Profile photo clients often ask me "should I smile?"
And I'll usually ask them if they smile in their role, at work. If yes, then yes.
I love that the question comes from a place of wanting to get the best and most effective photo possible, and yes, business profile photos are supposed to be effective, at showing people who you really are, and showing your warmth and approachability, your love of what you do (and if that's not resonating for you perhaps that's another conversation).
The key is not to get too caught up in your head about it. It doesn't suddenly become your job to smile. Rather, it becomes your job, simply, not to censor yourself by trying NOT to smile.
Sometimes clients have strong ideas about perceived flaws associated with their smiles: their eyes look smaller when they smile, they don't like their teeth, they don't like their cheeks rounding when they smile, they don't like the wrinkles that form when they smile. But...
Trying to control what's happening on your face because you have an issue with your smile will generally not lead to a successful, comfortable-in-your-own-skin-looking photo. If you authentically feel a smile coming let it fly! Most photographers will capture multiple frames...you don't have to choose the smiling shot you don't like, and you may be surprised how compelling it is.
It is important to remember that as gorgeous as you are, and as much as you may worry smiling will compromise your good-lookingness, that is not the primary goal. The main goal is to make a powerful and appealing first (and repeat) impression, because you look like someone a viewer can trust and would want to work with. For most of us a smile is going to pull viewers in. Your profile pic has a job to do. Let it do it!
Way better writers than I have written excellent articles with a lot more detail and evidence in support of smiling in profile portraits. I'll share a really good one in a sec.
My question to you: How confident and approachable do you look in your current profile pic?
As always my suggestions are presented to help most people, most of the time. They are not rules, and they don't cover every circumstance.
Here's a really good article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/2025/04/02/should-you-smile-in-your-profile-photo-heres-what-research-shows/
kathryn@hollinrake.com
