Top 10 Photo Blunders
|
The following no-nonsense list was compiled from interviews with long-time online daters and the business executives and support staff of several major online dating services. What's the bottom line? The single most important part of online dating is how you handle the simple act of representing yourself with photos.
1. Not posting a photo at all. Not posting a photo at all is arguably the most serious mistake. You must have something to hide if your photo is a blank space. Trust us, everyone thinks so. And that jaundiced phrase "ask for my picture" is sounding pretty lame these days. Describing yourself in words is lame, too.
2. Posting a photo that is more than 2 or 3 years old. If you are too much older than your picture you've committed the sin of "age shaving" online. This is guaranteed to put your relationship on shaky ground from the start and is usually an instant "deal breaker." Ever wonder why that second date never happens? It's a sure bet they won't tell you if you "age shaved".
3. Is that little figure in the background you? See # 1. If your image is so small you can't be seen clearly you must be butt-ugly or have something to hide. Lame. Get a real photo of yourself. We've already seen Yosemite - in person.
4. Compromising by using a photo with a strange or goofy expression. If the only fairly close up, kinda' clear picture you have of yourself looks like you just smelled something unmentionable, it's time for a better photo. Even prose by Shakespeare in your profile can't overcome the awful first impression created by a drunken, or worse, that dreaded "deer in headlights" look.
5. Is that you - or is the one on the left you - or is the one in the background you? Why are you kissing that strange-looking man on the cheek? Who is that man with his hand on your ass? Are those your parents? If we have to guess or if you have to explain it in your profile text, it's too late. Try to avoid posting a photo with more people than you in it, especially if the other person(s) are of the opposite sex, even if you think the photo of you is good.
6. Take off those sunglasses. See #1. Going incognito are we? Playing Joe Hollywood? Wearing sunglasses just suggests you have something to hide.
7. You at the party, head tossed back in laughter, beer in hand, having so much fun you make us puke. It's not that we believe that you get drunk and party 5 nights a week, but why should we take the chance.
8. Trusting your mother or brother to tell you which photos you should use online. Your mother thinks even your goofiest picture looks absolutely charming. Your view is biased, too. That favorite photo that you think looks really, really good might not. Instead, ask someone of the opposite sex who you find attractive which photos you should use online. That's the single most accurate measure of your photo's effectiveness. Why? Because when you post your photo online, you'll be impressing just such people - or not impressing them - a thousand times a day.
9. Showing too much skin. This will get you just the wrong responses if you're a woman, and usually no responses at all if you're a man. There are exceptions, but not many.
10. Using your crappy snapshots because you think using professional photos is "cheating". Using professional quality photos is the first thing online dating experts suggest you do if you take your online dating seriously. You certainly don't trust your health, your vision or even your haircut to an amateur. So why trust your online image to one? Making a lasting first impression with professional photos is a sensible way to put your best face forward.
Merav Knafo
Merav Knafo is the co-founder of LookBetterOnline.com. LookBetterOnline offers an easy and economical solution to the problem of sub-standard online dating photos. Available in over 6000 cities in the US and Canada, all the photographers they employ are pre-screened, are specially trained and will make you look your best! You get 12 great images that are the perfect size and resolution for your profile - and for no additional charge, their staff will recommend the best photos to use!
Do your photos do you justice? If they aren't working for you, they may be working against you.
For more information and to schedule a photo session that may change your life, visit http://lookbetteronline.com
|
|
|
Coming Soon??online Attractions
In my attempts to find the love of my life, I knew that they were not going to be found in the town where I lived, so I took to the Internet. My first experience was the result of a television commercial. They looked so darn happy, y...(related: Dating)
Impress Your Date: Proper Grooming Tips For Him
So you have scored the date, she has agreed to go out with you. Now the preparation begins. If you think that you can just show up for the all-important first date without any preparation or planning, think again. The first date is the only chance that you will get to make a first impression on her so you want to do it right.The most important aspect in planning for your first date is your appearance. After all, you are trying to sell yourself to her, so make the product look good! It is so important to look your best on any date, but it is imperative on the first date.When you take the time to groom yourself and make yourself look good, you are sending the message to her that she is worth a...(related: Dating)
The Magic Of Flirting
Flirting is the way most people determine whether or not a member of the opposite sex is interested in them. Following is a quick outline on how you should go about the complex, sometimes fun, sometimes not so fun, task of flirting. It all beings with your approach.The ApproachOne person approaches the other. They move into closer physical proximit...(related: Dating)
Mom Says
So, you're a member of every suitable on-line dating site, you hang out at all the right spots and feverishly attend networking events, you've answered personal ads that appeal to you and you still haven't met the one. Or if you're like me, you've dated a series of potential perfect matches only to be left with disappointment. You're probably wondering, "Are all the good single men hiding under a rock?" The answer is a resounding NO!Listen, if you have put all of this energy into meeting the one and have come up short every time, it's time to listen to mom. She's a wise soon to be seventy year young looking woman who's been married to an amazing man for 40+ years. I think she would know a thing or two about this thing called living single, dating and meeting the one.My mother had seen me date one loser after the n...(related: Dating)
Immigration And Clear Thinking
I get a lot of "reader comments" on the issues I choose to write about. This is a good thing for my editors since this means more readers and more readers mean more advertising revenue. It is good for me too in the sense that I do get some of the greatest writing topics from readers who write me. It can also be a bad thing?sometimes a very bad thing.What I enjoy are those readers' comments in which readers will take the time to attempt to offer me counter-arguments to the particular position I take in the op-ed pieces I write. What I mean is that there are some readers who realize that the process of clear and linear thinking is not an easy task. It takes work-hard work. One is not always successful-especially you...(related: Dating)
Hooking Up Vs. Lasting Love: Its Your Choice
"hooking Up" - "friends with benefits" - "booty call"These terms have become all too familiar in today's dating world. Are they words that you can relate to? Have you lived them in some way? If so, how have you felt about the experience(s) both during and after? Chances are that you have mixed feelings at best. Depending on your age and sex, you may give a somewhat different response to this question. Whatever your answer, a clo...(related: Dating)
Online Dating Secret
There is a simple online dating secret that can save you a lot of time and energy!This will prevent you from losing interest and focus on meeting women online.This will save you money and heartache?OK, OK, what is it you ask?Here it is for FREE, to you from Mick Jones, Author of 'How To Meet Women On The Internet'When I first started dating online I made a BIG mistake?I emailed contacts for MONTHS before meeting them.This was not good.Why?Because it's a waste of time...Here is the secr...(related: Dating)
Dating: How & Where To Meet Single, Alluring, Sexy & Beautiful Women Of Your Dreams
Are you a lonely man?When was the last time you went out on date with a sensuous, sexy and beautiful woman of your dream?Would you like to spark up your romantic life?It has been reported that there are more single women in US than available men.And if you ask most single beautiful women they will tell you that they have a problem finding their dream men because all the good guys seem to have been taken.Most si...(related: Dating)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Dating