# Quick Opinions Needed About A Picture **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858 "2010-06-04T00:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/1 "2010-06-04T00:39:40Z")
[This pic](http://www.sirblah.com/misc/lre.jpg) looks…what? Professional? Personal ad-ish? What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/2 "2010-06-04T00:41:20Z")
Not really either. The body/face angle and pose (plus some harsh shadows) keep it from being truly professional. The same things keep it from looking like a personal ad as well. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/3 "2010-06-04T00:50:20Z")
…halfway between professional and personal ad. I like the business jacket, if it’s for a professional shot, but my eye is drawn to the bustline. For a more professional profile, I suggest cropping it on the right and bottom to show the jacket lapels and emphasise the face more. The hair, glasses and makeup are all fine, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/4 "2010-06-04T00:52:45Z")
You asking about photographic skill displayed (D+, maybe, looks like a posed snapshot by an untrained/inexperienced photographer possibly attempting a portrait-type shot) or appropriateness for some purpose? It’s not a photo I’d choose for a traditional business purpose. I’d call it a casual look. I assume the subject is your wife or other relative, so I’ll spare ya the hubba hubba–but she is attractive. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/5 "2010-06-04T01:15:08Z")
It was obviously not done by a professional photographer; nor should it be used professionally (too much accent on the bustline). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/6 "2010-06-04T01:41:13Z")
You appeared to use an on camera flash. Professional photos never use anything like that (the closest they’d come is a ringflash). It needs source lighting from one side, and fill lighting from the other, and possibly back lighting. Then sweetening in Photoshop. If you can’t get lighting like that, use sunlight from a window. You’re looking for an effect something like [this](http://www.prophotonut.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/bristolup1058.jpg) or [this](http://blog.photoshelter.com/horensteinbysexton.jpg) that highlights the shape to the face and separates the foreground from the background. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/7 "2010-06-04T03:26:14Z")
I agree with **GuanoLad** , the most prominent thing about that photo that says “not professional” is the lighting. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/8 "2010-06-04T05:31:41Z")
Hair, face, lighting, etc. say casual, outfit says professional. I don’t want to be mean or anything, but the straggly hair does not say professional, if that’s what is being aimed for. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/9 "2010-06-04T08:17:07Z")
It looks like someone took a picture of the girl work for a personal ad. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/10 "2010-06-04T10:15:52Z")
It just looks like a quick snapshot of a girl in her work clothing. A bit “Myspacey” if you will. Like “this is a picture so you know what I look like.” Can I ask why you’re asking? ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/11 "2010-06-04T11:31:10Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > …halfway between professional and personal ad. I like the business jacket, if it’s for a professional shot, but my eye is drawn to the bustline. For a more professional profile, I suggest cropping it on the right and bottom to show the jacket lapels and emphasise the face more. The hair, glasses and makeup are all fine, in my opinion. From that angle, yes, the eyes go to the bust… so not really professional… ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/12 "2010-06-04T11:38:25Z")
The photo is rather dark, I agree. And her smile - there’s something slightlly amiss. Rather coy. Furtive even. No - sheepish! That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/13 "2010-06-04T12:11:46Z")
> [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > Like “this is a picture so you know what I look like.” Exactly. > [@Staggerlee](#): > > The photo is rather dark, I agree. > > And her smile - there’s something slightlly amiss. Rather coy. Furtive even. No - sheepish! That’s it. The meme that will never die. And that I, for one, will always enjoy a well-played version of. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/14 "2010-06-04T13:00:24Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > I agree with **GuanoLad** , the most prominent thing about that photo that says “not professional” is the lighting. What I would have said if I didn’t think it was so obvious. If it matters, the bustline doesn’t bother me, as I didn’t notice it all that much. The pose and the lighting conspire to make it look amateurish. Attractive model, though. Could be used by a professional photographer for a much better shot. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/15 "2010-06-04T13:44:07Z")
It looks like a poorly done actor’s head shot. If asking about the photography, it needs more light. Something to separate her from the background. (it looks like she is standing too close it) There is a little vignetting and that isn’t right for this photo. Her smile looks a little forced. She doesn’t look completely comfortable. Her hair looks a bit strange on the left side (of the photograph) just above the ear. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-opinions-needed-about-a-picture/541858/16 "2010-06-04T13:46:49Z")
Looks like a snapshot of a co-worker. I would not use it for professional purposes. Since you see all kinds of things in personal ads, I will leave that to the personal taste of the subject.