Dating profile photos\u2014a phrase that usually elicits a collective sigh from all single people in earshot. We all know that photos are the most important element of a successful online dating profile, yet we still leave our profiles feeling like we could\u2019ve done better. If you\u2019re looking for ways to improve your profile photos, this guide won\u2019t have you strutting your stuff on the next season of America\u2019s Next Top Model, but, at the cost of a little extra effort, it\u2019ll help anyone take flattering, attractive photos that get noticed by more people on online dating apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People are visual creatures. We all know a good photo when we see one, even if we can\u2019t place a finger on just what makes it so appealing. Nobody\u2019s asking you to be the next Ansel Adams\u2014you\u2019re shooting for a dating profile\u2014but knowing some photography basics can go a long way in improving your online dating game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few small components that can improve your photos dramatically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Smiling<\/strong> 2. Framing<\/strong> 3. Lighting<\/strong> If you\u2019re like me, you probably just took a few selfies and called it a day. Unfortunately, six selfies against your kitchen wall will get old pretty quick. Now that we know the qualities that make a good photo from a technical standpoint, we need to spice them up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add photos of yourself doing things you love.<\/strong> Vacation photos are always a good idea.<\/strong> Use group photos sparingly.<\/strong> Balance it out.<\/strong> Once you\u2019ve settled on a few photos, you\u2019re almost on your way. Here are a couple extra tips to help you optimize your efforts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Your first photo is the most important and should always be your most photogenic. Make sure you\u2019re wearing your best smile for this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Always have at least one full-body shot. Having two or three good shots is probably best, but Zoosk data shows that profiles with at least one body shot get over twice as many incoming messages. Physical attraction is an important quality for many in deciding who they would date, so don\u2019t hide who you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Make sure your clothes fit well and are location appropriate. Nothing says staged photo like designer jeans on a beach towel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. More photos are a good thing. Some apps and services allow up to twenty photos, but our data suggests that having at least five photos will have you getting more messages and longer conversations. Don\u2019t skimp on the number!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. If you don\u2019t have good photos on hand, don\u2019t hesitate to grab a friend, pack a few outfits, and go out on a shoot. Lunch on you. If you don\u2019t pose for photos often, modeling can be difficult. Using props is a good way to add to the fun factor of a photo and the shoot. Props can be anything from a book to a cup of coffee, anything to keep your hands out of your pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, that\u2019s about it. It may sound like a lot and it is. But putting a little more effort into your photos may be the best way to bump your chances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Knowing some basics can go a long way in improving your online dating game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":162,"featured_media":17039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[888,890],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-dating","category-online-dating-profile-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nFirst, in every photo the subject should be you smiling. Photo data from the online dating site and app Zoosk, shows that people smiling receive almost four times as many messages and those who don\u2019t. If you think you\u2019re less attractive smiling, then take our word for it: you\u2019re not. Ok, so you may be thinking that people can tell when a smile is canned for a photo. You\u2019re right. So how do you get around that? The key is to smile with your eyes. Crinkled eyes are the main way people can tell a genuine smile from a fake. So just take a moment to remember that time your best friend spilled spaghetti all down their white shirt before you say cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nNext, I want to touch on framing, or what\u2019s in the shot. Are you in the stands at a football game with 10,000 other spectators, or is it a selfie with your hair cropped out? Framing determines not only what makes it into the shot, but what our eyes are drawn to. The Rule of Thirds is a quick photography technique to help you with your framing. Take your photo frame and draw two lines lengthwise and heightwise, cutting the frame into thirds each way. There should be four intersections where the length lines and height lines meet. This is where our eyes tend to focus in a photo. Make sure that your face hits these focal points in your photos. That\u2019s the basics of the Rule of Thirds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nLastly, let\u2019s talk briefly about lighting and resolution. When taking dating photos, you want to make sure that the light is bright enough to let us see the details of your photo, but not so bright that we\u2019re blinded. If the shot is a little too bright, you can usually apply a filter from your phone to dim the brightness. With photos that are too dark, fixes aren\u2019t so easy. Resolution is pretty simple\u2014just make sure your photos are high quality and in focus. These days, even lower end smartphones can snap very nice photos, so there\u2019s no excuse for grainy specks floating around!<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to Make a Photo Interesting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nA dating profile is an opportunity for other daters to get a feel for your personality, so let them! Start by including some photos that show off your interests. Whether you\u2019re hiking Half Dome or jumping 10 stairs on a skateboard, action shots make for more interesting photos than you tucked behind the desk of your home office. Hobbies and interests can serve as common ground to get you and other daters talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nHave any beachside memories from your last Hawaii trip? Don\u2019t hesitate to throw a photo of onto your profile. Zoosk data shows that vacation photos net profiles way more messages. Colorful and exotic locations are a good way to draw in the eyes of daters that would otherwise wander to other profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nNext up: group photos. OK, this is a controversial one. If you\u2019ve dated online before, you\u2019ve probably come across a photo of 32 people that reads, \u201cI\u2019m the one in the middle.\u201d If someone has to spend time to identify who in the photo the profile belongs to, chances are, they\u2019ll move onto the next profile. I usually like to use a group shot as one of my last photos, because it can show me having fun with friends at a party or event in the way reading at a coffee shop can\u2019t. Still, if you have any doubts, leave out the group shots. Definitely not required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nYou\u2019re profile should tell a cohesive story through your photos, not a life history. Picking photos is a balancing act of showing who you are and showing off how you look. Your profile doesn\u2019t need to prompt a proposal. If you\u2019re not sure what vibe you should be going for, it should always be two words: attractive and interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\nProfile Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n