6/1/2022

Best Photos For Dating Apps

Best Photos For Dating Apps Rating: 5,8/10 3539 votes
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Figuring out how to choose the best pictures for your dating profile is easier said than done. Whether you're selfie-obsessed and simply have too many to choose from, or you're camera shy and seriously dreading taking some dating profile-friendly photos — it can be quite the process if you're serious about putting your best face forward online. (Which, btw, you should be: it's not a secret that, when it comes to dating apps, people tend to swipe first and ask questions later.)

But like any true Millennial knows, all problems are Google-able, and this time it's relationship-focused dating app Hinge coming to the rescue. Hinge released a Profile Picture Report that reveals exactly which kinds of pictures will be a guaranteed hit (or miss) on dating profiles. Hinge data scientists assigned 35 unique photo tags (like: hair up versus hair down) to a random sampling of a thousand photos, then they analyzed how often the photos were liked by other users.

Mar 26, 2021 Tinder Tips: Group Photo / Social Environment Photos On Dating Apps. Photos taken with friends or activities you enjoy doing often yield smiles. Added validation of having friends and enjoying fun, social activities is also a bonus. Typically, group shots are taken for special occasions, events etc. So you can get more matches and more dates. Let’s jump in with our panel of experts. 1 - Shoot 100 Photos to get 1 Worth Using. 2 - Maximize your Warmth and Approachability. 3 - “Cute” photos capture her attention. 4 - Tinder Photos Should be “Instagram Quality”. 5 - Attract Women by Showing the Right Lifestyle. What are the best photos to use on dating apps, you ask? Well, luckily, a new study has narrowed it down to one type of picture. Well, luckily, a new study has narrowed it down to one type of picture. Sep 08, 2017 These cheesy pick-up lines are perfect for dating apps. All four photos should be crisp with no pixelation to maintain that honest and true consistency of who you are throughout your profile photos.

“Since Hinge profiles are designed to show off our Members’ personalities, we want to help them put their best foot forward with their photos,” Hinge spokesperson Jean-Marie McGrath tells Bustle. “Now we can tell them which photos they should share and which they should probably keep to themselves.”

So if you're unsure whether certain pictures will help (or hinder) your online dating game and need a little push in the right direction, look no further. Here's how to pick the best photos for your dating profile — because first impressions do matter.

Get Sporty

If you're normally not the sporty type, no need to fake it but, according to the Hinge data, photos of people participating in sports performed 75 percent better than the average photo.

Enjoy A Night Out

Photos of people having fun on a night out with friends got 74 percent more likes than the average picture, Hinge found. Bonus: now you and your friends have an even better excuse to snap a million hot Instas when you go out together.

Show Your Smile

Hinge found that showing your smile in photos makes them 23 percent more likely to be liked, so stop hiding your pearly whites (especially if your parents shelled out tons of cash for orthodontia).

Try A Black & White Filter

Even though Hinge found that only three percent of users' photos were black and white, those that were were 106 times more likely to receive a like than photos in color. Maybe it's time to get old-fashioned with our dating profiles?

Get Candid

Although 80 percent of Hinge users' shots were posed, the data reveals that candid photos are 15 percent more likely to receive a like. Either way, it can't hurt to throw in a cute candid among the posed photos and see if it improves your dating life.

But Do Not...

On the flip side, the absolute no-no's of dating profile pictures were: wearing sunglasses, using Snapchat filters (you're not a dog, sorry), posing with a possible S.O., beach photos, and selfies — particularly bathroom selfies... seriously guys?

Wear Your Hair Up

If you love ponytails or top knots, you're in luck: photos of women with their hair up were 27 percent more likely to get a like than their hair-down counterparts.

Smile With Teeth

Best pictures for dating apps guys

No need to be afraid of cheesin' — pictures of women smiling with their teeth on full display were 76 percent more likely to get liked by other users.

