Dating Headshots - Do I Need Professional Dating Profile Photos?
Professional online dating photos, professional photos for dating profiles. Dating profile photographers pros/cons, online dating photographer reviews. Do you need dating headshots for Hinge, Bumble?
Reader Question: Are dating app photos a thing? Do people get professional dating photos?
Are Professional Dating Photos Worth It?
After nearly 10 years of doing this professionally, I still get asked this all the time - I was even asked this very question this weekend.
Most people who try online dating either just wing it with whatever photos they have, have many friends who take photos or happen to be social butterflies where they attend events where photos are usually taken (galas, birthdays, travel, weddings, etc).
For a lot of people, these options are not readily available. Thanks to rising cost of living, less free time, covid, isolation, wfh, weight gain, mental health issues, break-ups etc. people have fewer photos of themselves now more than ever.
As people get older, things that bonded people together are no longer present (roommates, school, curiosity of moving to a new city, energy to go out).
Do You Need Dating Headshots Or Professional Dating Photos?
The quick answer is no but you also can’t use self-sabotaging photos. I have reviewed thousands of profiles over the years and some of the best profiles are those that contain candid, imperfect photos but most people struggle with knowing which to use, how to take them and understanding how they are viewed by strangers.
A lot has changed in the online dating industry over the last 15 years. From dating sites to companies solely focused on dating apps, the way people engage with online dating and the amount of people who use (and rely) on dating apps is quite something.
One thing that hasn’t changed is photos on dating apps.
Should I Get Professional Photos For Online Dating? Hiring An Online Dating Photographer
I have been taking people’s dating profile photos professionally, discreetly and organically for over 10 years.
People hire me from all over the country like NYC, LA, Chicago etc. (upcoming travels on my site) and even more people fly out to take photos with me from all over the world including Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Berlin, Singapore, and beyond. From VC’s, socially awkward tech/engineers, to those who are recently single or have no clue what they are doing, I help put folks at ease instantly.
Unlike other photographers who repurpose headshots, modeling photos and portraits for dating profiles, I take relaxed, approachable photos like a friend took them in natural settings and environments like cafes, bars, restaurants, galas, homes, and events. If you hate taking photos, I am your guy.
Ask around, I have likely taken photos for a colleague, your partner or your roommate. For full set of services including photos, profile reviews, offline/online coaching see my services here.
Things That Make You Less Attractive To Men, Women
Dating Headshots: Professional Dating Photos
If you spend any time on any major dating app like Hinge or Bumble, you will notice one of two things:
really bad photos
professional dating photos
It feels like there is no in between. Thanks to a rise in usage of AI/dating photo review sites, people are constantly rating themselves, getting feedback and looking to get an edge in an otherwise competitive field.
Given the nature of unlimited options and algorithms, people feel like the only way to stand out is to seek professional dating photos.
As soon as you create a new dating profile, you are bombarded by professional photos that feel like modeling portraits and less like photos taken organically by friends and family. It feels like you have to have professional dating photos to have a chance but the truth is you don’t. In fact, professional photos may increase the chances someone thinks you are catfishing them, are only seeking IG followers, or are a scammer.
Do Online Dating Photos Matter?
In one word - yes.
Photos are usually the first thing people look at when browsing dating profiles. Humans are superficial and if there isn’t some sort of physical attraction, why bother with looking at the rest of the profile - right?
Even though dating photos are the first thing people seek out and arguably are the most important thing in a dating profile, they are not everything.
For many people, there is a very attainable bar for looks and photos yet many people cannot clear that hurdle. The bar is so low for minimum requirements and with all the advice out there, people still struggle to put together a decent profile.
Things like hobbies, hygiene, effort, first messages, prompts/bios, lifestyle choices, religion/politics matter quite a bit, arguably more than the photos themselves but people those are things people can’t fix quickly so they defer to shortcuts/hacks like getting professional photos.
Online Dating Photo Mistakes
If you think all online dating photographers are the same, you are wrong.
The first mistake people make is assuming the photos are for yourself - these photos are for the type of people you want to meet.
Most people are biased about their looks - friends and family are not any better as they lack the ability to be brutally honest and view photos the way a stranger would for the first time online.
Using photo rating tools, crowdsourced feedback can be biased. Most people using these sites struggle themselves (blind leading the blind). Similarly these services only look at photos that don’t account for other items I mentioned.
You are only as attractive as your worst photo. Most people get a professional headshot because they think they need it (they don’t, fyi) and think people won’t judge them by their worst photo.
Using professional photos. These are usually photoshopped and filtered (I don’t do either). People can easily tell these are artificial photos. Even if you get likes/matches, the worst feeling in the world is getting stood up or ditched instantly on a first date because misrepresented yourself - save yourself the time, energy and embarrassment.
Using professional photos that look like everyone else. Some photographers re-use the same spots in all their photos (just look at their websites).
Using professional photos that look like stock photos. They are cliche, lack backgrounds/conversation starters.
Using the same outfits in more than one photo
(more mistakes below as well as how to take your own dating photos)