you can employ people."

Thanks (2)
By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
20th Jul 2021 08:38

Looking older is generally a bonus in this game so I wouldn't over do the brushing up.

Its the one time when you want to add the grey to your hair, not take it off.

Thanks (1)
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
20th Jul 2021 08:42

So you want to start your relationship with potential client's with dishonesty? Why would you want to do that?

My guess is you're going to do it anyway. Your whole OP sounds like you are trying to justify it to yourself, meaning that is the decision you have already made. I'm curious how you intend to respond to future queries if you do. Personally I'd prefer to be able to honestly say a picture was taken a few years back than try to explain why a new picture does not look like the real me.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By Truthsayer
20th Jul 2021 08:55

I don't have my picture on any of my professional profiles, but if I did, it would be warts and all. Of all those who view your profile, you are probably the only one who cares what you look like.

Thanks (3)
avatar
By the_drookit_dug
20th Jul 2021 09:01

Don't think I'd airbrush, but I would choose the most flattering light and do my best to look my freshest.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By Leywood
20th Jul 2021 09:01

How vain.

How false. Might as well leave the old picture up.

If you are that embarrassed about your picture don't put one up. Or get some therapy.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By SXGuy
20th Jul 2021 09:38

My sis in law's phone automatically airbrushes any picture she takes, which is fine, unless you know her, in which case you'd think she's mental.

Everyone does it, well I don't.

Thanks (1)
By Moonbeam
20th Jul 2021 10:40

Just get a decent photographer to take your photo and update it every other year.

Thanks (2)
By Duggimon
20th Jul 2021 10:52

You'll get better results from a well lit well composed photograph than airbrushing something amateurish, so be sure you or the photographer know what they're doing.

If it were me I would make sure I was wearing my best gear and had brushed my hair and I suppose clone stamping any pimples would be more or less the same thing as that, being temporary in nature.

I'd never do my wrinkles though, it'd be obvious to anyone meeting me I'd done so, and that's more embarrassing than being wrinkly.

Thanks (3)
Replying to Duggimon:
By SteveHa
20th Jul 2021 14:32

Why comb hair? It's not as if I'm going to have my chest on show.

Thanks (2)
Avatar
By I'msorryIhaven'taclue
20th Jul 2021 11:09

Just leave the old picture be. I believe a lot of people on social media sport pictures from half their lifetimes ago.

That's certainly been my policy towards my driver's licence.

Thanks (1)
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
20th Jul 2021 14:20

I only have a pic on LinkedIn - it’s about 10 years old and ‘cos of the bad angle made me look pretty chubby. TBF I have put some of that weight on in the last decade, but not as much as that photo!

Thanks (1)
boxfile
By spilly
20th Jul 2021 16:02

You could model it on an Old Master painting perhaps. You know the type, one hand resting on a calculator, a stack of Tolleys to one side, your framed certificates on the wall behind, and a hint of the shadow of Death/HMRC looming in the background somewhere.
Much more entertaining than a bog-standard cheesy grin, best suit jacket and a naff tie.

Thanks (2)
Replying to spilly:
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
20th Jul 2021 16:32

… the ghostly look in the eyes from trying to deal with HMRC …

Thanks (0)
FT
By FirstTab
20th Jul 2021 22:50

Hello

Thank you for your response. It is helpful.

The consensus is NO airbrushing.

If you want to see examples of using filters to the extreme just look at Tick Tok Bollywood lip singing. Clear skin, white teeth and slim. I was fooled and later picked up there is something odd here.

My view is we are trusted advisors, and an airbrushed picture is not consistent with the way we are perceived as accountants. There is an element of dishonesty.

Good suggestions are made in this thread on putting up a picture that reflects my age and the way I look. At the same time, I come across in the best possible light with whatever little I have left on the F factor. No different to a job interview.

I did a little research on some examples of what I am looking for, taking the points from this thread. This fits the bills for me
https://www.frettens.co.uk/site/people/

It appears to reflect the reality of people in this organisation.

I agree with having the picture updated every other year.

My next step is booking a photographer. This will be around October for a shoot.

Thanks (0)
Replying to FirstTab:
boxfile
By spilly
21st Jul 2021 00:25

Less F-factor more Max Factor perhaps? A skin primer can work wonders to flatten out the deeper shadows without being obvious. And make sure your skin is mattified too - you don’t want to look sweaty and shiny.

Thanks (0)