Let’s start with the most critical element of an online profile – photos. Please, do not attack me for saying that. Seriously, have you ever wondered why there are so many dating web sites that have words "beautiful", “models”, “sexy”, etc. in the headings? Would your sign up for a dating site called "hideous-match.com"? Or how about "homely-singles.net"? Probably not. Photos in a dating profile are so important that many sites have implemented photo rating polls like this one Rate My Photo
I don’t dispute the fact that personality is important, and that even the most good-looking people who do not have attractive personality traits may have trouble sustaining long-term relationships, but this blog is about on-line dating, so I suggest that you read on.
For a woman it is substantially more important to have good photographs then for a man, so this section of the blog is devoted mainly to the female audience. I will discuss photographs for men dating profiles on a separate page.
Good photographs are ninety percent of your online success. If a man likes the photographs, he is likely to contact you, or sometimes even read your narrative before sending an e-mail. The reason that most men read profiles is to find something in a woman’s profile that he can use to strike a conversation, for instance, a question “how old are your children?” may suggest that the man didn’t just look at your pictures, but also viewed your narrative. On the other hand, a corny question “what do you like to do for fun” suggests that he has not read it.
Be sure to include recent photographs, preferably taken within a year. Both men and women are guilty of posting old photographs, taken ten years and thirty ponds ago. An online profile, in my opinion should include at least two photos – one headshot and one full body shot showing your proportions.
The best performers are 8*12 vertical headshots. For one, they do not get as brutally cropped by the website moderators who need to adjust them to suite your main avatar. It is best to be photographed in the natural day light or if you want to add striking colors to your face and hair, take pictures early in the morning or right before the sunset.
Your facial features should be clearly visible on the main photo. I have seen many MySpace-type photographs on dating sites that were obviously taken with a camera sell phone, with horrible lighting. How in the world, a man is supposed to know what you look like when the photo is so dark and smudged that you can’t see where the eyes, nose and the eyebrows are? Since you have invested in a subscription for a dating site, invest in professional photographs, or a good camera. After all, it is important for you to find someone, so be serious about the photographs you post. Remember, you are posting your photographs to entice a man, and not to scare him. Your attractiveness should be obvious and should not require scrutinizing with a magnifying glass.
If your photograph is a real close-up, make sure that your entire head stays within the picture frame. Heads that are cut off do not look good unless you are modeling for a makeup ad.
Even if you do not normally use makeup, it is better if you do your makeup before taking photographs for your profile. Go to a MAC Cosmetics counter at Nordstroms and have a professional makeup artist do it for you. They may require that you buy the product, but it is good quality makeup that you will later enjoy, so don’t be cheap. The reason I recommend MAC is because this line was specifically designed for theater and photographing models for magazine cover and this is what professional makeup artists use.
Your full body shot should show your figure. You do not have to wear a swimsuit on your photo, which is what I do, but stay away from baggy clothes, especially if you are fit. Remember, men are especially interested in what you look like without clothes. Otherwise, why do you think pornographic content is such a huge industry worldwide? Somebody’s got to pay for it.
Remember, you do not need to be exceptionally thin to be attractive. Men like curves in a woman. Just don’t mark your body type as curvy in your questionnaire. Traditionally, very overweight women identify themselves as “curvy”, so most men do not even check “curvy” when they do profile searches.
If you opt for a photo in a swimsuit, you are automatically guaranteed a higher level of success. As a pro model, I can go on and on about good poses for swimsuit photos. I will write a separate article about it and if you are interested bookmark this page and check back soon.
Do not send pictures of yourself wearing lingerie unless it as an adult-oriented dating site. If the website you are on is a mainstream dating site, lingerie pictures will attract unhealthy attention, and some sites may not even approve it. Generally, I think it is appropriate to send boudoir photos to a man only after you have had sex.
In addition to the two main photos, you may include as many others as your website provider allows. I have a particular viewpoint on posting pictures of pets, trees, sunset, flowers, etc. While it is ok for a man to post pictures of his cars, jets, and yachts, men are not very keen at looking at your pets’ pictures. They are seeking a relationship with a woman, not your pet, and while all those jets and boats represent an excellent addition to the man of your choice, your pet will not be of equal interest to him.
