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Sharing photos with potential matches can be fun and enlightening. Since all matches at eHarmony have broad-based compatibility, sharing photos is one way people can see if there’s also a spark of chemistry. And they are great for visually displaying parts of our lives to our matches when words just won’t do the job.
1. They Don't Smile!
Did you ever hear the expression "a picture is worth a thousand words"? It's not true, of course, but people think it is. So when members see a match's photo, and the match has a tight-lipped, humorless expression, they quite likely assume that the match's whole personality is joyless and drab. On the other hand, a welcoming smile says, "I feel great, and I'm happy to meet you!"
Put your best foot forward, and let them know you're a warm person who can show them a great time. Smile, smile, smile!
2. They Don't Use Their Heads
So many of our users like to show themselves on a vacation, or at their family reunion as their first photo. The problem is, matches have a hard time getting a good first impression if the first photo shows someone in a crowd or in front of a rushing waterfall. It's probably best to keep background distractions away from your first photo, so that you take center stage.
Make sure the first photo is a very nice head shot. That means you're facing the camera, you're well groomed and fresh faced, your hair is all in place, you're well dressed, and, yes, you're smiling! If you don't have a friend or family member who knows how to take a good photo, go to a professional photo center such as Glamour Shots where they can make you look your best.
3. They Don't Use Recent Photos
Sometimes, folks think that if they were a size 6 in 1996 they should post a photo from that year as a profile pic. They don't realize that meeting a match and having him or her look nothing like the photo makes people angrier than a swarm of bees, and less likely to go on a second date.
So it's best to be honest. Show your best self, but also your most recent self. Your dates are going to be meeting the current you, not a version of you from years past, so it's better to be frank now. That way, you'll know that all your communicating matches like you as you are!
4. They Don't Use Captions
Most people want to introduce their matches to a whole world of friends, family, and coworkers. But when they don't add a caption to explain who these folks are, their matches have no context--they just see random strangers. So when posting photos that require an explanation, use captions to help clarify who the viewer is looking at. And if you want to post a photo or two of yourself in a foreign land, or from your family reunion, captions will help give your matches the necessary background info to be impressed by your 20-mile hike on the Great Wall or your cousin Rhea's new triplets.
5. They Show Themselves With Their Ex
This seems like such an obvious no-no, but people still sometimes show photos of themselves with their last romantic partner while trying to find the next one on eHarmony! Sometimes they even physically cut the ex out of the photo, so that there's an obvious gaping hole, or use a piece of paper to block out their ex. Needless to say, this looks tacky.
For the sake of all involved, don't include photos of you and your ex. It will be a turnoff to your dates and, worse, it may confuse your potential matches as to your single status. You're better off using a different photo. If you must use a photo that your ex is in, use a photo editor such as Photoshop to zoom in on just yourself, and crop the ex completely out (or send the photo to us at photos@eharmony.com and ask us do it for you).
Because your matches want to see you as single, with no strings from previous relationships, you also need to be careful about using photos of you and any member of the opposite sex who is roughly your same age. It might be just a sibling or a platonic friend, but your matches won't know that--unless you use a caption that clearly says, "My brother Pete."
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