# Photos to not use on dating sites **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 20, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188 "2008-07-20T22:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/1 "2008-07-20T22:34:32Z")
Do no use your wedding picture as your main photo. I don’t care if you look good (this one didn’t), I don’t think being divorced at 22 is a plus. I suppose it’s better than still being married. Do not pout and flash a peace sign. Do not use pictures with the contrast out of whack so I can’t tell what you look like. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/2 "2008-07-20T22:42:16Z")
Do not post a picture of you holding an alcoholic beverage in a container larger than your head. Do not post a picture in which you look smoking hot, but was taken ten years and fifty pounds ago. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/3 "2008-07-20T22:49:20Z")
Similar to the wedding thing, don’t post a pic where it’s obvious you cropped out your ex Special rules for guys: Don’t post a pic of yourself shirtless. You’re far more likely to look goofy than sexy. Don’t post a pic of yourself with a sports car or with a little kid. Either one sends the message of “Trying too hard”. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/4 "2008-07-21T00:22:43Z")
Probably best to avoid using mugshots. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/5 "2008-07-21T00:24:47Z")
Don’t post a picture of your penis, unless it’s one of those “adult friends” sites. Even then, don’t. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/6 "2008-07-21T00:28:56Z")
Don’t post a picture of yourself in a hat and sunglasses. You might as well be putting a big, black bar across your eyes like you are in the witness protection program or something. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/7 "2008-07-21T00:30:18Z")
Please don’t use a heavily Photoshopped image that makes you look like Frankenstein’s Monster viewed through a heavy dose of peyote, 'kay? If you can’t get the hang of taking a pic of yourself with the camera screen facing away, please don’t use the bathroom mirror to take your picture. I don’t want to see your bathroom, I don’t want to see the bigass flash glare off to the side, the lighting is absolutely unflattering and I really wonder about anyone who can’t get somebody else to take his damned picture! Heck, total strangers will do that for ya if you ask nicely. On that note, try not to get your arm holding the camera into the shot, or crop it a bit. C’mon, it’s not rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/8 "2008-07-21T00:38:25Z")
Do not post a picture where your pet is larger than you. This makes me question your priorities. Do not post a picture where your face is obscured by an alcoholic beverage. This says, “I go out to drink, not to make friends.” Do not post a picture of a scanned print where the picture of the ex had been physically ripped away. This screams both “hasty” and “cheap”. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/9 "2008-07-21T00:49:18Z")
Do not use glamour shots for the main photo. This screams out that you have self esteem issues. Keep it natural. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/10 "2008-07-21T00:51:17Z")
Do not post a picture of yourself drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/11 "2008-07-21T00:57:31Z")
When marketing yourself based on your cash roll, don’t show the small bills, like [the last](http://www.bspcn.com/2008/04/09/5-myspace-morons/) guy. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/12 "2008-07-21T01:31:57Z")
I can’t believe the pictures some women put on dating sites. Using your phone in the mirror at some random part of the day with fluorescent light may not be your best option. I thought that women ran these kinds of things past their friends. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/13 "2008-07-21T02:58:53Z")
Don’t post extreme close ups. I don’t care what just your eye looks like. On the flip side of that, don’t use a photo in which you can barely make out there is a human in the shot. Personally I could give a rat’s ass about your motorcycle, car, or boat. I understand some women care about that, but I don’t. A lot of women don’t. You shirtless on your motorcycle will make me click out of your profile. Don’t post a webcam shot. Don’t try to be all dramatic with your pose. Smile. Don’t post a mirror shot. :rolleyes: Don’t post a mirror shot with a flash. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Please don’t post a picture of your penis and please don’t ask me if I want to see a picture of your penis. I don’t. Not ever. Don’t use your high school photo, unless you are still in high school, and if you are, get off my dating site! Do have a friend take some photos of you, and use those. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think they are good pictures of you. Nobody thinks they are photogenic. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/14 "2008-07-21T03:23:05Z")
[QUOTE=Snarky\_Kong] Do not pout and flash a peace sign. [/QUOTE] Half of my friends’ vacations pics feature this pose, and I don’t doubt that they would do it for a dating pic either. It’s the default asian pose. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/15 "2008-07-21T03:28:14Z")
Well, if they’re Asian (and female,) the pose won’t matter - they’ll get plenty of responses based on racial profiling alone. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/16 "2008-07-21T03:35:05Z")
Yeah, forgot to mention it’s mostly a girl thing. You’re right about it not mattering in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/17 "2008-07-21T03:39:25Z")
[QUOTE=Jackknifed Juggernaut] When marketing yourself based on your cash roll, don’t show the small bills, like [the last](http://www.bspcn.com/2008/04/09/5-myspace-morons/) guy. [/QUOTE] Those are some morons alright. Maybe I’m missing something here, being an ancient 41 year old - are women supposed to be more attracted to these guys because they have dollar bills in their mouths (leaving aside how gross that is)? ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/18 "2008-07-21T03:42:29Z")
Ladies, please stop it with the glamour shots. Try to be slightly realistic. If you weigh 175lbs be honest about it, if we meet up I promise you that I’ll notice. Stop including pictures of your pets. Just stop, I don’t care and neither does any other guy. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/19 "2008-07-21T03:48:10Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Those are some morons alright. Maybe I’m missing something here, being an ancient 41 year old - are women supposed to be more attracted to these guys because they have dollar bills in their mouths (leaving aside how gross that is)? [/QUOTE] I don’t know if it helps with the women, but I can tell you this much - those cash-money gang$taZ are giving me serious wood. I mean, like, teak. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188/20 "2008-07-21T04:26:40Z")
[QUOTE=gravitycrash] Stop including pictures of your pets. Just stop, I don’t care and neither does any other guy. [/QUOTE] Isn’t it better to be forewarned? If the cute girl is cuddling a cat and you can’t stand cats it’s going to be all “it goes or I go” and you know how that is going to end up. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photos-to-not-use-on-dating-sites/457188.md?page=2)