Once you add a photo, the persona is no longer an abstract character. More importantly, the photo becomes the most engaging part of your persona — it can change your team's attitude from "okay, whatever" to feeling more empathy and even compassion toward your users.^[1]

Make an effort to search for a realistic photo that reflects the personality of your users or illustrates the environment in which people use your product. To find the right image, try to answer these questions:

• Are your users at home or work?

• Are they alone or with someone like kids or spouses?

• Do they get along with new technologies or feel intimidated by them?

• What personalities, hobbies, and interests do they have that might influence their looks?

Keep yourself from falling into the trap of stock images that show flawless people in a perfect environment. Also, avoid using photos of your colleagues, friends, or relatives, even if they represent the target audience. Otherwise, you risk presenting a biased view of that persona.