7 photo basics to get right on a dating site

There was a time when trying to find a life partner was a challenge. We were confined to the people we meet at our workplace and our social circle. It feels extremely challenging to meet new people who are not already part of these two social circles.

Thanks to the Internet and mobile devices, these two technologies have greatly expanded our ability to connect with people beyond our immediate circles. There is now a wide range of websites and mobile apps that facilitate meeting new people and expanding our social networks beyond traditional boundaries.

A good profile picture is one critical success factor in finding a date on such sites and apps. Despite what some might say, we are all visual creatures, and a picture indeed paints a thousand words. No one fancies going out on a blind date; it can be stressful.

An eye-catching picture would definitely motivate someone to like your profile and send you a message.

Some apps like Tinder understand the power of a good pic to the point they make the profile pic a dominating feature of their application, with lines of text playing second fiddle to the image (i.e., you can hardly see the text unless you scroll them up).

Thus, having a good profile picture is paramount to online dating success. To help you achieve this success, we have some photo tips to get you started on the right foot.

#1 Clear headshot

It is important to have at least one single clear headshot. This gives your audience an idea of your facial features. Is it something that resonates with them?

#2 Smile

A smile can light up our faces and warm hearts. It can bridge gaps too. Our smiles are one of our most attractive features. It makes us look more friendly and approachable. They can influence someone to write you that life-changing message to you. So you want to include a picture of yourself smiling when setting up your profile.

When smiling, give a full smile rather than a reluctant smile.

Conversely, a grumpy, unhappy face is not going to help anyone. So you want to ditch and not post any such images of yourself.

#3 Full body pic

Besides a picture of your face, the next thing a person would want to look at is your whole being. They would like to see how tall you are, what your physique is, etc. This is some basic information everyone would like to know before investing the time and effort to get to know a person.

So put your best foot forward and take the best picture of yourself.

#4 Lifestyle pic

A lifestyle picture of you is okay to include, as it shows who you are and what you enjoy doing. 

If you like painting, an image of you painting a picture is okay to include. If you are into cycling, then it is okay to include your cycling or even fixing your bike. 

These images will give your audience some idea of the type of person you are and the things you like to do.

#5 No group shot

One of the most frustrating photos is a group shot, especially with someone of the same sex. Your audience has to use some brain matter to determine which of them you are. This can work against you as it demonstrates you as a person with a lack of confidence.

#6 No meaningless images

One of the worst things to include is meaningless images. Images of food, parts of your body and scenery do not convey anything about you.

Post only pics that are meaningful and you have a story to tell.

#7 A quotation

If you need a good filler, a meaningful quote or two that resonates with you can be useful. This can help others understand you a little better. They are better and more helpful to what you want to achieve than posting images of food or scenery pics that do not tell your audience much about you.

An alternative to a quote is a book that you have found interesting. This could be a conversation starter about a beautiful love story.

Conclusion