Hello, visitor! Article about dating site profile picture tips: Your profile pictures could be the problem. Follow our guide and get good profile pictures today. Master the art of taking good profile pictures: The ultimate guide. ➤ ► Click here for dating site profile picture tips Good profile pictures aptly tell your story, they enable your personality and interests to shine through. When done properly they are a very good way to attract the type of people you want to be meeting, like-minded, intelligent individuals. However when done badly, they can give an inaccurate impression of your character and most likely you won’t meet the type of people you want to. First impressions are everything, which is why we created this guide to make sure you’re representing yourself effectively and correctly. Why do good profile pictures matter? Research has shown that the only thing worse than a bad profile picture is no photo at all. A lack of photos instantly alienates a huge amount of online daters because it makes them question why you want to hide the way you look. Those serious about online dating want to have a complete and accurate profile of those they will potentially date. Of course it’s natural to feel self conscious about elements of your appearance but everyone feels this. There’s nothing more attractive than confidence and a picture of you smiling happily can only be received well. Toby Aiken, who is a professional in this field, suggests having profile pictures is vital for a good dating profile for two important reasons. Firstly, ‘whether we care to admit it or not, the first thing that we look at is appearance.’ Of course it’s natural to wander about the way a potential partner looks. Of course people will not base their entire decision on a photo but it is a good way to get an overview of the person you’re speaking to online. Secondly, good profile pictures are a useful way to back up the impression you have created on your online dating profile. As Aiken explains: ’it’s important to make sure your profile picture says the right things about you. If your profile says you enjoy quiet nights in watching a movie, and your profile picture was taken on a rare wild night out or a friend’s hen do then it’s not going to help your search!’ As many singles are looking for like-minded partners, it is pretty essential that your profile pictures show the true you. That way you’ll attract the kind of people you want to. Evidently, good profile pictures do matter. But how do you make them both memorable and flattering? Follow our six step guide, compiled together with Toby Aiken. Want to meet great single women? Start here Intrigued by online dating? Find out how it works here. 1. Get comfortable. The best photos are those which look natural. In order to avoid seemingly forced shots pick a place in which you feel comfortable and at ease. Aiken recommends being photographed in your house or garden because it’s somewhere where you feel relaxed and this will show in your picture. He maintains ‘the key to taking a good photograph is making sure that you are comfortable in your surroundings. Whether that means taking the photo in your living room, or with a professional backdrop, if you are familiar with your surroundings, then you will be more relaxed and take a better photo…Consciously relax your muscles and try to go with a natural smile.’ Confidence is key in real life and equally in photos. If you feel attractive as the photos are taken you’re sure to have some good profile pictures. 2. Think about the background too. Of course you are the focus of your photo and it’s important that you keep it that way! Aiken advises, ’If you go for a shot in your lounge, make sure the background is relatively tidy – we’re not talking catalogue shoot clean, but just take a look and maybe tidy that pile of washing you were meaning to deal with and make sure the curtains are straight.’ You don’t want your dirty laundry to take the focus off you after all. Think about your outfit for the photo. Busy patterns can complicate the image and detract the attention from you. Aiken suggests that color blocking can be very effective and bright colors are also a good way to maintain focus. Just avoid doing too much at once. Choose one bold item and stick with that (women – red clothing tends to be most eye catching to men). Don’t mix and match bold and patterns and remove the focus from your face. Want great flowing conversation on your first date? Try these first date questions Want to know how to flirt online? Follow our Dos and Don’ts. 3. Don’t fall in to the typical picture traps. While it may be tempting to wear revealing clothing in your photos, this is one of the most counter-productive things you can do. In a recent EliteSingles survey, a vast amount of members indicated that revealing pictures was one of the most off-putting things on a profile. The few that do find it attractive who subsequently get in touch with you are probably not people you want to be dating. Equally, sunglasses, hats, & other people in your photo are also profile picture no-nos. Poor photo-shopping is also a classic picture trap. Keep it simple. The focus is you so don’t include a load of distractions in your profile pictures. Dating in Los Angeles? How EliteSingles can help Looking to meet other Christians? Start Christian dating with us. 4. Eye contact. It’s all about the eyes. As Aiken advises, ’the single most important thing in a portrait photo is that the focus should be on the eyes. If your eyes are in perfect sharp focus the overall photo will look good.’ Your eyes are filled with emotion which will reveal a lot about your personality (this is also why sunglasses are such a big no-no). You can emphasize playfulness through your eyes which will open a little window into what you’re like. Having good profile pictures means strong eye contact with the lens, let the person looking at the photo feel a connection to you. 5. Lighting is everything. Lighting is essential for good profile pictures. Get it right and all your best features will be beautifully highlighted and emphasized. Get it wrong however and you could age yourself 10 years. Dating site photos tips Tips for dating app photos Dating site profile picture tips Dating app photo tips Dating site picture tips