Swipe Right: 11 Essential Do’s and Don’ts for Dating App Photos
Soft light with geometric lines and intentional color pairing draws the viewer’s attention.
Let’s state the obvious - the dating scene in the 2020’s is a very different beast than the dating scene of previous decades. In today’s online dating world, your profile photo is the first impression you make, and your collection of images needs to grab the attention of your prospective mates. Whether you're on Hinge, Bumble, or another platform, the right images can make the difference between getting swiped right or being overlooked. But what makes dating photos stand out? Here are eleven essential do’s and don’ts to ensure your dating photos make the best possible impact.
1. DO Use High-Quality, Well-Lit Photos
Your dating profile photos should have more polish than an everyday snapshot. A phone picture or two is ok, but images that are blurry, incorrectly exposed, or have poor composition can make you seem uninterested. Photos that flatter and showcase your best features help you appear more attractive and confident.
Pro Tips:
Good lighting makes the biggest impact on a photo being a flattering one so don’t overlook the quality of your light.
Natural light is your best friend. Photos taken outdoors are often more flattering than photos taken indoors. If you do use photos taken indoors, try to utilize window light as much as possible.
Taking outdoor photos during Magic Hour (just after sunrise or just before sunset) provides the most flattering light and a warm glow.
Avoid lighting from directly overhead as much as possible: think overhead lights and sunlight at midday.
Soft light against a wall with flattering tones creates visual harmony that lets his genuine smile shine.
2. DON’T Overuse Filters or Do Heavy Editing
You want flattering images that don’t look overly staged or Photoshopped.
While it’s tempting to smooth out every blemish, excessive editing can make your photos look artificial. Overusing filters can be visually distracting and make it hard for a potential mate to see what you actually look like. Your dating profile photos should reflect the real you, not an altered version that doesn’t exist in real life.
Pro Tips:
Naturalistic editing is good, but avoid airbrushing yourself to plastic perfection.
Editing should be done to enhance light and shadows, allow for colors to harmonize, and can be used to remove minor imperfections in the image that could be distracting (ex. dog hair on a sweater, an uncharacteristic zit on chin).
Keep skin tones natural and textures realistic.
Avoid trendy filters that can make your images look dated or unsophisticated.
3. DO Show Variety in Your Photos
Your dating profile should include a mix of images that highlight different aspects of your personality. A well-rounded profile helps potential matches get a better sense of who you are.
If you’re hiring a professional, you want to make sure you create a varied set of images that both have a cohesive feel to them and look different enough that they don’t look like they were taken on the same day.
Photo Suggestions:
A flattering portrait (your main profile photo)
A candid shot of you laughing or engaging in an activity
A full-body shot to show your physique and/or style
A social photo with friends (but make sure you're easily identifiable)
A hobby-based photo (hiking, playing music, painting, etc.)
4. DON’T Use a Group Photo as Your Main Profile Photo
While it’s great to show that you’re social, using a group shot as your primary photo can be confusing. Potential matches should immediately know who you are without having to guess.
Pro Tips:
If you include group photos in your profile, limit them to one or two and make sure they are not your first image.
Avoid photos where someone else looks more prominent than you.
5. DO Use Clothing and Location with Intention
What you wear in your photos can subtly communicate a lot about you. Choose outfits that reflect your personality and style while making you feel confident and comfortable.
The location(s) you choose can also impact the overall feel or mood of your photos, can subtly suggest personal attributes, and can signal about your interests.
Wardrobe Tips:
Wear clothes that fit well and flatter your shape.
Be sure your clothing is in good condition, ironed and free of pet hair or lint.
Choose outfits that match the vibe you want to project (casual, sophisticated, adventurous, etc.), while staying true to colors and styles that you would typically wear. You want to feel comfortable and real in your clothing.
Avoid overly formal attire, clothing with busy or distracting patterns, anything with text or an obvious logo - unless you’re trying to signal something with it, like the insignia of your alma mater.
This photo shares his love of running and communicates his alma mater.
Location Tips:
Certain types of locations can add personality to your dating app photos. Street murals, cool coffee shops, outdoor cafes, and art museums are all fun examples that make for unique location backgrounds.
