How do you put pictures next to contacts in messages?

I was having the same problem... I just figured it out.... for this to work you need to have the persons phone number in your contacts as iPhone rather than mobile. Once I changed changed the drop down to say iPhone my daughters picture started showing up in Messages. I hope this helps!

PIctures next to contacts only show up in a group conversation, not an individual conversation.

Open Contacts app

Choose a contact you know you have a photo of on your device.

Choose Edit.

Tap on add photo circle.

How do you change the drop down to iPhone from mobile?

bobbyco57 just told you. Once you add a picture to your contact; then that picture for that contact will show up in iMessages when you txt to that contact.

http://ios9news.net/ios-contact-photos-in-messages-app/