Photos and Dating
What Should I Wear in My Dating Profile Photos?
Should I dress like my normal life or more upscale for dating photos? The best answer is a mix. Your photos should look like you, just on a good day.
Dress like the best version of your normal self
If you never wear suits, a profile full of suits can feel fake. People want to know who they will actually meet. Wear what you would wear on a nice day out, but make sure it is clean, fits well, and is not wrinkled.
What works well
- Solid colors. A plain tee, sweater, or button up shirt in a solid color looks clean and keeps the focus on your face.
- Good fit. Not too tight, not too baggy. Shoulders should line up and sleeves should not be too long.
- Colors near your face that flatter you. Navy, white, gray, olive, earth tones, and soft blues work for most people.
- A layer. A jacket, overshirt, or cardigan adds shape and looks put together.
- One dressier photo. A nice outfit for one photo, like a dinner or wedding, shows you can dress up.
What to avoid
- Big graphic tees or loud logos
- Busy patterns that pull attention from your face
- Stained, faded, or wrinkled clothes
- The same outfit in every photo
- Sunglasses or hats in most photos
Change it up
Use a different outfit in each photo. This shows you in different settings and makes it clear the photos were taken on different days. A casual photo, a hobby photo, and a dressed up photo together tell a fuller story.
Match the setting
Wear what makes sense for the place. Hiking gear for a hike, a nice shirt at dinner, a cozy sweater at a coffee shop. Photos feel more natural when the outfit fits the scene.
For women
The same ideas apply. Wear what makes you feel like yourself, with a mix of casual and dressy looks. Colors that brighten your face help in your first photo. Avoid too many photos in the same outfit or style.
Test your outfits
Sometimes a shirt you love does not photograph well, and one you never thought about looks great. Take photos in a few outfits in the same light. On The Face They See, you can upload 3 photos and people of the opposite gender rank them for free, so you can see which outfit people like most.
A quick checklist before you shoot
Before you take photos, check a few things. Is the shirt ironed or at least smooth? Are there stains or lint? Do your shoes look clean? Is your hair done the way you usually wear it? Take a test shot and zoom in. Small details like a wrinkled collar are easy to miss until the photo is on your profile, and they only take a minute to fix.
The main idea
Wear clean, well fitting clothes that look like you on a good day. Pick solid colors, change outfits between photos, and include one dressier look.