High Heels Make a Great Profile Picture!

And what you're thinking about matters too. ;)

Quite often, having your photograph taken is unavoidable — even if you hate the idea because you believe you look terrible in pictures.

There are situations where a photograph is simply necessary, and it matters that it is a good one.

A CV for a new job application is a perfect example.

Our heroine, Linda, thought her situation was hopeless, so she decided to trust a professional photographer.

Needless to say, Linda is a beautiful woman. Not only attractive, but decisive and intelligent too. That was obvious from the beginning — not only to photographer Norbert Bánhalmi, who accepted the challenge of showing that beauty in a photograph.

Linda arrived for the shoot in her greyest outfit with her greyest accessory.

Let's stop here for a moment.

What does that tell us?

Of course, Linda is anything but a grey little mouse.

Hidden in her bag were a bold pair of high heels and a striking piece of jewellery.

She asked uncertainly:

“Should I put those on?”

Norbi obviously knew the answer.

She was asking because she wanted to wear them.

And she had brought them because she loved them.

That was who she really was: colourful and bold.

So that was what the photograph needed to show.

Can you even see high heels in a headshot?

I'll tell you:

Yes.

You can see them in the smile.

In posture.

In confidence.

Even if you have time only to run into an ID-photo booth, it is worth wearing clothes in which you feel good.

They give you confidence.

And confidence makes you beautiful.

Better still, take along the person beside whom you can truly relax.

Fortunately, Norbi is that kind of person.

He can draw spontaneous, liberated moments even out of complete strangers.

He did it with Linda too.

We created a real “all in” photograph that could go on LinkedIn and a dating profile as well.

(Okay, the dating version received a slightly more exciting filter.)

And it could still safely be sent to her mother.

I suddenly remembered a CV I once received.

A very severe-looking female lawyer stared back at me from the photograph.

She did not seem friendly.

To be honest, she frightened me.

But what she had written was so promising that we invited her for an interview.

Needless to say, she was nothing like the person the photograph had suggested.

She turned out to be a worldly young woman constantly looking for new challenges.

The image you present of yourself influences the way an employer approaches you.

If you appear like a grey little mouse, people will also imagine you in a grey-little-mouse job.

But perhaps you do not want to stand quietly in line as yet another employee whose name nobody remembers.

Perhaps you want challenge.

Energy.

Creative work.

Then take out that bold, colourful jewellery and give the camera a mischievous smile.

Linda stood beneath the lights.

The lamp was bright in her eyes, but she was getting used to it.

Then Norbi suddenly made a genuinely cheeky remark.

And there it was:

Linda's perfect smile.

If her future employer knew what she was thinking at that exact moment, would they blush?

Perhaps not.

Because Linda does not actually want to work for a rigid boss.

She probably had not even consciously thought about that.

If she shows herself as she genuinely is — rather than what she imagines the world wants to see, what people “normally” do or what is considered “proper” — then the employer will hire HER.

It really can be that simple.

Naturally, Linda ended up with a perfect photograph.

She was happy too.

---

You could see it in the smile on her face.

She could hardly wait to upload the picture to Facebook.

Schnierer Kati – SHE.hu

Professional portrait photography works best when the real person remains recognisable behind the image.

Part of the BANHALMI ecosystem

For the professional context and practical side of portrait photography, visit the BANHALMI professional website. Related art series, books and exhibitions are preserved in the BANHALMI ART archive.