Be careful not to squint so much that it looks like you’re straining to see something, however.
Try to avoid the clenched, cheesy smile.
If you do your makeup, wear bright lipstick and make sure your eyebrows are perfect so they will enhance your expression. Take off sunglasses or anything else that might obscure your features.
If you do include more of your body in the picture, make sure that your face is still the focus, and that your features can be easily seen.
You can also try propping your phone or camera against something and using the timer feature to take your picture. Even a selfie stick can help you take a more flattering picture. If you must take a picture in front of a mirror, hold the phone/camera at shoulder height and tilt it upwards. If you zoom in enough, this will keep the phone/camera out of the picture.
Don’t make the background too busy, however, If your profile picture is of you at a concert, your face might be lost in the crowd.
Natural light is thought to be best for pictures. You can take a good profile picture with indoor light, however. Just position yourself so that the light source is not shining directly on you. If you have to use flash, try to get someone to take the picture of you so that the flash won’t reflect too strongly off of your body.
If your picture really is too dark, take another one in better lighting.
