A picture is worth a thousand words. So, the question is, are you saying the right things?
The older you get, the harder it gets to meet new people, let alone develop long term relationships with them. And then there’s dating.
So whether you proudly admit you’re using a dating site to find your next match, or you quickly hide your phone anytime you’re about to be exposed for your cupid hunting ways, here are some tips of what pictures to NOT share on your profile.
1) You and your Better-looking friend
I couldn't find an example picture that wasn't offensive to someone. But we all have them. That good friend that is a bit too good looking.
Unless this person is your bestie very best friend for more than a few years and you know they're sticking around in your life permanently, you should not advertise on behalf of them. First off, you may be one darn good looking individual, but when you stand next to your drop-dead gorgeous friend, then you've instantly created a compare/contrast scenario. Just don't do it, especially not for your profile picture. Secondly, they probably already get enough attention. You're on a dating site and well, let's be honest, they probably aren't. You need the matches; don't give them away.
2) Unattractive Goofy Pic
So, this could be endearing. Or it could not be. Do you really want to take the risk? Okay, maybe you do. But only do one. This isn’t Craps. This is Russian roulette. Don’t play.
3) No Face
Okay, maybe you're on this site to get a good lay. Which is one thing. There’s the picture advertising your sizzling hot body. And the face is conveniently cropped out. Which leads me to ask…Why, exactly? Do we need a paper bag?
For your sake, you don’t want anyone asking that question about you, no matter what the answer is. Yes, the body has some truly amazing scenery, but some of the best features of a person are on the face, (eyes, smile, hair, freckles, I could go on). Do you get the picture?
4) One Pic
Let me illustrate the effect of only having one picture in this description.
5) Only Group Pics
There’s nothing inherently wrong with group pictures. They are actually great--in small doses. They prove you have friends, family, an outside life (I guess you could just be faking though), but if most or all of your pictures are group pictures, people might honestly not be able to tell which one you are. Because of this, don’t have a group pic be your profile one. The only exception is if your very next picture is a solo pic of you. And it better be a damn good looking one, or you just got side swiped to the left No Thank you pile. And that’s a really sad place to be.
6) Memes
Except not. Cause your profile shows me absolutely nothing.
7) Selfies
Personally, selfies are a huge turn off. Now I know that selfies are the trend of this generation, so if you're going to use them, I'm going to tell you why to use as few of them as possible.
They tell us you don't have friends.
They tell us you're self-consumed.
They tell us you don't get out much.
They tell us you're really not that interesting.
Especially the ones taken in the bathroom. Are you telling us you spend all your time in the bathroom getting ready? Not a good sign.
8) Only Solo Pics
So. Where are your friends?
9) More Animal Pics than Pics of You
This one I find probably the most embarrassing. I have a personal policy. A profile with more than two pictures with animals, and I’m done looking. To be fair, I’m not the world’s biggest animal person, but come on people!? We’re here to date you, not your pet. Or other animals you really like. Or that stray cat you saw walking by. Ug.
10) Solo Animal
Same premise as #9. Dating site pictures are like First dates at the Art Gallery. Don’t lose your date by not being around.
Okay fine, that’s a bad example. But you get what I mean. Right? You get me? No? Fine, here…look at a random picture of a giraffe. I’m not here.
11) Fitting Room
This is tacky. You’re in a changing room modeling. You are clearly showing off yourself in clothes we know you didn’t buy. So whether you can't afford them or you’re choosing to be thrifty, let’s not. I mean, I understand. We all feel great in a pair of new, stylish clothes, modeling with our friends. Yes. I’m man enough to admit it. It’s called the New Shoe Syndrome. We feel damn good. Though the problem with these pictures are—you don’t own these new shoes.
If you're going to do this, at least play up your facade and hide the tags. Seriously people. Get your act together.
12) No You
You’ve snapped a picture of a flag, a sunset, a table covered with your hobby of wax candle making, or some other inanimate object. Yes, this picture may be stylistic, and represent you in some artistic way, or maybe it just shows your interest. But why aren’t you in it? I’m not here to date your candle. No one else is. Unless. Are people into that?
