What is the most important thing to consider when choosing a profile picture for online dating?

The most important thing to consider is to **use a recent picture of yourself, ideally from within the last 3 or 4 years**, to accurately represent how you look now [1]. This helps avoid potential dates from fantasizing about an outdated version of you [1].

What kinds of photos should I include in my dating profile to attract potential partners looking for a serious relationship?

You should consider including **a good bust shot with some headspace**, which emphasizes half of your body [2]. **Full body photos with headspace** are also beneficial [2]. To show your personality and lifestyle, include **stolen and candid shots from your travels or nights out with friends** [3]. If you enjoy specific activities, like sports or hobbies, pictures of you engaged in them can be great [3-5]. Ensure you **smile in your photos** and **show off your outfit**, as these convey confidence and give potential partners insight into your personality [6]. If you have a pet, including them in a picture can also increase your attractiveness [7].

Are selfies acceptable for dating profile pictures, and if so, how can I take a good one?

Yes, selfies can be acceptable for dating profile pictures. When taking a selfie, **turn on the gridlines on your camera to help with your positioning** [8]. Try to find **a good angle**, often men take selfies from a side angle, not too low, with their shoulders in the frame while looking down or at the camera [8]. Remember to **avoid bathroom selfies** [7].

What types of photos should I definitely avoid putting on my dating profile when looking for a serious connection?

When looking for a serious connection, you should avoid using **group photos where you aren’t clearly the focus** [7]. Also, refrain from using **unrelated photographs of memes, politics, celebrities, or athletes** [7]. **AI-generated or heavily filtered pictures** can be misleading, so it's best to avoid them [7]. Other photos to avoid include **extremely cropped pictures**, **bathroom selfies**, and **pictures of your family or children** [7].

How can the background and lighting of my profile picture impact my chances of attracting a partner?

**A good background significantly matters** [9]. Avoid taking pictures with the sun or any direct light source behind you, as this can make you appear as a dark silhouette [9]. Instead, aim for **soft lighting** [9]. A **neutral and soft-colored background** is often a good choice because it helps to emphasize you in the picture [9].

How to Make Your Profile Picture More Attractive

Learning how to make your profile picture more attractive is important for your online dating experience.

So you’ve finally decided to open yourself up to the world of online dating and give it a shot. Congratulations! We’re proud of you for broadening your horizons to new experiences. Online dating can be fun, especially if you’re looking to mingle and socialize with like-minded people you’ve never met. It’s also a great and safe experience for those who are not interested in meeting someone in person just yet.

What’s that? You’re having difficulty attracting potential partners? Maybe you didn’t indicate your interests, hobbies, and other information on your bio? If you did, maybe it might be the pictures you put out on your profile? If it is, then we’re here to help you become the most attractive guy in the entire dating app with these tips on how to make your profile picture more attractive.

Learn the Basic Aesthetics

We all know that you don’t have many connections with people who are skilled with cameras or post-rendering applications. We also understand that not a lot of people like you know how to use the selfie camera. That’s why you need to learn how to properly use your phone’s camera and its settings. You don’t need to be a professional to know how to take pictures with your phone; even a 12-year-old would know how to adjust the settings and take good pictures. If they can do it, so could you.

Here are some ways you can start by:

Recent Picture Rule

We know you looked younger 10 years ago but newsflash—you don’t look the same as you did back then. The rule is you have to show how you look like within 3 or 4 years. People online tend to fantasize about who they’re talking to or about to go on a date with; so as much as possible, show them recent photos of you. They say people look better with age, so why not show them how better you look now?

Lines, Measurements and Angles

Here’s a question for you. Is a flat face less or more attractive in pictures? The answer is, neither. Because by showing your face flat, you’d look boring and unattractive. You’re not here for a job application; you’re here to show the world you are an interesting man with an interesting outlook on life. You don’t even need to have the most attractive face shape to show the people you’re good-looking.

A good way to start is to go to your camera’s settings and turn on the gridlines so you can see how you measure yourself in the picture. When you’re taking a selfie, try to find a good angle. Usually, men take selfies from the bottom with a side angle. The angle should not be too low, though—just enough for your shoulders to be in the border while you look down or at the camera.

