10 Do’s and Don’ts for Picking Your Online Dating Profile Picture
When it comes to online dating, you can put as much time as you like into your profile. You can post great quotes and talk about how much money you make at your amazing job. You can describe yourself as an adventurer, an Italian Stallion, a great cook, or a truly nice person just looking for love.
You might get allotted 1,000 words for your “About Me” section — but considering that’s how much a picture is worth, you might want to put your effort into choosing the best one.
When it comes to an online dating profile, the picture is the pièce de résistance. It’s the first thing people click on. Shallow? Maybe, but a physical connection is at least as important as the last thing you read. With so much importance placed on the photo, it’s really a shame that so many people choose the wrong ones. Here are some ways to pick your pic:
DO choose a recent picture. Sure you want to look your best, but you should look the best you can from now – not your senior year of high school. Whether you cut and dyed your hair, shaved your beard, or are significantly tanner, live in the moment when it comes to your headshot.
DON’T misrepresent your body type. If you feel self-conscious about your weight and height, that’s perfectly understandable. But you’ll feel even more aware of it if you show up at your first date and you both know that you’re four inches shorter and 40 pounds heavier than you claimed to be. If you had to have a perfect body to get a date, you’d never see a short man with a tall woman, or that couple who looks like a bowling pin and a bowling ball. A ten pound fluctuation in your picture is fine; anything more than that, and it’s time to whip out the digital camera for a new shot.
DO make peace with being bald. Many women find it sexy! But wearing a hat in every picture and sporting a cue ball to dinner is a no-no.
DON’T post pictures of yourself with the opposite sex. Who is that person? Your brother? Your ex? It doesn’t matter. And really, unless you’re looking for a baby daddy, leave kids out of the picture. God invented the “crop” tool for a reason.
DO drink responsibly. A beer in your hand says, “I know how to have fun,” but a fifth in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other sends quite a different message.
DON’T post multiple pictures of yourself as a bridesmaid. Giving the impression that all your friends are getting married might scare a date off.
DO choose pictures that show your face close up. Your potential dates shouldn’t have to squint at the screen just to determine if you have good teeth or a beard. A wide shot of you in front of the Coliseum is nice, but your sunglasses and hat render it useless.
DON’T pose for cheesy pictures specifically for your online dating profile. This includes digital shots you took of yourself in the mirror as well as low-budget “Glamour Shots.” And unless you’re on the beach, we don’t need to see you in a swimsuit. The best pictures are natural, doing something you like, with a few other people who you love (but cropped out).
DO post pictures of you. Not of your dog. Not of a mountain you want to climb. Not of your car. They should teach this in “How Not to be a Douche 101,” but unfortunately they don’t.
DO remember that honesty is the best policy. Your date will be more turned off by the fact that you lied about your appearance than any “flaw” you see in yourself.
Related posts:
- How to Represent Yourself Honestly Online
- Shorter, Fatter, Balder: Men’s misleading online profiles
- Why Girls Don’t Write Back
Comment below: What’s the worst online dating pic you’ve seen?
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pictures wearing sunglasses is another one to avoid. Everyone looks hot while wearing sunglasses
HAHAHA this is a great article.
1) Every pic is of you with a group. Can’t you be an individual? Do you need others around to make you feel whole? Be strong enough to stand on your own.
2) Pics of vacation spots w/o you in it. This tells me that you’re looking for ME to take you there. Great if you have wanderlust and we’ll eventually vacation together, NOT great if you expect me to be your sugar daddy and take you to your dream destinations.
3) Guys – pics of you without a shirt on. Even if you’re in great shape, women are laughing at what a douche you are. If you’re in good shape, they’ll see it even if you’re wearing a shirt or a sweater ~ you don’t need to be obvious.
4) Gals – pics of you w/o a smile. This is supposed to be your best foot forward; a great first impression if you will. If you can’t smile that tells me that you’re either miserable, or difficult.
5) Gals #2 – pics of you with your mother. Unless mom is a sophisticated, but aging super-model, I don’t want to picture you when you’re old. Let’s get past the first date first before I can consider you and your wrinkles.
6) Dark or low-res photos. Come on, that cell phone pic isn’t going to cut it.
7) Not ENOUGH photos. Are you telling me you only have ONE photo of yourself? REALLY? What are you hiding?
10) Too many photos of yourself. Don’t be a narcissist.
I know I skipped 8 and 9, but I ran out of items for my top 10 list.
OH AND WOMEN – who doesn’t LOVE to laugh?
