How is it possible that I'm still talking about the need to post good dating profile photos. This post is totally apropos as I recently updated the pictures on my business website, Catherine Coaches.
My personal story is that, as a business owner, I feel the need for people to take me, my business, and what I do seriously. Accordingly, I had a bunch of professional head shots done for the launch of my website. They were definitely professional. The problem was is that they didn't really convey my personality, and I wasn't keen on changing them because of the money I had spent on them. One of my friends mentioned to me a couple of times that a few of those "professional" photos looked like I was holding some tension in my face. As much as I would love to deny it, it was true!
When it comes to photographs, I am someone for whom many people have told me "you look much better in person." I've stopped counting the number of individuals who have said this. Perhaps one reason I am not so photogenic is because of my mixed ethnicity. I feel like, when I smile in photos, my half-Japanese eyes become very chinky. And yes, I really just used that word. In other words, when I smile, my asian-ness comes out in full force. Years ago I was a child model. A model who never smiled in any of the pictures, that is. When I looked at some of the photos my parents still still had in their possession I had to laugh because I look so serious.
So what do you do when someone tells you that new photos are in order?
Well, if you are me, you put on your big girl panties and set up a tripod and camera. It was uncomfortable, it made me sweat (but then again, almost anything does), but I got through it. In fact, in about 1 hour I got several pictures that I am actually ok with.
The picture where I looked tense was this one:
So my big take away is that people want a smiley Catherine.
But how does this apply to you?
I've recently seen some really, truly awful dating profiles. The problem usually lies with people not looking at all like who they are. More importantly, the pictures don't show the person's personality. Sometimes I will get push back from people who are not ready to change their dating profile photos. They say that they are getting plenty of dates, which I totally believe is the case. But you have to admit that it is hard to fight with my logic when I say that a better quality of photographs will lead to better qualities of dates.
My specific suggestions to crafting some kick ass dating profile photos are:
- Get feedback on your current dating profile photos
- Practice smiling in the mirror
- Wear something you feel comfortable in & something that isn't too "busy"
- Invest in a cheap tripod (if you don't already have one) or borrow one from a friend
- Set up your photo on auto-timer and click away
- Change your top or jewelry after a bunch of shots
- Pick the pictures that you are immediately drawn to, edit them appropriately, and post those suckers
Things you DON'T want in a dating profile picture are:
- You in a group. Seriously, who needs the competition?
- You with your underage children...think about it
- You being so far away that you look like a tiny ant
- Not smiling in any of the photos
- Not showing your figure in any of the photos
Remember that your goal is to capture bits of your personality in dating profile photos. If you have a head shot from work, go ahead and use it (but I recommend that it's not your primary photo).
Remember that I ocassionally blog and post dating profile pictures that belong in the "hall of shame". Keep sending me those gems!
