I've been debating this for a week or so now...

Do you guys prefer to use a picture of you or a picture of something else?

I see that many of you use picitures of yourselves, your children, spouses, pets, or other miscellaneous pictures.

Is there a benefit to using a particular type of picture?

I'm  just thinking about replacing the picture of me to something else, and I'm just not sure about it yet.

That's an interesting question.  I like to use a picture of myself because I'm the writer.  I guess I want to promote myself.  If I ever used a picture of something else, it would have to encompass the topics I write about...and, I can't figure out what that would be.

Interesting question, sm ppl wnt 2 promote themselves and sm like me they dnt. I dnt think any picture benefit our hubs. But a gud profile or a gud picture attracts visitors smtimes.

Whitney05 wrote:

I've been debating this for a week or so now...

Do you guys prefer to use a picture of you or a picture of something else?

I see that many of you use picitures of yourselves, your children, spouses, pets, or other miscellaneous pictures.

Is there a benefit to using a particular type of picture?

I'm  just thinking about replacing the picture of me to something else, and I'm just not sure about it yet.

I don't have a picture of myself because at the moment I want to preserve my privacy though it is well known in webmarketing that you should have a picture of yourself because it creates a more trustable impression to your readers that you are genuine.

So clearly you'd better use a picture of yourself.

Good question, I'm kinda hooked on my picture right now, but I'm thinking of putting a picture of me or my pets.  Just do whatever you want, remember, if you don't like it you can always change it.When I first joined I put a whole bunch of different pictures up and then i thought this one looked good, so maybe fool around and see what happens. =]

I second makemoneyonline. If you are selling something (and Amazon and Ebay capsules *do* count as selling), picture of yourself improves the trust from your customers...

I'm undecided on this one. No-one out there can possibly know if a photo is genuinely of the author. Some high ranking hubbers are certainly using photos that are neither of themselves nor even of their age, gender etc. If I was trying to make a living here, I'd probably go for a pic of me, but as I make my living elsewhere, I've gone for a woodcarving that still conveys something of the persona I try to project. And at least it's a woodcarving from my own collection!

Paraglider wrote:

If I was trying to make a living here, I'd probably go for a pic of me, but as I make my living elsewhere, I've gone for a woodcarving that still conveys something of the persona I try to project. And at least it's a woodcarving from my own collection!

Excellent point Paraglider.  I suppose it is risky to be out there, you never know who you might offend.  I, too, make my living elsewhere...I wonder who's watching?

Paraglider wrote:

I'm undecided on this one. No-one out there can possibly know if a photo is genuinely of the author. Some high ranking hubbers are certainly using photos that are neither of themselves nor even of their age, gender etc. If I was trying to make a living here, I'd probably go for a pic of me, but as I make my living elsewhere, I've gone for a woodcarving that still conveys something of the persona I try to project. And at least it's a woodcarving from my own collection!

Sure but you know the subconcious ... 

I actually just changed my profile photo this morning. Up until now, I used a headshot of myself, but I'm kind of sick of seeing it I replaced it with this photo because it still represents what I write about (home/garden/environment) and it's something cheerful and summery for me to look at regularly in the middle of a long, gray Detroit winter

I use a headshot almost everywhere else, exactly for the reason Stacie mentioned: I'm the author, so I feel like my photo should be on my work. I guess if I get another photo of myself that I actually like, I might put a headshot back up. For now, I'm sticking with the ladybug

I supose I could find pictures more appealing than my owns lolol, but because I fell good with myself and more important have no intention to offend who ever read both my hubs and/or comments, I use my pictures in profile and even in some of my hubs .

Hm... Thanks guys.. It's opened my view on things. I was wanting to protect my privacy by removing my picture, but I like the idea of created a trustworthy appeal to readers. I'm still undecided at the moment.

If anyone else has comments, I'd sure love to hear them!

For the record, that photo of Whitney in her avatar looks just like one of my cousins.

So the trust factor is 100% here!

I don't use a head shot of myself because of the risk of identity theft. All someone needs to make up a fake ID is your name, a head-and-shoulders photo, and your birthdate.  If you've been silly enough to show your birthday on MySpace or Facebook, they only have to match them up and your identity is gone.

I know some people say your identity is at risk in lots of other places, but that's like saying there's no point driving carefully on a minor road because most crashes happen on the freeway.

:-) Thanks darkside. I think I need a new picture...

Marissa- I totally agree with you. Although I have a head shot, do you think that it would be "stealable" as it is a side shot versus a frontal view? (I don't mean stealable, but would it be a picture someone would want)

Whitney, I don't think it would be any good for a fake driver's licence or passport because they want a frontal view.

That's what I was thinking, but thought I'd ask. As if I choose to do an update, it too will be from the side. I hate taking frontal pictures.

can't wait 2 see your picture!

Prince Maak wrote:

Interesting question, sm ppl wnt 2 promote themselves and sm like me they dnt. I dnt think any picture benefit our hubs. But a gud profile or a gud picture attracts visitors smtimes.

do you text a lot? cause your abrev are hard to decipher.

Marisa Wright wrote:

Whitney, I don't think it would be any good for a fake driver's licence or passport because they want a frontal view.

Also smiling makes the photo unusable - if youve down a passport short recently you have to look straight ahead and not smile - its quite hard!
I guess I use the photo because it captures my delight of the moment which I was feeling, its a candid shot by my partner. I have an unusual surname so I would be pretty easy to trace if someone wanted to - but I dont think I am cute/young/rich enough to be a target to be honest ROTFL! And yes  I am proud of what I write on the internet and if an employer objected they could put their job in a place the sun doesn't shine -  I don't take kindly to employers controlled what you do out of hours.  To be honest though if I was doing adult stuff I would probably use a pseudonym so as not to shock the rellies!