CyberDating ~ Free Dating and Relationship Advice!

Top 5 Tips for Posting a Photo on your Personal Ad

If a picture is worth a thousand words, why do people post such rough looking photos on their dating profiles? I swear, is there a competition for the worst photo on the Net?

I manage http://www.cyberdating.net a free dating website and part of my job is to review and post the photos that our members submit for inclusion on their personal ads. While processing the photos, about a hundred a week, I see some of the worst images you can imagine. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect all of the dating members to run out and have professional photos taken, although if you are serious about finding a mate it would make a difference, I just think that folks should spend more than a second or two choosing which photo to send.

In an effort to help you single guys and girls who want to put your best foot forward, I’ve compiled a short list of tips to help you select a photo for your personal ad.

1) Show us your face I realize this seems really obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many people post pictures where either their head is cut off, or they are wearing a hat with the brim pulled down past their nose. Doesn’t it seem obvious that if you are posting a photo, that you want people to see what you look like - not your chest or your favorite baseball team’s logo. Regardless of what the guys would have you belive, they do want to see pics of your face - not just your body.

2) Up close and personal

Regardless of what the guys would have you belive, they do want to see pics of your face - not just your body

You’re going to see a theme here folks; your prospective dates want to see you - specifically your face. Choose a picture where you are the main focus. On my site, we crop all the photos so they are head and shoulder shots. That way you can see what the guy in the photo looks like. As exposing as it is, show us the whites of your eyes.

3) Large, Bright and Clear The next tip continues with our theme of giving the visitor an idea of what you really look like. Don’t send in a fuzzy little photo for your ad and expect people to be able to see your charming face. Choose a photo that is large enough so that you can see all of your facial features clearly. And, be sure that the photographer was using a flash. Dark photos are about as useful as a photo of you wearing a baseball cap - the one we mentioned in tip 1. The final point in this tip is to check the image resolution and clarity. A grainy or fuzzy photo is just plain frustrating for the viewer. What are you hiding anyway?

4) No cars, Puppies or Guitars This next tip may just be my pet peeve, but If I’m choosing the love of my life, I really don’t need to see if she has a hot car, a cute puppy or if she rocks in a band. By all means tell us about your love for animals or your extraordinary musical talents in the questionnaire section of your profile. All those things are important parts of your personality and will help you find a great date and mate, but we don’t want an itty bitty little image of you hidden behind your sporty car or your drum kit. We want to see you and maybe some of your upper body. Please, no props are required.

5) Smile I’m guessing that since you are interested in dating enough to post a photo on the Internet that you are old enough to have had your photo taken a bunch of times before. What do people say when you get your photo taken? That’s right ... "Smile". I know it may be difficult to smile while you take a self portrait in your bathroom mirror, and that you can’t pull off that tough guy look if you are smiling, but you have to understand that you look a lot more lovable if you smile. Even a little smile will make a huge difference in the success of your Online personal ad.

Good luck in love, Tucker

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of CyberDating.net, it's staff or management. This free advice is for entertainment purposes only.