How to Take the Perfect #WorkSelfie

How to Take the Perfect #WorkSelfie Contrary to a lot of advice in the past that suggests that selfies should be avoided  for professional use, the trend may in fact be the answer to taking a great professional profile picture for your social media accounts. With the rise of  smartphones, webcams and selfie sticks, it means that  it is now easier than ever for us to snap our own shots wherever we please. People often feel uncomfortable  having their photographs taken by somebody else, particularly at work; so taking a selfie places the control in the individuals hands and means that they can snap away in the comfort of their own environment. Its important that you present yourself smartly and choose your surroundings carefully, however, as a lot of employers will build their first impression based on your profile photograph. Data provided by  LinkedIn has proven that you’re 14 times more likely to be viewed if you have a profile photo, so its definitely worth uploading  one. LinkedIn have provided some guidelines about how to create the perfect #WorkSelfie. #WorkSelfie Top Tips: Be  aware of your surroundings:  Try to  stage your selfie in front of a blank wall as a busy background can be distracting and you want the focus to be on you, not on your surroundings. As cute as your dog is, employers dont want to catch a glimpse of him having a scratch in the background of your shot! Choose the best lighting and angle:  Natural light is the most flattering and is the best for taking selfies (trust me Im a seasoned pro!) I recommend you avoid direct sunlight however, as shadows can distort or conceal your face. Try to avoid using the flash too for best results, as it can reflect light and make your face look a bit shiny. The most flattering angle captures your face from slightly above, as it emphasises your eyes and has a slimming effect. Although shooting from below can make you appear powerful, it can make features seem more prominent. Use a good  camera: If you have access to a DSLR camera,  you can  produce really high quality photographs by setting one up using a tripod and timer setting. However, if this isnt possible, your smart phone can be just as good an option. You can prop your phone up using a shelf, books, etc. to avoid getting your arm in shot. A  selfie stick can also be used if you position it right  (who knew that Christmas gift would come in so handy!) Think about what youre wearing:  Head shots generally work best for networks such as LinkedIn, but you still want to think about what will be showing in your photograph, even if its just your shoulders. Block colours tend to work well in professional photographs and tend to be a better option over a busy print which can be a bit distracting. I think its needless to say crude slogan tshirts are also not recommended! Remember to be professional:  Trust me when I say you should save your pouting and mirror shots for Instagram! Try to relax and pose  naturally. Smiling in your photograph will make you appear more approachable. Check out our #workselfie hall of fame! A 7-person #LinkedIn #workselfie at Talent Connect Sydney, in front of the Harbour Bridge! #intalent pic.twitter.com/eAeV2Igw8p Ryan B (@ryanbatty) May 5, 2015 .@LinkedInUK heres our #workselfie attempt! pic.twitter.com/DuqXtKuZcW firstlight PR (@firstlightpr) April 29, 2015 This is way better. Learning from the #Kardashian school of selfies. Better from above @LinkedInUK #vain #WorkSelfie pic.twitter.com/UuY1iN4p6k Lucy Handley (@lucyhandley) April 29, 2015 I ?? the #WorkSelfie initiative by @LinkedIn, make it a great day! #LinkedInLife pic.twitter.com/dXioOvMd2f The End of Marketing ?? (@carlosgil83) April 29, 2015 Did you know that having a profile pic makes your LinkedIn profile 14x more likely to be viewed? #workselfie pic.twitter.com/inWTK0Vzrk Kathleen Killen (@naturally40) April 29, 2015 A real pleasure to meet the GEM team in Northamptonshire again #workselfie @DavidChurchill #justsaying ?? pic.twitter.com/RXXpHcCFpf Mohammed Hussain (@DigitalPhamcist) May 1, 2015 So just to be clear belfies are a no when doing a #workselfie right? http://t.co/jXgo82Djcp pic.twitter.com/RifdL3lbCF Fi Nominal (@NominalFi) May 1, 2015 The LinkedIn Guide to the Perfect #WorkSelfie http://t.co/hWAoVTI47s #smartguests pic.twitter.com/2oNlUEheng Rupesh Patel (@SmartGuestscom) May 4, 2015 Image credit: LinkedIn