GREENSBORO, N.C., Mar. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- While a picture may be worth a thousand words, according to Psychological Science's published research, it only takes a person less than a tenth of a second to form their first impression from someone's photo; for example, the photo or photos that you have uploaded to various employment-related, dating and social media sites. In fact, in just that tenth of a second, this same research showed that people's judgement of just one single image included what they thought about a person's attractiveness, likeability (friendliness and kindness), trustworthiness and even competency (smartness and capability).

In a similar experiment, Photofeeler, a website that allows the general public to rate anyone's photo they submit – on the basis of likability and competency – used 800 profile pictures that received over 60,0000 ratings. Photos where people were wearing sunglasses received "below average" ratings. On the other hand, smiling happened to be the most impactful characteristic in a photo, receiving "above average" ratings. More importantly, a smile with teeth visible, increased people's perceptions about the level of likeability and competency.

Swipe-right-worthy picture
When it comes to photos and dating apps, there are plenty of both. Recently, Bumble's CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd became a billionaire overnight. Bumble is just one of the many dating apps out there. Tinder, Match.com, eHarmony and many more feature thousands of photos of men and women looking to make that love connection. From selfies with pets to action photos, there are various types of pictures people choose for their profiles, with hopes of connecting with that special someone.

Your Image could affect getting a job, so make it count
LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, statistics show that users with a profile picture receive 21 times more profile views and nine times more connection requests than those who don't. Whenever a hiring manager is browsing through your online profile, they, too, can generate a "first impression" from your photo. In fact, studies show that people can recall 65% of the visual content that they see almost three days later. This means people are able to replay your photo in their head, remembering if they thought they had a good or bad impression about you, just by your photo.

With all this in mind, Market America | SHOP.COM has five smart tips to help you put your best face forward when it comes to selecting the right headshot for business or pleasure.

1.)    When it comes to searching for employment, dress as if you already have the job. Choose solid colors, rather than stripes or busy patterns that can be distracting. Also, consider choosing colors that accentuate your eyes and skin complexion. Navy, indigo and royal blue tops are known to intensify lighter eyes. Purple helps darker eyes pop, as well as warm-toned complexions. Black will bring attention to your face, no matter your eye color.

2.)    Smiling can make you look more attractive, successful and happier; people who smile are perceived to be confident, while making you more approachable. We recommend some proper care for your smile's best friend, your lips. Lips are one of the most sensitive organs in the human body. The lips don't contain oil glands, unlike other parts of the human body, making them more prone to dryness and chapping. Take special care of them to keep them healthy. Here are some things everyone can do to ensure healthy lips.

  • Lip scrubs are great for exfoliating, which helps eliminate dry skin that can build up, and immediately restore shine and smoothness.
  • To keep the moisture locked in, a lip mask will do the job. It will also leave a healthy glow that will look great on camera. Your lips will be left feeling baby smooth.
  • For women, use a lip gloss, cream lipstick or liquid lipstick to add a splash of color. If you have smaller lips, they can appear larger by adding one of these three options. Another great benefit is that all three types of lip products can continue to moisturize your lips — something that can be helpful during the cold winter months.

3.)    Keep your background simple. The presence of décor can be distracting for viewers, and they will spend their time focusing on that instead of you. To ensure you are the main focus, stand in front of a blank wall to take your picture. For poses, sit up straight and smile like you mean it. Think of something that genuinely makes you happy before you take the picture. As we all know, there is nothing more obvious and disingenuous than a fake smile.

4.)    Using the proper lighting is essential for any type of photos, including your own image. A selfie ring light is a simple, cost-effective option to achieve the lighting you need, allowing easy use and great angles. Just set your phone on self-timer for about 10 seconds and practice the pose that is described in tip #3. If you get frustrated with your photos, take a break, relax in your comfy chair and read a book or listen to some of your favorite tunes. Then, come back to your photo spot — relaxed, with a genuine smile.

5.)    Both men and women can have oily skin, even if it just appears in the "T-zone" — across the forehead, down the nose and including the chin. Of course, men and women have vastly different skin. Men have larger pores than women; therefore, men tend to have oilier skin. When it comes to removing that shine in your photos, with or without makeup, consider the following.

  • Clean the canvas: For both men and women, using a cleanser and toner can help remove excess oil and leave you feeling refreshed.
  • Control the shine: With or without makeup, translucent powder can be a quick fix to control shine. For makeup users, consider setting sprays that can reduce the shine.

At the end of the day, who doesn't want their photo to be a masterpiece that others admire and think about in a positive light? Whether your goal is to make a love connection or land your dream job, face it – what you look like matters, especially in your photos.

Market America | SHOP.COM is a global product brokerage and internet marketing company that specializes in one-to-one marketing and is the creator of The Shopping Annuity®. The company, which has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), is also a two-time winner of the BBB's Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. According to the Better Business Bureau, "the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics is the most prestigious award the BBB can present to a business. Being a recipient indicates the business not only believes in high standards promoted by the BBB, but consistently demonstrates and integrates them into daily business practices."

Media Contact

Gillean Smith, Market America|SHOP.COM, 3364784066, gilleans@marketamerica.com

 

SOURCE Market America|SHOP.COM

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