Tips For Best Tinder Profile Photos For Men, Women

Tinder Profile Tips For Guys, Girls. Tinder Profile Pics & Photo Tips. Best Photos To Use For Tinder, How To Make A Good Tinder Profile, How To Take Good Tinder Photos 

Given that Tinder has one of the most lopsided gender ratios of any dating app on the market, good photos are crucial to have any sort of success on the platform. Most people have no idea what makes for a good photo (Tinder even launched Smart Photos to help them out).

A good photo doesn’t have to be taken on a DSLR (I take them often with my camera phone for clients) nor do they have to be super sharp or feature blurred backgrounds (bokeh) despite what you see on some photographer sites.

Below are some helpful tips on Tinder profile photos to aim for, worst dating photos to avoid, how to better take photos on your own in the event you are unable to get your friends to help out with taking photos of you and general tips around good pictures on Tinder.

Photos are more about personality, a lifestyle, rather than technical attributes and perfect lighting and other conditions. What you signal in your facial expressions, backgrounds, posture, facial hair, activities, lighting and clothing matter!

Best Photos For Tinder: What Pictures To Put On Tinder Profile (Men, Women)

In order to get right-swipe worth photos, you need to make sure the photos you do use are flattering, well lit, not only show your face and physique but also your style, smiles, hobbies, passions, guilty pleasures and occasional self-deprecating humor.

The below guidance provides more concrete and advanced tips for sorting through, prioritizing and selecting photos for your dating profile. These are general rules of thumb and with everything in life there are exceptions to the rules.

If you visit forums like Reddit you will get a range of opinions but each of those opinions lacks context about users experience, looks, demographics etc.

Typically, women have more wiggle room when it comes to photos because of the gender ratios on most dating apps. Also, the more attractive people are the more they seemingly get away with on dating apps.

With that said, improving the quality of the photos as outlined below will help to generate better quality likes and matches.

For additional photo tips on best Tinder profile pics, read this post on how to look more attractive in your photos.

How Many Photos Should You Use On Tinder Profile?  

Ideally, you need 4 to 6 unique photos for a dating profile. Most guys struggle to get this number of photos and even though there is room for 9 photos, keep in mind you are only as attractive as your worst photo.

With that said, the 4 to 6 photos you do use should be unique in pose, outfit, environment and expression.

You don’t want all super wide smiles nor all photos in the same dark outfits. Photos should have some variety in terms of backgrounds, poses, angles, crops and lighting. If you use 1-2 photos, expect people to left swipe on you regardless of looks.

Related read: Tinder Plus vs Tinder Gold

Related read: Tinder vs Hinge vs Bumble

Tinder Photo Rules: What Should Your First Tinder Pic Be? Best Tinder Photos To Use. 

Assume people may not look past your first photo. Your first photo should be your best photo. Avoid sunglasses, shirtless photos, hats and group photos.

Photos should be clear, be taken of you and be a flattering photo (ideally your best photo effortless and other photos should not be a complete drop off). Ideally a full body photo or close up photo i.e. 1/2 body or 1/4 body. People will judge you by your worst photo.

Related read: Misleading dating app photos.

Best Tinder Pics: Using Travel Photos On Tinder Profile, Best Tinder Profile Photos For Women 

This seems super obvious but these types of photos show the type of traveler you are (beach bum, explorer, Instagram post chaser) as well as places and things you find interesting and amazing. People tend to be more relaxed and more likely to be enjoying themselves on vacation.

As an added bonus travel photos make it easier to initiate an opening message when items in the background can easily spark conversation starters. Avoid cliché places like Iceland, Machu Picchu, Tulum for your travel photo.

Pro-tip: Ask tourists and strangers to take photos of you or ask if they would like help to take a photo. You will never see them again and chances are they can take a better photo of you than you can yourself. Avoid selfies though when possible.

Related read: Best types of photos for dating profiles

Group Photo / Social Environment Photos On Dating Apps: Are Group Photos Ok For Tinder

Photos taken with friends or activities you enjoy doing often yield smiles. Added validation of having friends and enjoying fun, social activities is also a bonus (see what do your dating profile photos signal?)

Typically, group shots are taken for special occasions, events etc. These details can add context and make it easier to initiate conversation.

Pro-tip: Make sure you don’t make a group photo for your main photo and don’t include super attractive people to take attention away from you. Ask a stranger or a cute girl or guy to take these group shots rather than taking a selfie.

Special Occasions, Formal Events – Business Suits In Dating Photos

A photo in a suit or dress at a wedding, black tie event or business event can provide an opportunity to get dressed up in the appropriate (and relevant) environment and give a glimpse of your style and how you clean up.

Events like this are rare and people are likely to snap photos of each other so why not ask a stranger for help in taking a photo.

Pro-tip: See if there is a professional photographer at the event and get your photo taken.

Tinder Photos Tips: Halloween Costumes, Festive Holidays, 

This holiday is a great time of the year to show your creativity and spirit which is hard to convey in text.

With opportunities to take photos at office parties and contests as well as social parties, this day is the easiest day to capture photos as well as initiate conversation on and offline. Other days include Derby day, costume parties, all-white Diner en Blanc parties, and more.

Pro-tip: Make sure to capture photos of yourself and group shots early in the day/night as costumes fall apart, people get sloppy and makeup starts to get ruined.

