Choosing the right picture for your online dating profile is an art form.
Wait a minute, you don't even have a profile picture? Ok, let's start right there: get one. Stat. You're gonna need it.
Here's what you need to know to choose one that brings all the boys (and girls) to the yard:
- Do take candids. Candid shots that convey less effort tend to get a better response than professionally posed pictures. On average, candids receive 2x the messages that professionally posed photos do.
- Don't pose in the bathroom. Please, just don't. No one has ever looked good with grout in the background.
- Do share your passions. Show off your personality in pictures instead of words. Upload shots of you engaging in your favorite hobbies, pastimes, and passions. Action shots lead to 3x the amount of interest and higher quality conversations.
- Don't do duck face; do do a kissy face. If your lips are parted, people are 5% more likely to be attracted to you. On top of that, women are 32% more likely to be chosen by someone when they pucker their lips into a kissing face instead of just keeping them sealed.
- Do wear red. Both men and women find those who wear red to be more sexually appealing. Rawr.
- Do put on a happy face. I don't need to tell you that people aren't looking for angry or sad dates. People are 12% less likely to click on you if your profile picture expresses a negative emotional state.
- Don't post huge group shots. It just gets confusing. If it's not obvious which one is you, it's not a good choice for your dating profile.
- Do go for natural light. It's the most flattering, and could make you look as much as 10 years younger.
- Do remove your glasses. Online daters are 28% less likely to click on your profile if you're wearing glasses in the picture.
- Ladies: do make eye contact. Making eye contact and flirting directly with the camera gets the best response from potential suitors. Think "Myspace angle."
- Men: don't make eye contact. Men get better responses when they are staring at something off in the distance with a charismatic smile. Think "I'm too cool for direct camera contact."
- Do smile! People are 45% more likely to select profile pictures when the subject is smiling.
- Do find the sweet spot. 3 photos is the ideal number. Profiles with 3 pictures receive up to 85% more messages than profiles with more or fewer.