Are your Photos Worth a Thousand Words? Tips for Profile Photos!

Are you ready to let the world of online singles see your best side? After all, the person of your dreams could be searching 2RedBeans for your profile right now! 抓紧时间;把握机会  and make the best impression that you can...

"But taking time to pick photos is shallow and 无聊!" you might be thinking. "If the person searching for me is really a great person/intelligent/sensitive/a great match for me, they won't care what I look like!  Right?"

Wrong.  Everyone, even people who care about important things, will use visual information to guide their decision-making.  There is especially little incentive not to do so online.  Physical appearance doesn't have to be the most important part of initial attraction between two people (and will likely not be the most important part of a meaningful relationship), but it does matter in your initial interactions with other users!  You don't have to be 张柏芝, 金城 武,  or Kelly Hu, but picking your photos with at least some thought is important for three reasons that you may or may not have considered before:

• Provides a visual to go along with your verbal profile description (this is obvious)
• Demonstrates your personality: taste in clothing, hobbies, friends, traits that are often difficult or impossible to express through writing alone
• Can show your maturity level; your posture, style and types of photos, level of personal hygiene and physical fitness as seen in the pictures are often indicative of your attitudes towards life and your health

There is a lot people can take from your photos, whether you mean it or not. While you should not go crazy trying to decide on pictures, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Be smart.  When you search for your ideal match, think about what you look for.  Are you concerned with height?  Weight?  Friends?  Athleticism?  Remember that if you're using these criteria to filter profile photos before even reading the profiles, other people will do the same to you!  Select photos of yourself that highlight the traits you want your Ideal Match to care about.

Be honest. Find your favorite photos of yourself looking attractive, but if you're not always caked in makeup, flexing at the gym or wearing a tuxedo, don't only use those photos. Although you won't get sued for false advertising, you're not likely to find success when you meet matches in person if you're attracting the wrong people for the REAL you.

If you know nothing about computers,
don't pose with one...

Be happy.  You don't have to be laughing all the time, but putting up photos where you are depressed or not happy does not make you appear like an approachable person.  Use photos of you doing something you enjoy, or doing something unique and interesting, or being around people who make you feel like yourself.

Be selective.  If a profile has five photos of someone eating, or three photos of someone lying in bed, or twenty photos of someone showing their muscles from different angles, you may build the wrong impression of that person.  Don't make that mistake yourself!  (Also, don't use photos of yourself lying in bed.  Unless you built your bed, or it looks like this.)

Always keep in mind your Ideal Match, and pick photos that you think would attract that person!  Moderation and smart selection is the key! 

Do you have any suggestions or have seen some crazy pictures on dating sites?  Please comment or share your story!