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A Dating Coach's Guide to Improving Your Online Dating Photos

dating advice photos Sep 05, 2024
A Dating Coach's Guide to Improving Your Online Dating Photos

In today's competitive online dating landscape, having great profile photos is more crucial than ever. 

As a dating coach, I've helped countless men figure out how they can transform their dating app success by upgrading their photos. Here's my comprehensive guide to creating a standout photo set for your dating profile. 

Maximizing Your Appearance

Before even thinking about a photoshoot, focus on maximizing your physical appearance: 

  1. Get in shape: Aim for around 10% body fat to enhance your jawline and overall aesthetic.
  2. Upgrade your hairstyle: Consider a fade cut or find a style that suits your face shape.
  3. Groom your facial hair: Grow a well-maintained beard or keep short stubble for added masculinity.
  4. Develop a skincare routine: Clear, healthy skin makes a significant difference.
  5. Revamp your wardrobe: Invest in well-fitting, stylish clothes from quality retailers.

Mastering Body Language and Posing

Once you've maximized your appearance and look your best, you'll naturally receive a boost in self-confidence. This will impact your body language in a big way.

Your body language in photos can make or break your profile. Here are some key tips: 

  • Maintain good posture: Chest up, shoulders back.
  • Project confidence: Take up space and avoid closed-off poses. A good crop does wonders.
  • Practice emotional range: Display a range of emotions such as confidence, excitement, joy, relaxation, anger, etc. The more emotional range you show on your dating profile, the more interesting and intriguing you will appear. Guys with a boring, monotone look on their faces fail to spark any emotions in girls looking at their dating profiles.
  • Incorporate movement: This helps photos look more natural and less posed.
  • Be in a good mood: A great dating photographer will joke with you during a photoshoot and make you laugh. He will help you get in the right state for the best outcomes.

Posing In Your Shoot

The key to posing is movement. Movement makes your photos appear more candid and less stiff.

Some things I have seen my clients do are adjust their watches, roll up their sleeves, button and unbutton their jackets, adjust any article of clothing, take off and put back on their sunglasses, and place one hand in their pocket with their thumb out while walking.

Engage in some type of activity while utilizing props. A perfect example is playing fetch with a dog and throwing a tennis ball. Another way is to bring a friend to the shoot and talk with him while taking photos. If you can't bring a friend, talk with the photographer.

Planning Your Photoshoot

Choose high-value locations that reflect an aspirational lifestyle: 

  1. Upscale venues (restaurants, hotels, coffee shops)
  2. Outdoor locations (beaches, parks, marinas)
  3. Activity-based settings (gyms, sports facilities)

A winning photo lineup typically includes: 

  1. A strong portrait (waist-up, candid pose, smiling or looking confident)
  2. An activity shot (sports, hobbies)
  3. A pet photo
  4. A high-value environment shot
  5. A candid, attractive selfie

Wrapping It Up

Investing time and effort into creating a strong photo set can dramatically improve your dating app success.

Remember, your profile photos are often your first impression of potential matches, and we all know how important first impressions are! High-quality images can showcase your personality and convey confidence, approachability, and a sense of adventure. 

As you prepare for your photo shoot, remember that the goal is to represent yourself while authentically highlighting your best features. A well-executed photoshoot can elevate your perceived value and make you stand out. 

I highly recommend working with a skilled photographer; they can guide you through the process and capture the essence of who you are.

If you're looking for a good dating photographer, I highly recommend these two photographers:

Justin Harder Photography

Match Gods

Good luck with your shoots, and I hope that you found this advice helpful!

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