Using Less-Than-Perfect Photos
- Tuesday, September 18 2012 @ 09:15 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 963
For some, the most stressful part of constructing an online dating profile is choosing pictures that represent themselves. There are so many factors to consider - if you’re doing something interesting in the photo, if it needs to be cropped, if it’s out of focus - but one of the first things on which we tend to fixate is whether or not we “look good.” And finding a “good photo” can seem like a Sisyphean task. But don’t panic! In fact, it’s possible a “bad photo” can actually work to your advantage, in the proper context.
First, let’s cover what we don’t mean when we say “bad photo.” We don’t mean something that is out of focus. We don’t mean something from a first-generation webcam that is grainy and cloudy. We don’t mean a digital picture that you took of an old hard-copy photo (you know the kind, you can see the glare from the window and the surface you laid it on, too).
No, instead we’re talking about the kind of photo that is of perfectly good quality, “if only I hadn’t turned my head that way and given myself multiple chins.” Or maybe the one where you’re making a goofy face. Maybe it’s a full-length photo, and you’re not a fan of your thighs. Don’t discard those photos as options immediately; take a second look.
Ask yourself: is this picture telling a story? Does this capture some element of my personality? Those candid photos might not always be the “prettiest”, but they can often be more attractive, because you’re showing genuine emotion. Maybe you think you’re too gummy in that photo where you’re laughing your head off - but the viewer wants to smile because your joy is so contagious.
These sorts of photos can also convey a trait that is coveted in online profiles: confidence. So you have butterflies about displaying that full-length pic? So does everyone else, but you’re the only one brave enough to do it. That says a lot about a person. So if you choose a picture that’s, say, you with a funny face on a rock-climbing wall, you’re saying several things: you’re athletic, you’re determined, you have a sense of humor, and then, because the picture isn’t perfectly posed, you’re confident as well. So many layers from just one image! Perhaps a picture really is worth a thousand words.
If you’re worried about misrepresenting yourself as less attractive than you actually are, just remember that we’re not talking about choosing a default picture here, just one of many to help paint a complete picture. You have your typical, smiling pictures where your makeup is just right, and then you have the one where you got thrown in a pool fully clothed. The viewer will feel like they’re getting to know the “real you.” They might have fewer reservations about meeting in person, because they don’t think you’re all smoke and mirrors. They might even be pleasantly surprised when they see you!
So as you put together your online dating profile, don’t skim past those less-than-perfect photos. After all, everyone’s naturally less than perfect; why not present a balanced picture?
First, let’s cover what we don’t mean when we say “bad photo.” We don’t mean something that is out of focus. We don’t mean something from a first-generation webcam that is grainy and cloudy. We don’t mean a digital picture that you took of an old hard-copy photo (you know the kind, you can see the glare from the window and the surface you laid it on, too).
No, instead we’re talking about the kind of photo that is of perfectly good quality, “if only I hadn’t turned my head that way and given myself multiple chins.” Or maybe the one where you’re making a goofy face. Maybe it’s a full-length photo, and you’re not a fan of your thighs. Don’t discard those photos as options immediately; take a second look.
Ask yourself: is this picture telling a story? Does this capture some element of my personality? Those candid photos might not always be the “prettiest”, but they can often be more attractive, because you’re showing genuine emotion. Maybe you think you’re too gummy in that photo where you’re laughing your head off - but the viewer wants to smile because your joy is so contagious.
These sorts of photos can also convey a trait that is coveted in online profiles: confidence. So you have butterflies about displaying that full-length pic? So does everyone else, but you’re the only one brave enough to do it. That says a lot about a person. So if you choose a picture that’s, say, you with a funny face on a rock-climbing wall, you’re saying several things: you’re athletic, you’re determined, you have a sense of humor, and then, because the picture isn’t perfectly posed, you’re confident as well. So many layers from just one image! Perhaps a picture really is worth a thousand words.
If you’re worried about misrepresenting yourself as less attractive than you actually are, just remember that we’re not talking about choosing a default picture here, just one of many to help paint a complete picture. You have your typical, smiling pictures where your makeup is just right, and then you have the one where you got thrown in a pool fully clothed. The viewer will feel like they’re getting to know the “real you.” They might have fewer reservations about meeting in person, because they don’t think you’re all smoke and mirrors. They might even be pleasantly surprised when they see you!
So as you put together your online dating profile, don’t skim past those less-than-perfect photos. After all, everyone’s naturally less than perfect; why not present a balanced picture?
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