Using eHarmony: Online Profile Photo Tips for Guys
Smile for the camera, and read on for these important tips regarding your online dating profile pics!
By eHarmony Customer Care Agent Jack
After doing an informal poll with members on the service, there are some general similarities and requests regarding your photos that I’d like to share with you. It’s really important that you pay attention to what I’ve written, because this information will certainly help you. Hopefully, you’ll see that there is a LOT of truth to them. Good Luck!
1. Smile for the Camera. You’re not in an Armani ad, so smile and let them know that you’re a warm, friendly and engaging character who is worth the effort of communicating with. You definitely don’t want to come across as a “Sour Sam.”
2. Don’t post pictures taken in the mirror. Nothing is more unoriginal, unimaginative and boring than posting that photo taken in your bathroom, which also has bad lighting. Why not get a friend to take a better photo? Additionally, there is no need, unless you’re at the beach, to be topless in a photo.
3.
Make the first photo a headshot or close up of you. Your matches primarily want to see you and only you when they receive you as a match. They don’t want to play Where’s Waldo when trying to figure out who you are. This first photo is a great way to establish your personal style and character with your match.
4.
Don’t post photos with you and members of the opposite sex. If you choose to post photos, feel free to use the caption feature to explain that that person with you in the photo is your sister/cousin/mother, etc., and not your ex-wife or girlfriend. I’ve seen photos of guys who have posted pictures with their exes and it didn’t end in positive results.
5.
Make sure that you’re in the photo. If you happen to have the cutest kids or pets in the world, that’s awesome, but don’t post pictures of just them; make sure that you’re in the photo as well.
6.
Make sure that you’ve posted recent photos. Your matches will want to see you as look now, so that way they’ll know what you’ll look like on your first date. It’s great that you have photos from your glory days, but your matches really want to see you in the here and now, so just make sure that you’ve posted recent photos as well.
7.
Make sure that you’ve posed for success. This includes the photo background that you’ve selected. It’s OK to post a photo of you on a recliner eating Cheetos, but your matches will really appreciate seeing you in various settings like the great outdoors. That brings me to another great point -- dress for success. I’m not saying that you need to be in a tux, but you probably don’t need to be in sweats or a Speedo either. You are more likely to receive communication if you look put together and functional.
8.
Use your captions. Captions are there for you to use them. It’s a great way for you to establish yourself as a match, while setting yourself apart from the crowd. It’ll also give you the opportunity to create communication opportunities for your matches. So, do you and your matches a favor and use the caption feature whenever your post a photo. It’ll make you even more interesting.
So guys, if you take this information and use it effectively, you’ll increase rates which you’ll communicate with your matches.
You’ll also increase your chances of finding success on the service. This information is a goldmine and that’s why I’m giving it to you - because I want you to succeed. Guys just know this -- Jack is on your side. Next time, I’ll help you navigate that most overlooked next -- the first phone call.
13 comments on
“Using eHarmony: Online Profile Photo Tips for Guys”
List of mine:
1) Leaning back in a chair in my office at work, wearing a collared shirt with a small smile on my face. Waist up, clean shaven. Captioned: "Another day at the office"
2) In an airport wearing a t-shirt, backpack a strawhat and a big smile. Waist up, clean shaven. Captioned: "Playing the part of tourist, Christmas 2009"
3) Full body candid shot in action giving a tour at work, not looking at the camera. Wearing a collared shirt visible under layers of coats (it's cold) and reflective vest. A decent beard (months worth). Captioned: "Giving a tour at work"
4) Shoulder up shot from the side while looking right at the camera, big smile on my face, dressed up for New Years, casual collared shirt and a fancy hat. A decent beard. Captioned: New Years 2008-2009.
5) A self taken picture of myself at the Bonneville Salt Flats, wearing sun glasses, ball cap and a big smile. Clean shaven. Captioned: At Bonneville last summer.
6) Full body shot of me in a t-shirt and jeans standing next to a guy dressed as Colonel Custer (I was in the town of Custer, SD), Big smile, clean shaven. Captioned: "I'm the guy on the left =P"
7) Waist up shot in a t-shirt standing in front of the Fountain of Trevi. Smiling somewhat (sun's in my eyes...), Clean shaven. Captioned: "Tour di Italia, 2004"
8) Self taken shot while driving my car, shoulders up, a half smile (smirk?), sunglasses on, clean shaven. Captioned: "Road tripping"
9) Full body shot standing infront of a helicopter in a t-shirt and jeans, sunglasses and smiling. Captioned: "Magnum P.I. anyone? HI"
10) This one is more situational, I'm standing next to my car (I mention old cars as a hobby in my profile), the picture is of my side looking away to the horizon on the Bonneville Salt Flats. I'm wearing a t-shirt and shorts. No caption.
11) Sitting on top of a hill with the landscape behind looking like Mars. Full body kneeling down about to push a large rock off the side of the hill. Wearing a t-shirt, shorts, a hat, sunglasses and a waist field pack. A big smiling, clean shaven. Captioned: "Mapping in Sonora"
12) Full body shot standing on the front of a small sail boat in the Captian Morgan Pose, holding a can of Coca Cola. I'm wearing a bandana, sunglasses, hawaiian shirt and matching shorts. Smiling, hard to tell 5 o' clock shadow. Captioned: "Christmas 2009"
Sometimes I think about swapping out some of those pictures for ones of me with friends and/or family. I know if I do that I'd have to be clear which person is me.
- February 24, 2010 07:30 PM
This comment is unisex..... you have 12 slots for photos, please try your best to fill them up with a [I]variety[/I] of photos. Specifically, include at least one that is in a serious setting and one that is playful. This will help round out your image and ward off impressions that you are either a boring fuddy-duddy, or a drunken frat-boy/girl.
- February 24, 2010 04:32 PM
The best pictures are smiling, happy shots of just you, by yourself, taken by someone else, in a well lit outdoor area. Enough of the endless shots of sunsets, your dog, birds and various other scenery pictures. I agree with the posts regarding the hats and sunglasses and shirtless pics. Leave em out of your profile.
- February 18, 2010 10:13 AM
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