Why Your Profile Picture Matters
and how to set it up
Your profile picture isn’t just a photo. It’s the most real and human part of your digital identity. It tells people “Yes, this is really me” before you even type a word. That’s why it’s important to keep it accurate and updated from time to time.
- Keep it recognizable: A clear, well‑lit photo makes it easy for others to identify you. Try to have good lighting and balanced contrast without hard, dark and mysterious shadows.
- Keep background clean: Neutral or blurred backgrounds help keep the focus on you. Keep your friends and relatives out of the picture, and vacation photos that you think are great, but your profile picture don’t have to look like a postcard or portray anything other than – just you.
- Thumbnail‑friendly: Remember, your photo will often appear in a tiny circle on a list. Choose an image that still works when it’s shrunk down so that important details remain clear.
- Trust and security: A consistent, up‑to‑date photo builds credibility. People feel more confident knowing they’re interacting with the right person, which strengthens both trust and security.
- Update now and then: Styles change, and so do you. Refreshing your photo occasionally shows that your profile is active and reliable. Do it if you have done something radical about your appearance, like if you have shaved the wild beard or gone from long curly dark hair to short spiky blond.
In short: your profile picture is more than decoration. It’s a key part of your personal identity online. Treat it like your best friend.
Here are everything you need to know about snapping a great profile picture, and how to update it.
The perfect profile picture guide
Far / Close
Stand at a comfortable distance from the camera.
Too far away and your face will be hard to see as thumbnail.
Choose an image that still works when it’s shrunk down so that important details remain clear.
Too close and the system may not capture your full facial features.
Only you
Your friends might be great, but now focus is on you.
Make sure you’re the only person in the frame.
A plain, solid background works best because it keeps the focus on you.
Avoid busy patterns, clutter, or other people in the shot.
Keep it recognisable
Choose a photo that shows you as you normally look, with your face clear and recognizable.
Everyday glasses are fine — just make sure your eyes are visible and not hidden by reflections or the frame.
Avoid sunglasses, hoodies, or caps that cover important facial details.
Forehead, chin, and cheekbones must be visible, if possible.
Look into camera
Position your face directly in front of the camera and look straight ahead.
Your face should be centered and evenly visible.
Avoid tilting your head or looking away, since a forward‑facing photo ensures clarity and makes your profile picture trustworthy.
Open eyes and smile
Your eyes send an important message that builds trust.
Keep your eyes open and visible, and add a natural smile. This makes your photo look friendly and approachable.
Avoid squinting, exaggerated expressions, or closed eyes.
The goal is to look like yourself in a clear, welcoming way.
Soft natural lighting
Find a spot where the lighting is soft and natural.
Choose lighting that’s soft and even, without strong shadows or glare.
Avoid standing in direct sunlight or in a dark room. Balanced light ensures your face is fully visible, with no distracting highlights or dark areas hiding important details.
Keep it up to date
Maybe your best look is in the past, but don’t let keep hanging to long.
Your photo should reflect how you look today, and you might have changed over the years.
Keep the profile picture up to date, and keep updating it regularly – one every other year or if you have made drastic changes to your look.
If you’ve changed your hairstyle, grown or shaved a beard, or your appearance has shifted noticeably.
You don't have to model
You don’t need to strike a model pose or act formal.
Simply relax and be yourself. A natural look makes your photo authentic and relatable.
Forced expressions or exaggerated poses can feel artificial, so keep it simple and genuine.
JUST YOU
When the camera detects your face, a green circle will appear.
Go ahead and take the photo. Trust that you look great as you are. A correct image is one that shows the real you, clearly and confidently
Snap it!
Far / Close
Stand at a comfortable distance from the camera.
Too far away and your face will be hard to see as thumbnail.
Choose an image that still works when it’s shrunk down so that important details remain clear.
Too close and the system may not capture your full facial features.
Only you
Your friends might be great, but now focus is on you.
Make sure you’re the only person in the frame.
A plain, solid background works best because it keeps the focus on you.
Avoid busy patterns, clutter, or other people in the shot.
