Picture Perfect:  Make Your Photo Work For You

A good picture is a very important part of your online dating profile.  It gives others the chance to connect a face with the personality that emerges from your profile, and is your chance to let others see the real you.

A quick review of any online dating site will reveal a wide array of pictures, from professional portraits to casual vacation pictures to shots that are more seductive than anything else.  What kind of picture are you going to use for your online profile?

Keep it recent

While it may be tempting to post an older picture of yourself, perhaps one from a time when you were thinner or younger or such, it is always better to post a more recent photo.  It is more honest to do so (after all, eventually you will be found out when you meet face to face with someone) and also helps ensure that the people who contact you are really interested in you as you are right now.

If you do not have a good recent picture, it is relatively easy to get one.  If you have a digital or regular camera use the timer setting to take pictures of yourself until you get one you like, or ask a trusted friend to help out.  If you do not have a camera see if you can borrow one from someone, or buy one of the many reasonably priced disposable cameras on the market.

How to select a great picture

Whenever possible, use a picture that was taken outside in natural light.  Natural light tends to be the most flattering and also avoids the dreaded “red eye” effect that is common with flash photography taken indoors or in poor lighting.

Select a picture that shows you smiling or with a pleasant look on your face.  It should be a shot that is close up enough that your face and upper body occupy most of the photo.  If you have a good picture of you engaging in a favorite hobby or activity feel free to use it, but if it is not particularly close up then save it for the additional photos in your profile, not the thumbnail that appears at the beginning.

Use a picture with just you in it so that people looking at your profile will not be distracted by other people in the photo.  If you decide to crop a digital photo to remove other people, make sure you crop it so that no trace of the others remains in the final version.

Things to avoid

Avoid using a picture that shows you in an unflattering position or situation, and definitely avoid any picture that appears seductive, suggestive or in any way inappropriate.  If you have children do not use a photo with them in it.  Pets are okay to include, as long as the picture focuses primarily on you.

Never Photoshop or alter an electronic picture to enhance the way you look.  Removing red eye or other photographic flaws is okay, but changing your skin tone, reducing or enlarging the size of body parts, or changing the shape of body parts are not acceptable.

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