Look Away From The Camera

I guess not everyone is into the direct eye contact thing, because photos where women were looking away from the camera were 74 percent more likely to receive a like. Hey, whatever works, right?

Stand Alone

Let's be honest: there's nothing more annoying than trying to pick someone out of a group photo on a dating app profile. Apparently Hinge users agree, because photos where women were standing along were 69 percent more likely to receive a like.

Smile Without Teeth

Even though photos of ladies baring their chompers do better on Hinge, for men, the opposite is true. Soft smiles must be officially 'in,' because photos of guys smiling with their teeth out of sight were 43 percent more likely to get liked.

Look Ahead

Making eye contact with the camera lens is the best move for guys: photos of men looking ahead were 102 percent more likely to get a like.

Stand Alone

At last, something we can all agree on: being alone in your main profile photo is the way to go. Men were 11 percent more likely to receive a like if they were standing on their own in their photo.

Whether you're taking a break from your dating apps for Bustle's App-less April or going full steam ahead with your online dating, it's always helpful to have a guide on what pictures are most effective. It never hurts to get out of your comfort zone, change things up, and await the results.

Online Dating App Photo Tips For Guys, Girls. Appropriate, Flattering & Recommended Photos For Your Profile. How To Take Good Dating Profile Photos + Worst Photos For Using Tinder

What Makes A Good Tinder Profile? Dating Profile Examples & Good Profile Pictures

When it comes to dating apps, especially volume-based swiping apps like Tinder, photos are everything. Some people treat Tinder jokingly and make lazy attempts at profiles only to end up wondering why they can’t get likes and matches and eventually shell out money for bells and whistles upgrades which are not really effective for most folks.

Given that Tinder has one of the most lopsided gender ratios of any dating app on the market, good photos are crucial to have any sort of success on the platform.

Best Photos For Tinder: What Pictures To Put On Tinder Profile & How To Get More Right-Swipes On Tinder

In order to get right-swipe worth photos, you need to make sure the photos you do use are flattering, well lit, not only show your face and physique but also your style, smiles, hobbies, passions, guilty pleasures and occasional self-deprecating humor.

Best

The below guidance provides more concrete and advanced tips for sorting through, prioritizing and selecting photos for your dating profile. These are general rules of thumb and with everything in life there are exceptions to the rules. If you visit forums like Reddit you will get a range of opinions but each of those opinions lacks context about users experience, looks, demographics etc.

Typically, women have more wiggle room when it comes to photos because of the gender ratios on most dating apps. Also, the more attractive people are the more they seemingly get away with on dating apps. With that said, improving the quality of the photos as outlined below will help to generate better quality likes and matches.

For additional photo tips, read this post on how to look more attractive in your photos.

How Many Photos Should You Use On Tinder Profile? Is One Picture Enough For Tinder?

Ideally, you need 4 to 6 unique photos for a dating profile. Most guys struggle to get this number of photos and even though there is room for 9 photos, keep in mind you are only as attractive as your worst photo. With that said, the 4 to 6 photos you do use should be unique in pose, outfit, environment and expression. You don’t want all super wide smiles nor all photos in the same dark outfits. Photos should have some variety in terms of backgrounds, poses, angles, crops and lighting. If you use 1-2 photos, expect people to left swipe on you regardless of looks

Dating

Tinder Photo Rules: What Should Your First Tinder Pic Be?

Assume people may not look past your first photo. Avoid sunglasses, shirtless photos, hats and group photos. Photos should be clear, be taken of you and be a flattering photo (ideally your best photo effortless and other photos should not be a complete drop off). Ideally a full body photo or close up photo i.e. 1/2 body or 1/4 body. People will judge you by your worst photo.

Best Profile Pictures For Dating Apps

Best Tinder Pics: Using Travel Photos On Tinder Profile

This seems super obvious but these types of photos show the type of traveler you are (beach bum, explorer, Instagram post chaser) as well as places and things you find interesting and amazing. People tend to be more relaxed and more likely to be enjoying themselves on vacation.