Keep it recognisable
Choose a photo that shows you as you normally look, with your face clear and recognizable.
Everyday glasses are fine — just make sure your eyes are visible and not hidden by reflections or the frame.
Avoid sunglasses, hoodies, or caps that cover important facial details.
Forehead, chin, and cheekbones must be visible, if possible.
Look into camera
Position your face directly in front of the camera and look straight ahead.
Your face should be centered and evenly visible.
Avoid tilting your head or looking away, since a forward‑facing photo ensures clarity and makes your profile picture trustworthy.
Open eyes and smile
Your eyes send an important message that builds trust.
Keep your eyes open and visible, and add a natural smile. This makes your photo look friendly and approachable.
Avoid squinting, exaggerated expressions, or closed eyes.
The goal is to look like yourself in a clear, welcoming way.
Soft natural lighting
Find a spot where the lighting is soft and natural.
Choose lighting that’s soft and even, without strong shadows or glare.
Avoid standing in direct sunlight or in a dark room. Balanced light ensures your face is fully visible, with no distracting highlights or dark areas hiding important details.
Keep it up to date
Maybe your best look is in the past, but don’t let keep hanging to long.
Your photo should reflect how you look today, and you might have changed over the years.
Keep the profile picture up to date, and keep updating it regularly – one every other year or if you have made drastic changes to your look.
If you’ve changed your hairstyle, grown or shaved a beard, or your appearance has shifted noticeably.
You don't have to model
You don’t need to strike a model pose or act formal.
Simply relax and be yourself. A natural look makes your photo authentic and relatable.
Forced expressions or exaggerated poses can feel artificial, so keep it simple and genuine.
JUST YOU
When the camera detects your face, a green circle will appear.
Go ahead and take the photo. Trust that you look great as you are. A correct image is one that shows the real you, clearly and confidently
Snap it!
This is how you set up your Profile picture
The first screen you meet
The first time you start the Handzhake app, you’ll be met by the ‘Create Profile’ setup. Fields that are mandatory.
Full Name:
This field will be prefilled for you, as this is pulled into the App from your eID. This field is not editable due to security.
> Can be shared as ‘Full Name’ or ‘Short Name’
Date of Birth:
Also a non-editable field. Also pulled from your eID, and secures your correct age.
> Can be shared as ‘Date of Birth’ or just ‘Age’
Home Address:
In most cases pulled from your eID, but can be edited.
> Can be shared as ‘Home Address’ or just ‘Location‘
Email:
Use your primary private email address.
Mobile No.:
Use your primary private mobile phone number.
Allow access to your camera
To snap your profile picture, you need to give the App access to the camera.
We recommend tapping the ‘Allow’ button so your device can grant the app access to the camera.
This permission is essential for letting you take a selfie for your profile and also makes it possible to attach photos to agreements or notes directly within the app.
If you’re not comfortable, you remain in control and can change or deny access anytime in your device settings.
Please note that completing your profile setup requires a photo taken with your phone’s camera. Granting access ensures everything works smoothly and your account is ready to use.
Whait for the green circle
When the green circle appears around the seeker frame, you are good to go.
When the camera has detected you facial characters like eyes, nose and mouth, it will run a fast ‘3d depthand live detection’ so that it knows the face is real.
When all claculations are met wiht accpetence it will display a green circle around the face detection seeker.
Tap ‘Take Photo’ and it will snap an instant picture.
Accept your new Profile Picture - Or just snap a new one.
Tap ‘Use Photo’ and you are all set, but if you are not satisfied just try again.
It is easy to accept and update your new Profile Picture, but it is almost as to capture or update it.
If you are not happy with snap, just try again. Plase follow our guide on best praticies on how to snap the best Profile Picture.
Easy peacy to update your Profile picture
It’s time to update your Profile Picture.
Maybe your style has changed, or maybe it’s simply been a while. Whatever the reason, your profile picture deserves a little refresh. Either way, updating it helps keep your information accurate.
Head to your Profile and tap the camera icon next to your current photo to snap a fresh shot.
