Hi @bluehoodie ,
I've made a similar test and not met the same problem like your description.
Text column in sharepoint could be used as email id in this paramater.
I think the key point is the connector's name.
This connect has been renamed to Office365Users instead of Microsoft365Users.
So please set the image's Image to:
Office365Users.UserPhotoV2(ThisItem.userEmail)

What's more, please check whether you store the right email id in your sharepoint list, which exists in your talent.
You could use a label inside the gallery to check whether this email id is in your talent.
set the label's Text:
Office365Users.UserProfile(ThisItem.userEmail).Id
If it has data, then this email id is in your talent.
If it display as blank, then this email id is not in your talent.
Best regards,