Well yesterday was new picture day. The photo I had been using on eHarmony was just over a year old. I posted How to Get Better Online Dating Photos a few days ago. From that list I went with the first idea so far. A professional photographer, you know standing in front of weird colored backdrops trying to unnaturally create a natural looking picture. No forced smiles, weird grins or funny looks. That was the goal anyway. Out of 20 or so good shots, there were about 5 that I actually sort of liked.

I fall into the category of un-photogenic people. I don’t like to be in pictures because I don’t think I come off very well most of the time. At least after viewing some of these shots I hope that is the case. As the camera only duplicates what is sees is true, but it is just a split second representation. Just before or just after you may have actually looked good. I can count on one-hand photos taken of me over my 32 years that I like. Unfortunately an incredibly charming photo of you when you were 12 does you no good.

Some people just naturally shine in photographs. Some just don’t. Some look good in pictures, but that is where they should stay. Others should stay away from the camera because it just doesn’t do them justice and still others should stay away for other reasons. This is a problem for online daters. All we have to go on is the photos people post of themselves online. So we need to post something. It might as well be something good or at least as good as it can be.

Online dating profiles with pictures get significantly more views than ones without. This includes the profiles with the incredibly bad photos and shots you just can’t believe anyone would put online. So you should make the best of this fact and put up something decent that gives a respectable and honest representation of what you look like. If you actually meet someone in person they are going to notice if that is not the case. An instantly disappointed date is not what we are going for here.

We need to put our best photo forward, so to speak. So I went to Sunset Portraits in Everett, WA to get a few shots taken. Hoping a professional could get a good shot of me. Well at least the lighting would be good anyways. No face in the dark of a poorly lit and flash-less photo. No special effects. No need for red-eye removal. Just a decent shot of me for use online.

Not in the Everett/Seattle, WA area and want to try using a professional photographer, take a look at LookBetterOnline. You can search their network of photographers for one in your area and view samples of their work.