If you’re like most of my clients, you either have an online dating profile or are considering getting one up and running. Arguably, the most important part of an online dating profile is the photography. Yet few profiles feature photos taken by a photographer who specializes in online dating photos.

As a dating and relationship coach, you’ll likely not be surprised that one of the services I’m regularly sought out for is improving my clients’ online dating profiles. Making sure my clients have the right photos is a big part of this service since I have an eye for what attracts and what doesn’t. Good photography is a pivotal part of a good online dating strategy.

(In fact, over 80% of my successfully coupled clients met their life partner/spouse on an online dating site AFTER my help with spiffing up their profile.)

Your photos are the door to your profile.

An inviting picture will intrigue people to want to learn more about you. The wrong photo will prompt people to move past your profile and look for one with a more desirable photo.

One of the benefits most of my new clients receive during our first month of coaching is an Online Dating Profile Feedback session.

During these sessions, I always review the photos on their online dating profile. And 8 out of 10 times, I recommend they get new photos because I feel they can improve upon what I’ve seen. To get better profile pictures, it usually means that they need to hire an online dating photographer.

You’ll be amazed by the photos a terrific online dating photographer will take! So believe me, you don’t want to depend on your roommate or Uncle Fred to take photos of you. And please no bathroom or car selfies!

In my locale, I’m fortunate to know some very good online dating photographers. And I also know what to look for to help my clients who live out of my geographic area.

Here’s how you should go about finding and selecting an online dating photographer:

Where to find a dating profile photographer?

Believe it or not, Google is a great place to start. Use search terms like “dating profile photgrapher near me”, “online dating photography”, etc. You’ll be surprised at how many photographers have broken out into this niche. Instagram is also a great place to search, where they can easily show off their work.

Reputation matters.

First, you want to find one with a good reputation. Ask friends who they may have used for their online profiles. What was their experience with that photographer? If it was a positive one, then you’ll want to check out that photographer’s website and portfolio. If you can’t get recommendations and are relying on online search results, make sure to check out their online reviews.

You can also ask a potential photographer for sample galleries to get an idea of their work if you still need more information.

Specialization is key.

Second, look for a photographer who specializes in online dating photos. For each one you find, ask yourself a couple of questions:

• Do you like their style?
• Do their photos look like they can be used for an online dating site and not for a job resume or an annual report?

Budget-conscious.

Next, you’ll want to consider your budget. I’ve seen photo shoots range from $300 to over $1500. To understand how to best use your budget, you’ll want to consider asking questions like these:

• Does the online dating photographer give you options so you can tailor the shoot to fit your budget and needs?
• How many different looks and outfits are they willing to shoot in a session?
• Do they charge extra for touch-ups and travel to the photo shoot location?
• Does the session fee include the final photos, or is there an extra cost per profile picture?

I also want to caution you against having overly glamorous photography since you may not show up as this person on your first date. I recommend you go for the girl- or boy-next-door look. Think about a dressy-casual look that you’d wear on a date to a nice restaurant, where you may go to dinner and then dancing. And wear another more casual look that’s still attractive, yet something low-key that you may wear out to listen to folk music or to go bowling.

Location. Location. Location.

Although I alluded to it before, there’s one more thing you’ll need to consider when hiring an online dating photographer: where will the photos be taken?

Are you required to go to their studio? Would they come to your home? Would they meet at an appropriate place, like a park or a scenic location? The latter will make the photos look more natural, which I find works better for online dating photography. Although I’ve seen some great home shots, too. Studio shots aren’t terrible, but you need more variety if you want to get better results from your new profile pictures.

Do you feel comfortable?

All in all, it’s the personality of the online dating photographer that will make the difference. Do you feel comfortable with this person? If you do, you’ll get better pictures out of the photo shoot. Make sure you get to speak to the photographer before booking your session to get a feel for them. Many have a welcome packet or will do a phone or Zoom consultation so you can get to know each other.

Getting new profile pictures from a great online dating photographer is the key to a more successful dating profile!

I hope you use some of these great insights I’ve shared to hire your own terrific online dating photographer to get the critical photos that will attract your future life partner.

If you’re just embarking on your online dating journey, my FREE Online Dating Checklist is a great place to start. And if you need more help with your online dating profile and would like my eyes on it, then let’s talk. The first step to getting on my calendar is to visit www.talkwithcoachamy.com.

Key Takeaways

• Good photography is crucial for online dating profiles; hiring a specialized online dating photographer greatly improves chances of success.
• Ask for recommendations to find a reputable online dating photographer and review their portfolio.
• Consider your budget when choosing a photographer; ask about pricing options and any extra fees.
• Choose a comfortable location for the photo shoot to ensure more natural and appealing images.
• Your comfort with the photographer’s personality matters; it can ensure you get better profile pictures every time.