My friend and I discovered that most (if not all) women’s profiles states that she LOOOOVVVVEEES to laugh. It has become a funny joke betwixt us. Check it out, some even use it as their profile by-line or screen name. HAHAHAHAHAHHA, excellent. WHO DOESN’T LOVE TO LAUGH? Me? I HATE to laugh, unless it’s over really bad profiles. :)
Happy Matching!
Thanks Charlie, those are some great additions!
What really truly troubles me about this whole arcticle…other than the fact that “Charlie” goes on and on about his version of D&D about photos WITHOUT showing one of his own…is that this whole arcticle is almost a year old.
Also, if you are female, when asked to describe your body type, and given the choices, say that you are “average” when you are 5’2″ and 190 lbs. Just because America is the most obese country in the world does not change the fact that you are fat.
Also, you ladies that are of average female height (5’0″-5’4″), stop asking for guys to be 6’4″ and above. It ain’t gonna happen, so even though you may be cute, you’ll get no response from the 5’9″ guys who actually might be compatible with you. You’re on a dating site. Stop being so picky.
GIve me a break. Instead of focusing on the “dont’s. why not focus on the do’s? It would help people a lot more.
Patrick, I am 5’2″ and 180 lbs. If someone had the gall to call me fat to my face I would likely punch them. I may be a little overweight, but I am sexy. I can still go to the club and get the number of ANY man or woman I want. The fact is, I date confidently. I don’t doctor pictures on the internet in hopes that someone will love me. As it is now, I have been married for over 2 years to a man who is 6’5″ who loves the fact that I’m short. So don’t give advise where none is needed. Thanks.
I want to be as honest as possible from the start.
I’m short, fat, and ugly. Let’s date.
I agree with the no bridesmaid pics thing, but for a different reason. I’ve found that if a woman is wearing an elegant satin dress in her only pic, it’s probably also the only time she’s ever worn a dress. Get ready for her to show up to your date in jeans and a hoodie. Every time. Anyone else notice this?
Women from 4′-10″ to 5′-2″; stop stating “no one under 5′-10″. You come up to their belt buckle. Women and their “bigger is better” thingy is way out of hand. Also..when meeting a guy for the first time, DON’T tell him your disappointed in his height..when you KNEW his height. Also..don’t feel offended then..if he tells you your butts too big..or boobs are too small. It’s all inches..even if women have a hard time with that one.
Women; if your trying to draw attention to your intelligence and academic accomplishments, stop displaying your accredited MBA’s (also known as..Mega Bra-less assets). That’s unless..you have a theater or art major..find yourself in the unemployment line, and are hoping someone from Playboy sees your desirables.
Both genders; learn to spell..and how to type in complete sentences? If it doesn’t matter in your profile..what else doesn’t matter?
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is when someone lies about their age. Nothing is more than a big turn off when a women says she’s in her 30′s in her profile when it’s obvious she’s in her 40′s by looking at her picture. Another major turn off is. I also hate it when women post pictures of their dogs or cats in a profile. I’m online to find a date with you, not your pet!
“Do’s” and “Don’ts”? Really? You write for a living?
Right, it is for some low level fluff article. I guess that is right.
Gentlemen, so many don’ts. We need more do’s.What do you want ? Where and how would you like to see us ?
A bad photo is better then none, like every 4th or 5th one seem to be.
i think this is great don’t get me wrong and i even agree that picture of the person and only the person are nice, but the part about cropping your kids out i think its bull**** i think that if a guy(or girl) wants to date a girl (or guy) and the girl (or guy) has a kid the they should know it from the start and what better way then in the pic i am a single mom of a wonderful 4 year old boy and if a guy wants to date me hes got to be cool with my kid to or its a complete waste of my time so id rather put a pic of me and my kid that way they see it and dont like it they can move the hell on and not even bother me. and i think its great if a guy has a pic of them and their kid up if they have one it shows they are good fathers so i think that dont is f***ked up personally.
I wish guys would pay attention to the backgrounds of their photos! It says so much more about them than any words!! Piles of clothes on the floor, unmade beds, hideous collections on multiple shelves, pics taken in the bathroom or spare room?!! Saying you’re single & a raft of framed photos behind you of your wedding day!! You can tell immediately if a guy lives alone or not by the decor!! My personal favourites are those of guys with their big catch!! Me man catch fish! You woman cook!! Lol!! I’ve only just found this site & I wish I’d found it a year ago when I started out!! Thankyou for the meet early advice. Going to do that today!!!
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I’ll post whatever i want in my profile pics. It’s not like i’ll be naked in them, ffs.
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