A faculty directory benefits from a straightforward head-and-shoulders portrait. Keep eyes visible and the background quiet so students can recognize you before the first meeting.
Books and campus details can establish a setting, but avoid invented titles, institution logos or laboratory equipment that suggest credentials or work you do not have.
A situation you may recognize
Students will see the photo in a directory before meeting you.
Use your current glasses and hairstyle, with a familiar expression. Check the result at directory size, then ask whether someone could recognize you at the classroom door. A convincing scholarly setting cannot compensate for a changed face.
Find the directory’s face-size example and whether the photo will also appear on student materials. Avoid readable student names in the source.
02
Make the first version
Open the educator scene and compare a simple portrait with the more contextual author example. Put both in the directory tile. Prefer the image where students can recognize the eyes and expression, then check the collar, glasses and any background text.
03
Choose the next move
A quiet background supports a staff list; a real classroom may support an interview. The setting should fit the use without suggesting unverified titles or facilities.
Try this before committing
Check both the staff directory and the course page. A face-only circle may work in the directory, while a wider portrait fits an introduction. Leave badges and institution names out unless they are accurate and approved for use.
Look at the directory format before the clothing. An academic biography and a student-facing class page may use different crops of one portrait. Prefer a current recognizable face over visual props that attempt to explain the subject you teach.
Should I keep glasses in the photo?
If students usually see you wearing them, clear glasses can support recognition. Retake the source with softer light if reflections hide the eyes. Removing a familiar feature simply to make the result more polished can work against the directory’s purpose.