Professional photographer Charlie Grosso also says that you should never include a photo with more than four people in it. “This isn’t a police line-up. A prospective date shouldn’t have to work so hard to figure out which one they are.”
Let your pictures do the talking about the person you are
Blaine says that along with images that make clear what you look like, it’s important to have “at least three” photos that showcase your hobbies and lifestyle. “If you like travelling, or playing tennis, include photos that show you doing those things,” she says. “Whatever you’re doing, you want to come across as fun and open and someone who would be pleasant to spend time with.”
Professional Tinder photographer Jordan Shields suggests choosing photos where you’re doing activities “that perhaps the other person could see themselves doing with you..”
Grosso agrees, but says to make sure you don’t fall into Tinder tropes. “The men want to be seen as fun, fit, well-travelled, established, etc. That translates into pictures of them on the ski slopes, Machu Picchu, fishing, at weddings in a giant group shot, out with friends drinking,” she explains. “It’s so generic that it doesn’t stand out. After all, who doesn’t like good food and travelling to exotic locations? None of these images offer an entry point for conversation.”
“A killer dating photo doesn’t just show people what you look like, it tells them what you’re made of,” adds Nelson. “If you’re smart, you can use your photos to tell people more about who you are rather than writing it in the bio. No one reads bios, you know that."
Outfits and grooming are key
Keep shirtless pics to a minimum, says Grosso, if you feature any at all. “Don’t post too many selfies, otherwise you come across as narcissistic” adds Shields.
In terms of clothing and styling, Nelson recommends colour. If you don’t like wearing colour, she suggests finding a backdrop that provides an injection of it. Also, no sunglasses – eyes are the window into the soul, after all.
“Do wear new or clean clothes,” suggests Shields, and make sure your grooming is up to snuff too. “Neaten up your beard or facial hair, or go clean-shaven,” he says.
Backgrounds
“Messy backgrounds are distracting and unattractive. You’ll lose people’s attention fast,” says Nelson. Instead, choose a colourful simple background or something that says something about you. “Its role is just to showcase you.” Grosso suggests opting for “a clean frame, no distractions and strange objects”.
Use photos that show what you look like now
“Photos need to look like what you currently look like,” says Blaine. “So if they're two or three years old, but you literally look the same, you have the same haircut – that's OK. But if they're even six months old, but you look dramatically different, you've gained or lost a lot of weight, or you have a beard now, and you didn't then – you need to get new photos.”