As an added bonus travel photos make it easier to initiate an opening message when items in the background can easily spark conversation starters. Avoid cliché places like Iceland, Machu Picchu, Tulum for your travel photo.

Pro-tip: Ask tourists and strangers to take photos of you or ask if they would like help to take a photo. You will never see them again and chances are they can take a better photo of you than you can yourself. Avoid selfies though when possible.

Tinder Tips: Group Photo / Social Environment Photos On Dating Apps

Photos taken with friends or activities you enjoy doing often yield smiles. Added validation of having friends and enjoying fun, social activities is also a bonus. Typically, group shots are taken for special occasions, events etc. These details can add context and make it easier to initiate conversation.

Pro-tip: Make sure you don’t make a group photo for your main photo and don’t include super attractive people to take attention away from you. Ask a stranger or a cute girl or guy to take these group shots rather than taking a selfie.

Special Occasions, Formal Events – Business Suits In Dating Photos

A photo in a suit or dress at a wedding, black tie event or business event can provide an opportunity to get dressed up in the appropriate (and relevant) environment and give a glimpse of your style and how you clean up. Events like this are rare and people are likely to snap photos of each other so why not ask a stranger for help in taking a photo.

Pro-tip: See if there is a professional photographer at the event and get your photo taken.

Tinder Photos Tips: Halloween Costumes, Festive Holidays,

This holiday is a great time of the year to show your creativity and spirit which is hard to convey in text. With opportunities to take photos at office parties and contests as well as social parties, this day is the easiest day to capture photos as well as initiate conversation on and offline. Other days include Derby day, costume parties, all-white Diner en Blanc parties, and more.

Pro-tip: Make sure to capture photos of yourself and group shots early in the day/night as costumes fall apart, people get sloppy and makeup starts to get ruined.

Outdoor / Physical Activity, Full Body Photos

A carefully (tastefully) taken photo at the beach, athletic attire out hiking can provide an excuse to show a little extra skin, muscle definition, lean body and energy level in a natural environment with others. Photos taken in the water or pool are a natural way to take photos in a bathing suit without seeming too narcissistic or douchey. Photos with form fitting shirts and tank tops are often better than unnecessarily topless photos. Don’t pose for activity shots, they should be candid and imperfect (slightly dark, grainy, etc.)

Pro-tip: Avoid selfies, neck-down photos, photos of your stomach, flexing. Take off your sunglasses.

Close-Up Photos, Dating Headshots, Dating Profile Portraits

People want to see how you look like up close. Avoid photoshopped, embellished and skin softened LinkedIn photos and go with a close-up 1/2, 1/4 or chest up shot of you smiling or laughing.

If your headshot looks significantly different from your other photos, people will assume you don’t appear as you are and will assume your photos are fake and swipe left.

Avoid using portrait mode or excessive background blur and these come off as staged, forced rather than spontaneous and candid.

Pro-tip: Assume people will look you up on LinkedIn at some point before meeting you. Don’t have a bad headshot in your LinkedIn profile.

Restaurants, Bars & Cafés (Environmental Photos)

Your favorite food dish or beverage should put a smile on your face. A photo like this can show your favorite spots around town and possibly spark a conversation about a place the other person loves or has been wanting to explore.

Pro-tip: Recognizable locations are great but avoid cliché places.

What Pictures To Put On Tinder Female: Best Tinder Photos For Girls

The ability to share an embarrassing moment is the ultimate sign of confidence and comfort in your own skin. An epic snowboarding fail, failing into a wet cement pit or spilling something on your shirt in the proper frame and context can show you are not insecure, can laugh at yourself and are confident enough to use such a photo. Guys love these photos vs cliche, boring, generic posed photos.

Smile, Smile, Smile! Should I Smile In My Tinder Picture?

