How to Select Your Online Dating Photo

A few years ago, I joined multiple online dating sites including Match.com and Yahoo! Personals. Each site allows you to choose a main picture for your profile, and then several others that people see when they click on the main photo, or go deeper into your profile. I experimented with various photos and photo combinations on the different sites, each time learning what was and was not working. Additionally, I was faced with hundreds of photos of potential dates, and I had to determine which photos were the most appealing to me and why.

Accurately presenting what you look like
First and foremost, the photo needs to be a true representation of what you actually look like. It should be a recent photo (taken within the last year) and it should look like you. Your hair should be the same color (or a similar color) and approximately the same length. Your weight should be accurate, as well.

One of my male friends went on a date with a woman he met online, only to find out that she was 20-25 pounds heavier than the photo represented. He wasn't as turned off by her weight as he was by the fact that she misrepresented herself. From the very beginning, her misleading photo indicated that she was someone who he couldn't necessarily trust.

Your goal isn't to select the absolute most attractive photo of you ever taken. Chances are, you don't look like that photo on a day-to-day basis and you are misrepresenting yourself. Your goal is to select a good photo of yourself that accurately represents you so that your date isn't surprised when he meets you. Although an extremely flattering photo of you might get you more dates, it might not get you the right dates.

The wrong photo could be a turn-off to someone who thinks "she's too hot for me". Research indicates that people are attracted to other people who are at the same level of physical attractiveness as them. In other words, if someone considers himself average looking, he probably won't think he could realistically date someone who looks like a supermodel.

Select a flattering but realistic photo that reveals your personality and interests.

Credit: Daniella Borges

Copyright: Daniella Borges