A few weeks ago I shot some portraits of my friend Leslie in SE Portland. She mainly wanted a good image to use as her Facebook profile photo so she could participate in our July Facebook contest. We shot for about an hour, and I think we ended up with lots of great images. Facebook is obviously a dynamic part of how we all interact on the web with one another, but I’m always a bit surprised at some of the photos of my friends that wind up on there. Personally I’m committed to raising the bar a little. I’m sure I tend to notice these things more since I’m in the business of imagery, but the images on your Facebook are often viewed by hundreds of people, friends, family, acquaintances, and sometimes even employers. My suggestion to everyone (friend and photographer alike) is to considering eliminating out of focus images, or those that are over or under exposed. If an image of you isn’t flattering don’t post it (or de-tag yourself)! Everyone gets caught in an unflattering photo from time to time, but why put it online? And if you can, schedule a portrait session! It’s a lot of fun, and you might be surprised how good it feels to see yourself looking your best!
- Josh