Ant said:
Gilmore, not being harsh on the photo or anything, but you say you got the idea from another site, on the other site, the bloggers image is of him looking happy, and smiling. Quite a welcoming image, your's you seem to be giving a smarmy look, again no offence intended!
This what I was getting at. I can give you an extensive (and very boring) instructional on semiotics and psychoanalysis in photography if you want? But there is a greater point.
If you want to be judged as a designer, let your work do the talking.
There is a massive difference between a blogger and a designer, (obviously you can do both, Ken and Dave Will both do a good job) if you are a blogger what people think of you is very important, as they are following your opinions and will get to know your opinions. It is important that you come off as approachable and friendly (this guys photo).
As a designer, people want the best for their money, giving them any judgement on you as a person is an incredibly risky move. Again amongst our number we have a guy who is in his early twenties and is one of the lead developers at Sky! That is a big statement for someone as young as he is. Our resident CSS Wizard (see what I did there), like myself, spends most of his spare time "acting like a kid" on his bike! I am a heavily tattooed, bearded, punk, I do not want my corporate clients to know this! They know I can do the work and that is all they care about.
Quick assessment of both photos (this is what my MA is about):
Smiling = Friendly
Face behind arms = Sign of shyness, which combined with the friendliness makes approachable.
Body positioning = relaxed, again adding to the approachable feeling. It's casual but in a friendly way.
All that adds up to one thing, this is a friendly, approachable guy. That is a good image to present. Also age, guessing mid twenties, which makes him old enough to be classed as young by adults.
Body position = tilted head with a awkward smile, this is classic rogue/scoundrel, also joking nicknamed the Harrison Ford. This can be easily misunderstood as being cocky. You have your hands in your pockets, this is an incredibly casual statement. Shoulders are rounded, this is a sign of relaxation.
Clothes = Sleeves rolled up, more casual. Tie not all the way up, open collar, more casual.
So your photo adds up to present you as a casual rogue. This is fine is you are in hip hop video, but you aren't you are trying to present yourself as a competent, reliable designer.
Another thing is eyes. The main point of contact between humans is the eyeline, I know this sounds obvious, but it acts as a connection between viewer and reader. You can clearly see his eyes, you can't really see yours.
Please don't take this as an attack on you personally, I have never met you and don't know a thing about you. I am guessing that you probably aren't these things or you wouldn't have got any work.
I'm lucky, in the respect that a lot of my work rely's on me being a disaster area! I doubt a Death Metal band would want a clean cut person designing there website, because they wouldn't trust them. Thus creating the opposite situation! The last time I went to a corporate networking event I wore a suit, trimmed my beard, got a haircut (so it was all the same colour) and wore a thick shirt so there was no chance of seeing any of my tattoos through it. Made that mistake once at a meeting with the Welsh Assembly! White shirt, that you could see my chest piece through! The guy I was in the meeting looking at my chest and arms like I was some kind of freak.
Do you see my point, let your work get your foot in the door, then let them meet you.