The #1 pet peeve I hear from women about dating photos from men is lack of smiles. Most men look constipated, tired, angry, lazy or EMO. Some women view dark, intense or creepy looks and smiles as automatic left swipes. Don’t let this happen to you. Looking approachable, confident and fun to be around should be your aim in photos. At the same time, the photos should be contained smiles, not so wide open that one can see the back of your mouth.

Worst Photos To Use On Tinder: Are Selfies Bad For Tinder? Should I Post A Shirtless Pic On Tinder

Using too many cliché photos as outlined here in my dating photo bingo card can hurt your chances at success as it can signal boredom, lack of creativity, or insecurity. Photos that only show the top of your body, have photos in dark lighting, photos taken from a distance, photos that don’t appear as you are today or photos with the same background, outfits, poses or head turns will definitely be noticed and swiped left on.

Should You Activate Tinder Smart Photos? Is Smart Photos On Tinder Good?

Many people struggle trying to figure out which are the best photos to use in a Tinder profile. Great Tinder photos are rather selective. They are based on lighting, pose, outfits, environment, order and lastly based on other photos other people have used that you are competing with.

Dating

Tinder Smart Photosfigures out what order to place your photos through extensive testing. It’s not something I recommend and it’s something I actually think can hurt your chances. Proceed with caution, understand its limits and seek out trusted advice instead if you have the chance.

Tinder Smart Photos / Courtesy of https://blog.gotinder.com/

Reddit Dating Subreddits

There are plenty of subreddits that talk about specific apps and online dating. Take them with a grain of salt as most people don’t have much success and resemble the blind leading the blind.

Newest Dating Apps

r/rateme

r/dating

r/onlinedating

r/tinder

r/bumble

r/hingeapp

Dating App Profile Picture

Tinder Photo Tips: How To Take Tinder Pictures By Yourself

Read this post on how to take your own photos. Do not litter your profile with floating head Tinder selfies (no neck, shoulders, upper chest etc.). People want to see what you look like and not just your face. Your body should be shown from normal angles, don’t be fatfishing on Tinder (i.e. taking photos from unnaturally high angles to make you look slimmer).

Should I Put A Shirtless Picture On Tinder?

Typically no, but depends on who you want to attract and if you have no shame.

Best Photos For Dating Apps Reddit

How To Add More Than 9 Photos On Tinder

Open up a photo editing tool and combine multiple photos into one i.e. 2 into 1 or 4 into 1 and upload that combined photo. With that said, you don’t need more than 4-6 photos on a dating profile as you will likely sabotage your profile with a bad photo. See rules below.

Should You Look Away In Tinder Photos?

Contrary to what you have heard, there is strong evidence to be careful about where to look.

Golden Rule of Online Dating Photos

1) You are only as attractive as your worst photo.

2) Assume most people on dating apps will judge you on your first photo, main photo.

For additional Tinder related advice, tips regarding swipe strategy, photos, profile bios and more, check out my other posts.

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Additional Reading:

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About Eddie Hernandez

Eddie Hernandez is an online dating consultant and professional photographer specializing in natural, candid online dating photos. Featured in the SFGate, ABC7News, East Bay Express, Salon; contributor to Good Men Project, Plenty Of Fish and Meddle. In addition to photos, he provides guidance around app choice, bio optimization, messaging techniques, wardrobe advice and date ideas. https://eddie-hernandez.com/contact/

Dating Profile Critique

Best Photos For Dating Apps

For those of you who are remote or virtual dating help and are looking for anonline dating profile critiqueyou can read more about my services here.

For other helpful online dating tipscheck out my blog for more helpful advice: https://eddie-hernandez.com/blog/

Best Photos For Online Dating

Online Dating Frequently Asked Questions(Photos, App Choice, Wardrobe, Messaging, Bios and More): https://eddie-hernandez.com/online-dating-frequently-asked-questions/

Best Pictures For Dating Apps Guys

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