Outdoor / Physical Activity, Full Body Photos

A carefully (tastefully) taken photo at the beach, athletic attire out hiking can provide an excuse to show a little extra skin, muscle definition, lean body and energy level in a natural environment with others.

Photos taken in the water or pool are a natural way to take photos in a bathing suit without seeming too narcissistic or douchey.

Photos with form fitting shirts and tank tops are often better than unnecessarily topless photos. Don’t pose for activity shots, they should be candid and imperfect (slightly dark, grainy, etc.)

Pro-tip: Avoid selfies, neck-down photos, photos of your stomach, flexing. Take off your sunglasses.

Related read: How to look more attractive in your dating photos.

Close-Up Photos, Dating Headshots, Dating Profile Portraits

People want to see how you look like up close. Avoid photoshopped, embellished and skin softened LinkedIn photos and go with a close-up 1/2, 1/4 or chest up shot of you smiling or laughing.

If your headshot looks significantly different from your other photos, people will assume you don’t appear as you are and will assume your photos are fake and swipe left.

Avoid using portrait mode or excessive background blur and these come off as staged, forced rather than spontaneous and candid.

Pro-tip: Assume people will look you up on LinkedIn at some point before meeting you. Don’t have a bad headshot in your LinkedIn profile.

Related read: Should you use selfies on dating app profiles?

Restaurants, Bars & Cafés (Environmental Photos)

Your favorite food dish or beverage should put a smile on your face. A photo like this can show your favorite spots around town and possibly spark a conversation about a place the other person loves or has been wanting to explore.

Pro-tip: Recognizable locations are great but avoid cliché places.

What Pictures To Put On Tinder Female: Best Tinder Photos For Girls

The ability to share an embarrassing moment is the ultimate sign of confidence and comfort in your own skin.

An epic snowboarding fail, failing into a wet cement pit or spilling something on your shirt in the proper frame and context can show you are not insecure, can laugh at yourself and are confident enough to use such a photo. Guys love these photos vs cliche, boring, generic posed photos.

Should I Smile In My Tinder Picture? Tinder Photos For Men, Best Tinder Photos For Guys

The #1 pet peeve I hear from women about dating photos from men is lack of smiles. Most men look constipated, tired, angry, lazy or EMO. Some women view dark, intense or creepy looks and smiles as automatic left swipes. Don’t let this happen to you.

Looking approachable, confident and fun to be around should be your aim in photos. At the same time, the photos should be contained smiles, not so wide open that one can see the back of your mouth.

Worst Photos On Tinder: Are Selfies Bad For Tinder? Should I Post A Shirtless Pic On Tinder

Using too many cliché photos as outlined here in my dating photo bingo card can hurt your chances at success as it can signal boredom, lack of creativity, or insecurity.

Photos that only show the top of your body, have photos in dark lighting, photos taken from a distance, photos that don’t appear as you are today or photos with the same background, outfits, poses or head turns will definitely be noticed and swiped left on.

According to Hinge, selfies receive 40% fewer likes than non-selfies and bathroom selfies receive 90% fewer likes.

Related read: Should You Use Selfies On Dating Profiles?

Should You Activate Tinder Smart Photos? Is Smart Photos On Tinder Good?

Many people struggle trying to figure out which are the best photos to use in a Tinder profile. Great Tinder photos are rather selective. They are based on lighting, pose, outfits, environment, order and lastly based on other photos other people have used that you are competing with.

Tinder Smart Photos figures out what order to place your photos through extensive testing.

It’s not something I recommend and it’s something I actually think can hurt your chances. Proceed with caution, understand its limits and seek out trusted advice instead if you have the chance.

Reddit Dating Subreddits, Reddit Dating Profile Reviews, Feedback

There are plenty of subreddits that talk about specific apps and online dating. Take them with a grain of salt as most people don’t have much success and resemble the blind leading the blind.

r/rateme

r/dating

r/onlinedating

r/tinder

r/bumble

r/hingeapp

r/datingoverthirty

r/datingoverforty

Tinder Photo Tips: How To Take Tinder Pictures By Yourself – Good Pictures For Tinder

People want to see what you look like and not just your face. Your body should be shown from normal angles, don’t be fatfishing on Tinder (i.e. taking photos from unnaturally high angles to make you look slimmer).

Should I Put A Shirtless Picture On Tinder?

Typically no, but depends on who you want to attract and if you have no shame.

How To Add More Than 9 Photos On Tinder

Open up a photo editing tool and combine multiple photos into one i.e. 2 into 1 or 4 into 1 and upload that combined photo.

With that said, you don’t need more than 4-6 photos on a dating profile as you will likely sabotage your profile with a bad photo. See rules below.

Should You Look Away In Tinder Photos?

Contrary to what you have heard, there is strong evidence to be careful about where to look.

Best Profile Pics, Profile Picture Ideas For Guys, Girls, Tinder Profile Pics

Assume you will be judged by your first, main photo only and that most people will not look beyond that when reviewing your profile. Your main profile pic should be your best one, clearly lit and alone.

Golden Rule of Online Dating Photos, What Are Good Tinder Pictures?

1) You are only as attractive as your worst photo.

2) Assume most people on dating apps will judge you on your first photo, main photo.

For additional Tinder related advice, tips regarding swipe strategy, photos, profile bios and more, check out my other posts.