No matter how much you try to convince yourself that appearance is not the only thing, it’s still the first thing you pay attention to when deciding to get to know someone. Only over time do you start to evaluate the behavior, way of communicating, education and personal qualities of the other person. But first — appearance.
It’s surprising that even after realizing this, many users of dating sites and applications do not pay even minimal attention to their photos on those sites. This is a serious mistake. Believe us, a few seconds are enough to understand whether the person in the photo is cute or not, and whether you want to get to know them or give them a pass. Thousands of people are missing excellent chances of a successful and promising acquaintance just because they do not pay enough attention to the photos in their profiles on dating sites.
That is why today we want to consider the topic of choosing and using photos on dating sites and apps. We hope our recommendations will help you.
What you definitely shouldn’t do
Let’s start with the most common mistakes dating site users make when it comes to profile photos.
- Photo with a dead fish
Interesting fact: According to a Hinge survey, over 51% of users find these photos repulsive. At the same time, many users (mostly men) continue to persistently publish such pictures. If you have such photos in your account, we strongly recommend that you delete them now. Even if fishing or hunting is your main hobby, you don’t need to make it the first thing people see. Such a pastime is not to everyone’s liking.
- Photo from a party
Sometimes you really want to upload bright and dynamic photos from a party or nightclub to your profile. But this is not the best idea. Almost certainly your face will not be clearly visible, there will be a lot of random people nearby, and the picture itself will be too overloaded with unnecessary details. Leave these photos for social networks. For dating sites and applications, they will not work. According to the same Hinge survey, only 18% of the effective profiles in this application contain photos from parties.
- Photo in front of the bathroom mirror
Curiously, most users of dating services also do not like such photos. The fact is that it is very difficult to create a really beautiful and interesting picture in the bathroom. Almost always, such photographs end up looking a little strange and very ordinary. They don’t evoke any emotion at all. And if we are talking about overly candid photos, they definitely will not help you find a person for a serious relationship.
- Photo in the gym
Men love to post pictures of themselves from the gym showing off their toned muscles. But in fact, these pictures often give the opposite effect. Firstly, not all girls like pumped-up men. Secondly, a photo from the gym can paint a picture of narcissism and excessive self-confidence in a person. Therefore, we recommend that you leave out such photos. Save them for Instagram.
- Photo with an ex
We think this one should be obvious enough. What is the point of posting a photo with an ex-partner on a dating site? Absolutely none! It looks as strange as can be, and always repels other users on online dating services. If for some reason you have this sort of picture in a dating app, delete them immediately! Also, don’t post photos with a sibling, best friend or girlfriend, etc. In general, the best shot is a single portrait.
- Photos with too strong filters
Today, the trend is towards naturalness and natural beauty. No need to apply dozens of filters and beauty effects to your photos. It only creates unnatural and repulsive results. Of course, there is nothing wrong with correcting the colors in the picture and making the photo more expressive. But only minimally so that your appearance is not distorted. No enlargement of the eyes and lips, reduction of the nose and ears, change of hairstyle or eye color. Be yourself and don’t mislead other people!
What photos should be published, and when can you do without photos at all?
Okay, let’s still figure out which photos are best for a dating site or app. In fact, you have quite a lot of freedom in this regard. But we still want to give some recommendations for your guidance.
- Clear half-length and full-length portraits
Choose a photo where your face is clearly visible. No blurry, dark shots and the like. It’s very important that a random person can assess your appearance as objectively as possible at first glance and understand how attractive you are to them.
- Photos with a slight smile
A serious or frankly gloomy face will not help you. We recommend choosing pictures where you smile. Such photos make a good impression, and show you as an open and sincere person. It makes it easier for a potential partner to decide to write to you first.
- Photo with a pet
A photo with your beloved cat, dog or other pet will most likely attract more attention and endear you to another person. For many, the love of animals is a very good sign. Therefore, do not be surprised if after uploading a couple of such pictures, the number of incoming messages and requests for communication increase markedly.
- Pictures from activities
Many types of activities allow you to take bright and creative pictures — from cycling or running to horseback riding or rock climbing. Photos from such activities can reveal a lot about you. They can help you find like-minded people and make interesting and promising acquaintances.
But what if you don’t have suitable photos? Or you just do not like to be photographed?
Perhaps, in this case, the classic format of dating sites and applications simply do not suit you. In these places, one cannot count on special successes without a profile photo. Of course, there are specific dating services where communication takes place exclusively by voice or video presentations are used instead of profile photos. But such dating formats are very unusual and not suitable for everyone. That’s why we offer another alternative — random video chat!
A classic random video chat is a website or application whose main function is to connect random users via video. Here, users usually do not have profiles. Accordingly, you do not need to fill in account information and upload photos. Meeting and interacting take place online, which is much more convenient and easier for many. One of the first such video chats was Omegle, but it does not offer wide functionality and flexibility in search settings. If you are interested in more promising dating options, we advise you to consider alternatives to Omegle such as Azar, CooMeet and Camsurf. Each such Omegle alternative has its own original features. But they are united by the absence of the need to upload a photo and fill out a profile with information about yourself. This saves time and helps you talk to strangers right away, so try it today!
The right photo is your key to dating success
A photo on the Internet can tell a lot about you. Sometimes that’s for the better, and sometimes it’s not. Sure, you have dozens (if not hundreds or even thousands) of selfies and portraits in your smartphone. But you don’t have to download all of them when using a dating site or app. Quality is more important than quantity — remember that!
The next time you select photos to upload to your dating app, make sure they follow our guidelines. And be sure to look at when they were taken. We do not recommend uploading photos that are already six months old, or a year or more. Your appearance is constantly changing, even if you yourself do not notice it. But another person will see a serious difference between your photo of a year ago and your current appearance. Therefore, update your photos on the internet and make sure that they are up to date.
Oh, and don’t forget the random video chats. Sometimes ten minutes of communication in Omegle or its alternatives is much more effective and more promising than the endless exchange of photos and messages in a Tinder type site. Be sure to explore the video chat format if you haven’t already. You’ll like it!
