TikTok PFP Ideas: What Does Your Picture Say About You?

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Apr 08, 2024

TikTok Tips

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You can quickly decide if a content creator or brand is right up your alley based on their profile picture or PFP. What do you do when you check out their page and find out that their PFP was inaccurate or misleading? You might feel disappointed or even scammed. You don’t want to make the same mistake with your PFP. Discover TikTok PFP ideas that will help you create a good and correct first impression.

A man sports an open-mouthed smile for his TikTok PFP.

What’s a Good PFP for TikTok?

How do you pick a good PFP for TikTok? Generally speaking, a good profile picture is one that makes a strong, if not lasting, impact on viewers. The type of page you have also determines what will make a good profile photo to represent it. 

If you’re an influencer, for example, a headshot or full-body shot is usually a good choice. For content creators, a photo that shows off your skills or represents what you do is ideal. Brands can effectively promote brand awareness when they use their logos. 

Follow these eight tips to come up with great PFP ideas for TikTok:

  1. If your picture will feature yourself, focus on your face. 
  2. Turn towards the light. Your light source should be in front of you or the photo’s main subject. Try various photo editing tricks to correct your light exposure or achieve a certain lighting effect. 
  3. Go for asymmetry. Place the main subject of the photo slightly off-center vertically. 
  4. Upload the right image size. On TikTok, the ideal size is 200 x 200 pixels. Set your image to these TikTok dimensions when taking a shot or using photo editing apps. 
  5. Take note of TikTok’s circular frame. Be mindful of your PFP’s composition to ensure no important elements get cropped out by the circular frame. 
  6. Think of the impression or narrative you want to make. Do you want people to see you as competent, friendly, fun, or likable? Use lines, colors, textures, and shapes to create your desired narrative or mood. 
  7. Make sure your photo authentically represents your identity or brand. People who are not familiar with you should immediately understand who you are, what you represent, or what you offer. Your PFP should also represent your niche/industry. 
  8. Use a picture that’s different from everybody else’s in your niche. 

Best PFP for TikTok When Using a Photo of Yourself

People do make split-second judgments about those they meet based on their looks. The practice of judging a book by its cover is even truer on social media. The good news is that you can create the impression you want by choosing the right photo for your profile page. A photo that influences your audience and helps you gain followers makes the best PFP for your TikTok page.

According to research, the best TikTok profile picture ideas featuring people’s faces have the following seven characteristics: 

  1. An open smile. Smile with your teeth if you want to appear approachable, friendly, likable, or helpful. 
  2. An angle that draws attention to the jawline. A photo with a shadow that outlines the jawline improves likeability and makes you look highly capable. 
  3. Slightly squinting eyes. Wide eyes may make you look anxious, unsure, or scared. A slight squint gives you a more pleasant and relaxed appearance. You also shouldn’t cover your eyes with sunglasses or your hair or put them under shadow with a hat.
  4. Eyes that look straight at the camera. This helps you make an instant connection with viewers. 
  5. A head-and-shoulders or half-body shot. Compared to a headshot or close-up, a photo that just bares your shoulders or upper body communicates approachability and openness. A full-body shot may look too informal and diminish the competence you want to project. 
  6. Dark-colored suits with light-colored button-down shirts. Sport a professional outfit in this color combination to look competent, confident, and authoritative.
  7. A background that makes your image pop. A solid color, whether neutral or vibrant, is usually a good choice. Your background should not be distracting. 

A person is silhouetted against the bright stars of the Milky Way at night.

Cool TikTok PFP Ideas

Cool Tik Tok profile picture ideas make viewers say, “Wow!” or “That’s lit!” They certainly make users stop scrolling and tap on the profile photo to check out the page. Check out these cool TikTok PFP ideas:

  • Use an action shot. Capture a movement or activity that illustrates drama or something thrilling. A surfer catching a big wave is an excellent example. 
  • Highlight nature’s beauty. Use stunning macro photography or a breathtaking wide shot. This is a great idea if you’re a photographer, traveler, or adventurer. 
  • Feature a beautiful destination. Invite people to share your experiences with striking location photography. 
  • Use a transparent profile picture. A transparent PFP simply removes the background so people can watch a video through the picture.
  • Show off your skill. Use an image that features your best creation or showcases your talent. 

Need more inspo? Search for #coolPFP on TikTok!

A ballet dancer appears in a blur against a black background.

Ideas for a Cute TikTok PFP 

Type “cute pictures” in your favorite search engine, and you’ll get a deluge of adorable animals and cartoon characters. What’s cute for one person is usually cute for everyone else. Using a cute TikTok PFP almost always makes people want to see more cuteness. Get ready to say “Aww!” with these cute profile picture ideas for TikTok

  • A photo of your pet. Cute animal pics are hard to resist. Featuring your furry BFF in your PFP is a great option if they also feature in a lot of your videos.
  • Use a cartoon character or turn yourself into one. There are tons of editing apps for TikTok that can transform an ordinary selfie into an adorable cartoon. Anime characters are especially “Kawaii!”
  • Capture yourself doing something silly. Show people that you don’t take life too seriously. Dance like nobody’s watching. Better yet, do it in the rain. 
  • Make a cute face. Practice different cute faces in the mirror. Look through stock images or search for #cute on TikTok to find inspo. 
  • Add cute elements to your photo. Use TikTok’s effects and filters to add some cuteness factor to your PFP. 

A woman raises her arms above her head, makes two peace signs, and sticks her tongue out for her TikTok profile pic.

Capture the Right Audience With Your TikTok PFP

Aesthetic pictures, unique shots, and breathtaking vistas almost always make people stop and look more closely. TikTok PFPs are small and fairly inconspicuous when they appear alongside videos on feeds. This means you need something truly eye-catching to make people look, tap, and visit your page. 

Your profile photo is one of the tools you can use to drive traffic to your page. It’s also the first thing people check out when they discover you for the first time through one of your posts. Those who are not familiar with you often draw conclusions about your identity and what you offer from your PFP. Your profile picture is your primary means of self-introduction on TikTok and other social platforms. 

Need a new profile image that converts? Check out pages similar to you both on TikTok and other social channels to explore TikTok PFP ideas. A good profile photo will help you stand out among the sea of faces on the extremely popular platform. If you need help developing a strategy that puts you on the fast track to TikTok growth, sign up for a High Social plan. 

Leverage High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology to connect with interested viewers you can instantly convert into followers. Double your audience-targeting capability with an intelligent solution that works perfectly alongside TikTok’s algorithm. Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok Tips