Different location environments can evoke different vibes, from adventurous to romantic to laid-back.
The locations you choose should reflect something about you. Don’t choose the beach if you’re not a beach person.
A love of outdoor cafes comes through and adds a narrative element.
6. DON’T Forget About Posture and Expression
Your facial expression and body language can make a huge difference in how approachable and engaging you appear. A stiff pose or forced smile can turn people away, while a relaxed demeanor makes you seem more confident and inviting.
Pro Tips:
A genuine smile conveys warmth and friendliness.
Try moving around when being photographed to capture an authentic and natural way you hold yourself.
Maintain an alert posture (without going stiff); slouching can make you look uninterested or not confident.
Hands casually placed in pockets, leaning body against walls, sitting down or reclining in any way, and even slightly tilting your head all communicate a relaxed and easy-going demeanor.
Try subtly changing your posture and expression when being photographed. Small tweaks can have a big impact on how successful the resulting images will be and you want to have plenty of options to choose from.
A reclining pose and relaxed smile draws the viewer in.
7. DO Invest in Professional Photography
These days, many people opt to hire a professional photographer to make the standout and flattering photos they need. It’s an investment for sure, but many see it as an investment in themselves with the potential for a significantly higher ROI.
A photo session with a professional photographer can go a long way to highlight your best features and capture your real personality. Professional photos definitely help you stand out from the sea of selfies and low-quality images.
Why Choose a Professional?
A professional portrait or lifestyle photographer knows how to get you in the most flattering light and the most interesting compositions.
A professional will make skillful edits that enhance your photos, without making you look overdone.
A professional can help bring out your natural expressions, making the photos feel authentic and engaging. For me personally, I consider half my job is making you feel comfortable and relaxed so we can take the best images possible.
Well-executed, professional portraits can make a huge difference in increasing positive responses and better matches.
8. DON’T Use Old or Misleading Photos
Using outdated pictures can set unrealistic expectations and lead to awkward first dates. Your dating profile images should reflect your current appearance to build trust and honesty from the start. As much as we might have that favorite photo of ourselves from that one amazing vacation, if a photo is more than ~3 years old, it shouldn’t be in your gallery of images.
Pro Tips:
Regularly update your photos, especially if your hairstyle or look has changed significantly.
As much as possible, use photos taken within the last year.
Avoid using photos that don’t look like you, regardless of how flattering they might be.
9. DO Include a Photo of You Doing Something You Love
Action shots that showcase your hobbies or passions make your profile more engaging and give potential matches some insight into your lifestyle.
Dating photos that tell a story about you, beyond being portraits of you, will draw more attention and pique more curiosity from people viewing your profile.
Photo Ideas:
Playing an instrument
Cooking or enjoying a meal or drink
Exploring nature
Engaging in a sport or fitness activity
A passion for cycling was important to communicate.
10. DON’T Use (Too Many) Selfies
Selfies can work as supplemental images, but your profile shouldn’t be filled with them. Selfies often lack the quality, angles, and natural expressions that a well-crafted photo can provide.
Pro Tips:
If you include selfies, make sure they are well-lit and taken at flattering angles.
Avoid bathroom mirror selfies and overdone poses.
11. DO Make Eye Contact with the Camera
Eye contact in your photos helps create a sense of connection and confidence. It makes your profile more inviting and encourages potential matches to reach out. You don’t need to be looking at the camera for all of the photos on your dating profile, but camera-aware images should make up the majority of your dating photo gallery.
Pro Tips:
Look directly into the camera for your main profile photo.
Your eye contact should feel more like a gaze than a stare. The viewer should get a sense of what it would feel like to be on a date with you.
Avoid sunglasses in too many photos - your eyes should be visible in most of them.
Direct gaze and genuine smile make him seem open and friendly. The wine adds info about his interests.
Final Thoughts
Your online dating photos are a powerful tool in making a lasting first impression. By following these do’s and don’ts, you’ll create a profile that not only attracts more matches but also represents the best version of you.
If you're ready to upgrade your dating profile with stunning, professional portraits, I’d love to help. With some planning and plenty of direct and helpful advice, we can create photos that showcase the real, confident, and authentic you!