Directory Headshot Requirements & Guidance

To standardize headshots across USU directory profiles, allowing easier sharing between programs, departments, and centers, we provide this helpful guidance on best practices and practical implementation.

Size & Ratio

headshot 3x3 grid with guide lines

The size and ratio requirement for USU profile headshots are as follows:

  • Size = 400x400 pixels, 500KB maximum is recommended for web optimization
  • Ratio = 1:1

Headshot Best Practice

The general rule of thumb is to align the face within the center square of a 3x3 grid (see example image provided by QCNR). You place the eyebrows along or right below the upper line, and the upper jaw or side of the face along the left and right lines. The lower line usually falls around the chin.

Thanks to our colleagues in QCNR, shoutout to Miranda Lorenc, you can use the downloadable template they've created in PhotoShop to assist you in making photo adjustments.

While every face is proportionally different, these guidelines will help you create a consistent look and feel for all your headshots across not only your site, but across USU.

File Naming

To ensure consistency across sites, we strongly recommend naming your photos last-first. If you have someone with a common name or someone who shares a name with someone else, you would use last-first-mi.