How to take the perfect profile photo – Part I
We cannot stress this enough: if you want to be successful at online dating you need a good, recent profile picture that shows you at your best. Now that spring has started and everyone is hitting the dating sites with more enthusiasm, it’s a good time to renew your profile pictures with fresher, brighter, more attractive ones.
So grab a good camera and get a trusted friend to help you. Make sure it’s a digital camera and tell your friend to shoot as many pictures as time allows – actually, feel free to use the time-lapse option if your camera has it. The more pictures you have, the greater chance you’ll find one you love.
If you follow our expert advice, your photos will be naturally flattering and hopefully help you land some new dates!
1. Look natural: You don’t want this to look like a yearbook photo, so don’t sit or stand squarely facing the camera with your hands at your sides. Grab something, cross your arms, put your hands on your hips or lean against a wall… basically, try to achieve a natural pose. A good tip is to start a conversation with your photographer; this will make you more relaxed, which will in turn show in your pics.
2. Makeup: Ladies probably don’t need a lot of advice on this front, but gentlemen might also benefit from a smidgen of foundation and some translucent powder before a photo shoot (see why you need a trusted friend’s help?) A light patting of a sheer foundation in the color closest to your skin and a dusting of matte powders will even out any pigmentation irregularities on your face and remove shine and oil, making you look instantly fresher, younger and more attractive.
3. Lighting is key: You will need all the light you can get, as long as it’s indirect. Let us explain: flashing a bright light directly at your face (be it sunlight, a camera flash or a lamp) will create shadows, which will emphasize any wrinkles, pockmarks or any other skin imperfections you may have; not to mention that you are more likely to squint in very bright light – never a good look. To prevent this, stand in the shade (if outdoors in a sunny day) or point the lamp at the ceiling if you’re indoors – this way you will get maximum lighting with minimal squinting and shading.
4. Eyes wide open: Of course we do not mean you should give the camera your best Hannibal Lecter impression, but don’t you hate pictures where you appear with half shut eyes? We do. Expert professionals have a fantastic tip: close your eyes, make your photographer count to three, and open them just in time for the picture. We have it on good authority that this works every time!
On the next installment we will give you tips to make double chins disappear and get a toothpaste ad smile.
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