What makes a good photo?

What’s the first thing you look at when you check out a profile? The photos! And so does pretty much everyone else. As you’ve probably heard, photos make the biggest difference for a profile. So you’re going to want to find as many photos of yourself as you can, and pick the ones you think are best

The purposes of photos

So, what are the purposes of photos? 

1. Sexual attraction or chemistry: “Oooh, I want him!” / "She's gorgeous!"
2. ​Physical attraction: “I love how his arms look!” / “Her smile is stunning!"
3. Mental attraction: “Ooh, he's into running!" / "Oh sweet, she loves going dancing!”
4. ​Eye catching: most important for your first photo, because it's the one shown to people as they browse. "Wow, I want to see more of that profile!"

The best photos will serve 1, 2, and 3. And good profiles have first photos that are at least eye-catching and also serve one of the other purposes.

So look at your existing photos, and see which of those purposes they serve, if any. Since photos make such a strong impression, there's no reason to waste a photo slot with a photo that doesn't serve any of them.

I'll post more on how to pick photos that serve each of those purposes soon.

​The basics of making yourself look good

Now that you know what you want photos to do, how do you know what photos are good? Well, the characteristics of a really good photo are heavily dependent on taste. But, there are some things that are pretty universal:

• you’re in the foreground
• ​you’re in focus and well lit
• camera didn’t use too strong of a flash
• shows your face, and at least your upper torso
• wearing clean clothes -- no one finds food on your shirt attractive
• well trimmed and groomed
  • special note for guys: facial hair is fine, just make it well groomed.
• your profile should have at least one full length photo

Bad:

Hair is a mess, facial hair ungroomed, I'm slightly out of focus, I have a negative expression, and it's a bad background (the bathroom) with bad lighting.

Better:

Decently groomed, with fairly good lighting, and a contrasting background.

Common Mistake: Photos with other people

Remember, the viewer is someone who's never met you. So although you think they want to see you and your four friends, they don't know who you are in the photo! Even more so, if you're wearing sunglasses, like I am here.

​Overall, I recommend simply not posting photos with other people. It's much simpler.

​If you have to use photos with other people, make sure not to use photos with your model-quality friend. If you're dramatically less attractive than the other people in the photo, it reflects badly on you.

For family members, don't include them unless your family members are dramatically older than the people you’re interested in. For example, photos with your grandfather or grandmother are fine, but photos with your siblings should be mostly avoided. It'll either be confusing ("Is that her boyfriend?") or confusing ("Which of the three guys in the photo is he?")

Wrapping it up

Despite what we might wish, photos have and continue to be the first thing people look at. So put your best foot forward by picking photos that serve as many of the purposes of photos as you can. And, put up as many good photos as you can; there's no reason to not use the opportunities to attract someone! (But if you have bad photos, definitely do take them down.)