When doing a full body photo, make sure to leave some headspace; you wouldn’t want your entire body covering the whole picture. It would be better if you asked your friend or you place your camera a little further, and adjust your camera to zoom in with the right amount of head space.

A bust shot would be a great go-to type of picture you’d take. Remember to keep room for head space, and the same rules apply to the full body photo; take a few steps further and zoom it in a little. Now make sure only half of your body is seen and emphasized. And don’t forget to smile!

A Good Background Matters

For starters, don’t take a picture with the sun against the camera, or any light source you’re in front of. You wouldn’t want to look like a dark silhouette. As much as possible, keep the lighting soft.

A good choice would be a neutral and soft-colored background. Sure, it may look a little corporate, but that’s when you have to look relaxed! The reason why a neutral background is good is because it emphasizes every part of you.

Stolen and Candid Shots Are Great

Sometimes, you just need to show the world that you have a life outside of your job. If you have friends who took photos of you from your night out or travels, ask them for the best looking ones—maybe even the crazy ones. Why? Because you will want to let the people know you’re not afraid to be goofy and fun. Potential dates are more drawn to people who are confident in showing their funny side.

If you’re into sports or motorcycles, try checking in with your local photographers and ask if you can use their photos of you. Or if you have a riding buddy, try asking them to take a picture of you while driving. Show the ladies that you like to live life a little on the edge.

A guy wearing a yellow flannel shirt with a pair of shades outdoors.

Being an attractive guy means you’ve understood how to make your profile picture look good.

“I’m an Outdoors/Indoors Kind of Guy”

Sometimes the bio in your profile isn’t enough to show what kind of life you live. Women love to know what kind of person you are and what activities you do. So, it’s time for you to put out some pictures of you doing your favorite activities.

If you’re an outdoor person, show them pictures of you by the beach, the mountains, the trails, or wherever that looks like a fun outdoor activity. Do something funny like sprouting your head out of the sand on the beach or try climbing up a tree or a rock and strike a pose! Take a picture of yourself with the view showing where you went for a hike.

If you’re an indoor guy, you can show pictures of you in the gym working out. Or if you’re not into physical activities, take a picture of you cooking something up for dinner, drinking a glass of wine, or just chilling.

Look Good With a New Haircut

A good selfie or picture of you with a new haircut is always welcomed. Women love seeing men with freshly cut hair; the cleaner and more presentable you look, the higher your odds of attracting someone.

Ask your barber or stylist what kind of hairstyle would look good on you. Because if you have the most attractive face shape with a head of hair that looks out of place, you’d look weird. It doesn’t matter if the haircut you get is basic, as long as it complements your face.

Is eye color attractive for other people? Maybe, but if you have nicely cut hair that goes along with the shape of your face? You bet it is. So don’t be shy to ask your barber to do a little photo session of your fresh cut.

Show These!

Always show a smile. There was a survey that says “men who smile with their teeth unexposed look more attractive,” but it really depends. You can smile with teeth exposed or not, as long as you look happy and great with them.

Show off your outfit. A good outfit makes you look neat, presentable, and confident. The way you dress tells a woman a lot about you, so don’t be shy to show off your fashion taste.

If you have a pet, tell them to say hi to the camera! A lot of women love saying hi to your cute fur babies. And did you know? Having pets with you in your pictures can increase your attractiveness. A pet lover often exudes maturity and a sense of responsibility.

Don’t Show These!

Some things are better left out of sight and out of mind. Sure, they may be funny, but the focus is supposed to be on you and what you’re like. As much as possible, avoid using these kinds of photos:

Group photos where you aren’t emphasized or standing out.

Unrelated photographs of your personality like memes, politics, celebrities, or athletes.

AI-generated pictures based on your face.

Heavily filtered pictures.

Extremely cropped pictures of you.

Bathroom selfies.

Your family or children (if you have children).

Don’t Try Too Hard to Show People

A little word of advice, try not to overthink things. Some people do a little too much when it comes to putting up pictures online. All you need to do is just show people what you’re genuinely like; no need to put up a facade or anything.

An attractive guy is only attractive because he knows how to present himself. Remember to be confident, and bring your A-Game whenever you talk to someone. A lot of people will expect a lot of things just by looking at your pictures, so live up to them.

We’ve hopefully taught you how to make your profile picture more attractive. Be yourself, be confident, and be attractive.