Fashion

How Much Would You Spend On Your Facebook Pic?

by Samantha Matthews

July 15, 2014

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A selfie is worth a thousand words. Especially now, when it's more common to get hired because of a funny tweet than your résumé. I'm exaggerating a bit, but it's still no surprise that people are going to great lengths to ensure that their social media profile pics get them noticed. But how much money would you spend on your default photo? According to The New York Times, Gina DeeVee, a 41-year-old success coach from Montecito, California, paid a photographer $3,500 to take magazine-worthy photos for her professional website, Facebook, and Twitter profiles. DeeVee told The New York Times that the goal of the shoot was to create "personal brand buzz." But I have to wonder, is this "personal brand buzz" really worth thousands of dollars? Apparently, DeeVee thinks so.

Okay, so this professional self-promotion I can get on board with, but it seems as though people are spending a pretty penny on these photo shoots for things other than "personal brand buzz" as well. Spa-owner Amy Wall used her expensive photos for her personal social media following and not for business reasons at all. "I leak one out [on Facebook] every couple of months, so I can get a little bit of attention at regular intervals," she explained to Cosmopolitan. Oh! Okay. That sounds healthy.

Don't get me wrong — I am all for a great profile picture, but my professional head shots that I use now were completely free and I don't think they're terrible. Thinking of splurging on your next IG photo? Before you do, here are seven things that cost less than $3,500 to spend on instead. After all, the iPhone camera is pretty high res at this point.

1. A Tropical Getaway

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I mean, I know I would rather spend a few thousand dollars on a vacation to a tropical destination than on a professional photo shoot. Plus, I think this scenery could be the perfect backdrop for an absolutely awesome selfie.

2. A Professional Makeover

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You can get your hair and makeup professionally done sans the photo shoot for a lot less than $1,000. High school girls get their hair and makeup done for proms all the time and they definitely aren't dishing out that much dough. So with your hair and makeup professionally done, what's stopping you from taking your own selfie?

3. An Airbrush Tan

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Now I don't know about you, but I always feel I look better with a nice bronze glow to my skin. Airbrush tans will cost you less than $100 and will give you a sun-kissed glow instantly. Plus, as long as you go to a salon that you know won't turn you orange, you'll be pleasantly pleased with the end result and be snapping selfies right away.