Jose-Andres Alegria What sort of profile pictures are you supposed to use on dating apps? The meme in TikTok is that every guy my age uses a photo of them holding up a fish they caught. Sorry, bud, but she probably doesn’t care about the fish. If she did, she wouldn’t be on a dating app looking for a date. So what kind of dating app picture should you use?
First Things First
Your profile as a whole should have an aesthetic. Think of it like you are becoming a Pokémon gym leader. You should have a style and vibe that is easily recognizable. We are all multifaceted, but Tinder and the likes don’t give you enough space to explain and show off everything about you. And who has the time to read all of that? But the pictures you take are like the hook to your college essay. They are the first thing people are going to see, so they need to be good. You need to draw them in to read your bio and get to know you a little better.
Putting in effort
The biggest mistake we guys make when it comes to our profiles is not caring or trying at all. We’ll use the same photo for our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook profile pictures for waaaaay longer than we should. (I am guilty of this to the extreme.) So when it comes to dating apps, we just use the same pictures we have that, if we are honest, are not the greatest pictures.
You’ll see us in our favorite band or anime t-shirt that should have been thrown out years ago, but we refuse to do so because it’s still “functional.” We wear jeans that are too big for us. You wouldn’t wear that on a first date, so why is it on your Tinder profile? But the thing that I struggle with is when I’m actually taking a picture. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY HANDS!? If you’re like me, then you should go check out this TikTok video by David Suh. He has a whole bunch of videos on how to pose. Most of them are geared towards women, but he talks about masculine posing and not looking awkward in a photo as a guy.
First Picture
This is the attention grabber picture. It’s your first impression. Make sure it’s a picture with just you in it and make it your best one. Preferably it would be good if you were smiling and had no Snapchat filters on it. This gives the person a chance to know what you look like. If they like what they see, they will probably read your bio and look at your other pictures.
Your Highlights
This is the rest of your pictures. There is no set number on how many you should or shouldn’t have, but less is not more in this case. This is your chance to show yourself off and your interests. Your bio can say that you like hiking, but a picture of you hiking speaks louder. Maybe you like to travel, then show off the awesome pictures from your last trip. Just make sure your highlights are real and not some fantasy of a life you don’t live. Nothing is more annoying than matching with someone on an app and getting catfished by either looks or interests.
Pets
We get it. If they don’t love your dog, it won’t work. If you want to post a picture of your pet, then do it just be in the picture with them. Ever seen a profile of someone who has really bad selfies of themselves, and then the rest of their pictures are their dog? What is someone supposed to do with that?
Be Yourself
This is your action shot. This is the photo slot you use to highlight your most special and specific traits. Maybe it is you going fishing. (Just don’t post the fish picture, please.) Or maybe you’re a bookworm, and you have a nice picture of you reading in a reading nook. This is your chance to show off who you are and what you love. If the person you might date can’t like or respect the things you like, you shouldn’t even waste your time.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, what you project out into the virtual dating world is what you are going to attract. If you put a little effort in, snap a few pictures in a nice outfit, and be your genuine self, then you will start to get matches.
It can be nerve-wracking to figure out what pictures to use, so if you aren’t sure, ask a friend. You know that one friend who is mean but in a nice way? Yeah, ask that friend. They will tell you whether or not the whole aesthetic of your profile is good or not. Remember, it’s like you’re being a Pokemon gym leader. You just gotta find your type and stick to it.
So you’ve matched with someone and are excited for your first date, but aren’t sure what to say or how to act? Here are a few first date conversation tips.