My point. Sometimes words are better than pictures.
13) Every other picture you're holding a glass of Alcohol
I think that long title explains it. It’s one thing to like alcohol, it’s another to be an enthusiast, another to be a wine tasting expert, and another to be alcoholic. Guess which one you look like when 9 of 10 pictures are you sipping the spiked cool aid…
14) Only Close Ups
If all of your pictures are close ups, things can get deceptive real fast. Close-ups are great in photography and film for creating more dramatic, cathartic experiences where the audience connects with the person they see. But they typically also get to see wide shots of the person. So they know what they’re looking at. But with close-ups, I’m not really sure what I’m looking at. What happens when we zoom out? Are you really who your close ups say you are? Prove it. Snap a few pictures showing off more. And gross. Get your mind out of the gutter. That’s for later. ;)
15) Only Wide Shots
Same logic. Just reversed. If all your pictures are far-off shots, there’s really not much we can see. Also, it makes us wonder, do we really want to get closer?
16) Screenshots
I've mostly seen this done to show a picture you've posted on social media, and it shows how many times it has been liked.
If you can’t figure out why that’d be a bad thing, then I’m going back to the 90’s.
Actually, I might just do that anyways.
17) A Blurry Pic
This is the 21st century where almost everyone has a smart phone with a high quality camera. Hell, more people have cell phones than regular access to water. But instead of worrying about people with real issues--Remember your first world problems! If you really like that picture, I'm sure you could recreate it in-focus by snapping it again.
18) You & your Celeb crush
Yes, let’s admit it. We all have them. Mine are Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Charlize Theron, Katy Perry.--Okay, woah, that was almost an avalanche of too much embarrassing honesty. And that's the point. There are a lot of beautiful people out there, and whatever your preferences, you don’t really want to advertise that to your potential match. Cause…they aren’t them. That’s too much pressure.
17) A Blurry Pic
This is the 21st century where almost everyone has a smart phone with a high quality camera. Hell, more people have cell phones than regular access to water. But instead of worrying about people with real issues--Remember your first world problems! If you really like that picture, I'm sure you could recreate it in-focus by snapping it again.
18) You & your Celeb crush
Yes, let’s admit it. We all have them. Mine are Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Charlize Theron, Katy Perry.--Okay, woah, that was almost an avalanche of too much embarrassing honesty. And that's the point. There are a lot of beautiful people out there, and whatever your preferences, you don’t really want to advertise that to your potential match. Cause…they aren’t them. That’s too much pressure.
So whether your picture is Photoshop or real (like, you actually met this person and they let you take a picture with them), just leave it in your shoebox collection in your closet.
P.S. Don't do those pictures where you compare yourself with a famous person. I know we sometimes suffer from low self-esteem (or inflated self-esteem), but be your own person. Be proud that you are you.
19) With the Opposite Sex
This rule is obviously flipped if you are gay, but you understand the premise. Too many pictures with the sex that you’re looking to have—romantic relations with, and this could spell disaster. You don’t want jealousy before the relationship even begins, do you? And don’t give me that “mature people don’t get jealous” crap. Everyone is jealous! I’m jealous more people are viewing Sarah Palin's twitter than mine, and I wouldn’t be caught dead with her. But seriously, don’t ever bury me in the same funeral lot as her. I Will Haunt You.
And last but not least…
20) Catfish
Pictures that aren’t even you. Because we all like getting to know someone online, the anxious excitement of wondering what could be, driving out to an isolated location that turns out to not be a coffee shop, and finding someone straight out of The Hills Have Eyes.
So those were my Dating Picture DON’Ts. WHAT ARE YOURS?
20) Catfish
Pictures that aren’t even you. Because we all like getting to know someone online, the anxious excitement of wondering what could be, driving out to an isolated location that turns out to not be a coffee shop, and finding someone straight out of The Hills Have Eyes.
So those were my Dating Picture DON’Ts. WHAT ARE YOURS?
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