ted78 is offline ted78 Post #1  May 12,2009, 3:24pm
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I think I'm a fairly attractive guy, but I'm definitely not too photogenic and I don't have any recent picsthat I think are worth posting on my profile.


Does posting pics that you obviously took yourself send a signal? Ordo most people not think about it? I snapped a pretty cool pic of myself before going out the other night, but then I started wondering.
 
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D_Lion is offline D_Lion Post #2  May 12,2009, 6:14pm
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If you have a camera with a timer and a tripod, you can get acceptable photos of yourself.


The obvious ones (where you hold the camera in the mirror) are risky; they need to be great photos, in an artistic sense, to get away with it.
 
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eH_Advice_Host_Kate is offline eH_Advice_Host_Kate — Advice Official Moderator Post #3  May 12,2009, 8:26pm

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Hi Ted78,


This is what our Photo Guidelines say, and unfortunately the direct link was too long to post, but you can find this on our Help page (http://help-singles.eharmony.com) if you search under the key word “photos”:


1. Make sure your photo is clear, not blurry or covered by shadows.


2. Make sure the first photo is a close-up or headshot, not a picture taken at a distance. Your matches want to see you, not the background you are standing in.


3. Stand alone in the first photo. Of course, you may want to upload some photos of you in a group, such as with family members, friends, or pets, but make sure to post at least one photo that is just you.


4. Do not stand with someone of the opposite sex unless it is completely obvious that the person is not a spouse or significant other, or unless you post a caption that explains who the person is. You may know the person is a relative or a platonic friend, but your matches won't know that.


5. Dress for success. Pictures of people in bathing suits, pajamas, or unflattering outfits rarely get responses from matches. We recommend you dress as you would for your first date.


6. Pose for success as well. If you are standing or sitting upright, and smiling, in front of a pleasant view or background, your matches will be more likely to respond than if you are slouching in a recliner.


7. Your photos should have been taken recently. Some people think they looked better when they were younger, so they post older photos — but your matches will want to see you as you would look on your first date with them.


8. We highly recommend having photos taken professionally. We do not recommend using your camera phone to take your reflection in a mirror or using webcams, as these types of pictures tend to look unflattering.


9. You must be present in all pictures. We understand that your matches will enjoy seeing your children, pets, artwork or anything else that expresses who you are – just make sure you’re present in the picture as well.


10. Nude, obscene, sexual, or otherwise offensive photos will not be posted.


You would be surprised the message the types of photos and the quality of your photos sends to your matches. Because they don’t have the benefit of meeting you in person, they are a helpful tool to offer a realistic and dynamic variety of photos so they have a better sense of who you are. If you feel that the photo you took of yourself represents you well, then by all means, use it!


You might be interested in some other related eHarmony Advice articles:


http://advice.eharmony.com/article/your-photo-gallery-tell-the-story-of-your-life.html


http://advice.eharmony.com/article/the-professional-guide-to-good-profile-pictures.html


http://advice.eharmony.com/article/5-photos-that-make-you-look-undateable.html


All the best,


Kate
eHarmony Advice Host
 
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gr8galmv is offline gr8galmv Post #4  May 12,2009, 8:52pm
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Oh there's so many BAD ways to take a self protrait which will turn off a girl in more ways that one. Most cameras have a self timer. Use it. You don't even need a tripod or anything, a tall chair and books stacked will do. But it was always a turn off for me to get guys who only had self photos posted that were either, 'hey let's turn the camera around while in my hands and take a picture' or worse yet, let's take a photo of myself taking a photo in the bathroom mirror. And finally, the other turn off is the computer camera photo. While you might think your self photo is cool, all women want is a nice photo without too much creativity. What is a 'cool' picture to you may not be what women are looking for. Again, use the self timer feature and go pose. Post a full length photo and a more closer up one so your matches can see your face. But post something.
 
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PuceCashew is offline PuceCashew Post #5  May 12,2009, 11:13pm
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I think it's fun to have a variety of photos--the first one basically a "good" photo where people can see you, and the others a mixed bag--some with friends, one goofy one with a camera phone or whatever, and maybe a photo booth at Disneyland.
 
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DDjr is offline DDjr Post #6  May 13,2009, 8:35am
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D_Lion wrote :
If you have a camera with a timer and a tripod, you can get acceptable photos of yourself.


The obvious ones (where you hold the camera in the mirror) are risky; they need to be great photos, in an artistic sense, to get away with it.
Set up a chair that you are going to sit in. Put boxes up to head height so that the camera when you press the button will establish the correct focus distance. (My camera focuses when I press the button, NOT when the shutter clicks.)
 
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librarybabe is offline librarybabe Post #7  May 14,2009, 9:34am
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If you really want to know, why don't you put the photo you took up as your profile photo? I have seen so many friends on Facebook take cute photos of themselves, that I don't read into it any weird messages. (Gee, doesn't he have any friends? or He must be so self-involved to take a photo of himself.) If a photo makes you look like yourself and meets the criteria that EHarmony advice listed above, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't use it.

I dislike photos that people took from their webcam, not hand held cameras or cameras on a timer. Webcams usually have lousy color, often capture people when they are not ready, and are almost always taken from below - a view that gives almost everyone a double chin. But even webcams don't make me assume the worst about the person or send a signal, I just have a hard time getting past the unattractive photo to see the real person.
 
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Gr8Guyn2008 is offline Gr8Guyn2008 Post #8  May 14,2009, 1:18pm
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As long as you are taking photos of yourself with a good camera and a self-timer or remote then there is nothing wrong with taking your own photos.

However if you are using your cell phone camera and taking them in a mirror or I can see your arm outstretched then these are not good ideas for your profile.
 
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trailviews is offline trailviews Post #9  May 15,2009, 8:47am
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eH_Advice_Host_Kate wrote :
Hi Ted78,
This is what our Photo Guidelines say, [...]
8. We highly recommend having photos taken professionally.
The other posted advice above is good. I'd strongly recommend against professionally done photos though. It's really the opposite extreme of the webcam, mirror, outstretched arm with the phone cam. I'm not really interested in touched up photos against a fake backdrop. Save those to send to family members. I'm sure your parents will love them.

Furthermore, if you just scan and post a professionally done photo, you were probably violating the photographer's copyright in doing so, which doesn't make you look too good, IMHO, either.

Photos that capture you in your own element are best.
Last edited by trailviews; May 15,2009 at 11:22am.
 
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Oregon_Coast_Guy is offline Oregon_Coast_Guy Post #10  May 15,2009, 4:06pm
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An obvious self-taken photo also makes it look like you are unsocial and have no friends.
 
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