For a woman it is substantially more important to have good photographs then for a man, so this section of the blog is devoted mainly to the female audience. I will discuss photographs for men dating profiles on a separate page.
Good photographs are ninety percent of your online success. If a man likes the photographs, he is likely to contact you, or sometimes even read your narrative before sending an e-mail. The reason that most men read profiles is to find something in a woman’s profile that he can use to strike a conversation, for instance, a question “how old are your children?” may suggest that the man didn’t just look at your pictures, but also viewed your narrative. On the other hand, a corny question “what do you like to do for fun” suggests that he has not read it.
Be sure to include recent photographs, preferably taken within a year. Both men and women are guilty of posting old photographs, taken ten years and thirty ponds ago. An online profile, in my opinion should include at least two photos – one headshot and one full body shot showing your proportions.
The best performers are 8*12 vertical headshots. For one, they do not get as brutally cropped by the website moderators who need to adjust them to suite your main avatar. It is best to be photographed in the natural day light or if you want to add striking colors to your face and hair, take pictures early in the morning or right before the sunset.
Your facial features should be clearly visible on the main photo. I have seen many MySpace-type photographs on dating sites that were obviously taken with a camera sell phone, with horrible lighting. How in the world, a man is supposed to know what you look like when the photo is so dark and smudged that you can’t see where the eyes, nose and the eyebrows are? Since you have invested in a subscription for a dating site, invest in professional photographs, or a good camera. After all, it is important for you to find someone, so be serious about the photographs you post. Remember, you are posting your photographs to entice a man, and not to scare him. Your attractiveness should be obvious and should not require scrutinizing with a magnifying glass.
If your photograph is a real close-up, make sure that your entire head stays within the picture frame. Heads that are cut off do not look good unless you are modeling for a makeup ad.
Even if you do not normally use makeup, it is better if you do your makeup before taking photographs for your profile. Go to a MAC Cosmetics counter at Nordstroms and have a professional makeup artist do it for you. They may require that you buy the product, but it is good quality makeup that you will later enjoy, so don’t be cheap. The reason I recommend MAC is because this line was specifically designed for theater and photographing models for magazine cover and this is what professional makeup artists use.
Your full body shot should show your figure. You do not have to wear a swimsuit on your photo, which is what I do, but stay away from baggy clothes, especially if you are fit. Remember, men are especially interested in what you look like without clothes. Otherwise, why do you think pornographic content is such a huge industry worldwide? Somebody’s got to pay for it.
Remember, you do not need to be exceptionally thin to be attractive. Men like curves in a woman. Just don’t mark your body type as curvy in your questionnaire. Traditionally, very overweight women identify themselves as “curvy”, so most men do not even check “curvy” when they do profile searches.
If you opt for a photo in a swimsuit, you are automatically guaranteed a higher level of success. As a pro model, I can go on and on about good poses for swimsuit photos. I will write a separate article about it and if you are interested bookmark this page and check back soon.Do not send pictures of yourself wearing lingerie unless it as an adult-oriented dating site. If the website you are on is a mainstream dating site, lingerie pictures will attract unhealthy attention, and some sites may not even approve it. Generally, I think it is appropriate to send boudoir photos to a man only after you have had sex.
In addition to the two main photos, you may include as many others as your website provider allows. I have a particular viewpoint on posting pictures of pets, trees, sunset, flowers, etc. While it is ok for a man to post pictures of his cars, jets, and yachts, men are not very keen at looking at your pets’ pictures. They are seeking a relationship with a woman, not your pet, and while all those jets and boats represent an excellent addition to the man of your choice, your pet will not be of equal interest to him.
Read My Blog Post Choice of Colors for Online Dating Site Photos
Actually, I think you're on to something here. "Rent a Wreck" did really well. why not hideousmatch.com? I think it has potential, great tongue in cheek. I think people would flock to it.
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