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How to Add a Picture to Outlook Email

Adding a picture to your Outlook emails can make them stand out and look more professional. Whether it’s your headshot, company logo, or an image related to the email content, visuals help capture attention.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps for inserting a picture into an Outlook email message on both desktop and mobile.

Why Add Pictures to Emails?

Here are some of the benefits of using images in your Outlook emails:

  • Makes emails more visually appealing: Text-only emails can look boring. Adding photos, illustrations or other graphics makes them more eye-catching.
  • Conveys ideas better: They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Images can communicate concepts more clearly and effectively.
  • Improves open and click rates: Studies show emails with images have higher open and click-through rates compared to plain text.
  • Shows personality: Your profile picture humanizes your messages so they feel less robotic.
  • Branding: A logo or banner image allows you to reinforce brand recognition.

How to Insert a Picture in Outlook Desktop

Adding a photo to an email on the Outlook desktop app is very easy:

  1. Open a new email message
  2. Click on the Insert tab
  3. Click the Pictures icon
  4. Select a picture from your computer to upload
  5. The image will appear in your email body

You can then resize or reposition the graphic if needed before sending.

Here are some tips when working with pictures:

  • For best compatibility, use common image formats like JPG, PNG or GIF.
  • Keep images less than 1 MB in size if possible. Larger files may get blocked.
  • Make sure the important elements fit inside 600×800 pixel dimensions.
  • Use high resolution photos so they don’t look pixelated or blurry.

Adding a Picture on Mobile

If you use Outlook mobile for iOS or Android, attaching a photo works a bit differently:

  1. Tap the attachment icon (paperclip symbol)
  2. Select Photo Library
  3. Choose a picture to insert
  4. The image appears as an attachment thumbnail

To display the photo in the body content rather than just the attachments:

  1. Long press the thumbnail
  2. Tap Insert Inline
  3. Position the photo where desired

The same tips apply regarding image file size and resolution for mobile. Test that the picture looks clear on both desktop and mobile screens.

Using Your Profile Photo

In addition to adding pictures for individual emails, you can also set a default profile photo for your Outlook account. This acts as your personal headshot.

To add or change it:

  1. Open Outlook and click your account icon > View Account
  2. Click your existing icon
  3. Select Change Picture
  4. Choose a photo from your device
  5. Click Save

Now whenever you send emails in Outlook, your profile photo will appear alongside the messages.

Having an attractive, high-quality headshot makes your communications all the more genuine and engaging.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Adding visuals to your Outlook emails is a great way make them more appealing and effective. Experiment with photos, illustrations, logos, or graphics that fit the message.

Just be sure any images are optimized for size and resolution to prevent delivery issues. With the right balance of text and pictures, your email results are sure to improve.

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