When it comes to the world of Tinder, pictures are King to landing matches.
Pictures are the pillar to your profile.
If you have few likes and matches.
The problem is most the pictures
They are not pulling their weight for your profile.
You want pictures on your profile that girls will screenshot.
So good they share it with their friends.
In this article, I go in-depth and give you the juicy details on the rules I use when selecting photos.
How you can design a Tinder profile with eye-catching pictures.
GENERAL RULES
Every guy’s goal at the end of the day is to increase the number of matches they are getting.
To do so, you have to consider the quality and type of pictures you have on display.
They are important when it comes to landing more matches.
As well as a higher caliber of women.
A profile with good pictures and a weak bio has a good chance of still getting swiped on.
While a profile with weak, low-quality pictures and a good bio will most likely get passed on.
Leading to no matches on Tinder
Understanding how a picture will get a woman to react to your profile is key to landing more matches and dates.
Knowing where, when, and what pictures to use can help you stand out in the sea of dudes out there.
Figuring out why certain pictures will get a certain reaction and how to best use it to your advantage.
FIRST PHOTO DEFINES YOU
I’m going to start off with one of the most important pictures you are going to have on your profile, the first photo.
Your first picture HAS to be your best.
This is your bread and butter pic and will dictate to many girls if she’ll end up swiping right on you
The first photo should have a clear view of your face if you want to show off a great smile.
You want the picture to appear very approachable. Good lighting is most definitely a must.
MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION, QUICKLY.
Think of your profile as a way of making a first impression on someone.
You have less than 3 seconds to make a first impression on someone when you first meet them in real life.
This time frame drops to less than 2 seconds when it comes to swiping on Tinder.
If she has been swiping for some time, you have less than 1 seconds as she is in a groove of swiping at this point.
If you don’t believe me ask yourself
Have you ever zoned out and started swiping left or right to the point that profiles became a blur?
Well, it happens to everyone.
Having a great first picture that grabs her attention and intrigues her is important.
It should be your priority when thinking about pictures on your profile.
This first photo gives you the highest chance of having her swipe right on you.
WORST PHOTO DEFINES YOU
While your first photo should be your best, your best photo is at the level of your worst photo.
If your worst photo has the potential to drag down the quality of your other pictures, remove it.
If you only have 4 good quality pictures of you then stick with 4. If you are trying to add a 5th and 6th but they have the potential to hinder your chances of getting liked. Don’t add it.
Keep in mind, every photo is a yes or no.
LAST PIC SHOULDN’T BE WORST
On a day to day interaction, a person will remember two things when it comes to meeting someone.
They will remember the initial interaction, and how they felt. The second thing they are going to remember is how they felt when they left the interaction.
First and last impressions are the most remembered memories of a person.
and this is true for Tinder.
Your last picture should be as good as your first picture.
If you stop a girl with your first picture she’s going to consider swiping right.
She is still going to look at all your photos.
And when she ends up at your last photo she will decide if she likes you.
So make sure your last photo is your second best photo.
It’s the last thing she sees before deciding swiping left or right on you
NO WOMEN IN PICS
You often hear having women in your social circle will add more value to your image.
I mean Dan Bilzerian does it, and so do tons of social media influencers right?
Well, when it comes to Tinder and online dating that rule doesn’t carry over well.
Women are very quick to judge and get jealous.
If they sense competition they are less likely to stick around and will categorize you as a player or a fuck boy.
If she has to sit there and wonder “Is that his friend, girlfriend, or relative”
She won’t sit there and ponder, chances are she’s gonna swipe not on you.
There are only a few exceptions when it comes to this rule and even then you are walking a fine line with this.
NO DEAD ANIMALS OR FISH
I get it, you’re adamant about hunting, you think it makes you look “Alpha”.
You might even be correct. The problem is a majority of women love animals.
So, if you are looking for a girl who is into hunting as you are, go ahead.
Dead animals in photos are very polarizing, even if a girl finds you attractive in every other field.
So unless you are a die-hard avid hunter and its part of your identity. It’s best to leave these out.
NO BABIES OR CHILDREN
If you are the type of guy looking for a long term relationship, first off Tinder isn’t your best choice for that.
You are better looking at Hinge
I understand the idea of being upfront about who you are.
Kids show baggage.
They will see the unnecessary chance of dealing with an ex baby mama as something to avoid.
Girls don’t want to come into a picture where there are kids.
If you have photos of you working at a YMCA, or some youth group counselor, the picture needs to make that clear.
Women on Tinder can be looking for a good time and kids don’t give off that vibe.
Think of it as a video game where you are playing someone else’s saved game.
DON’T USE OLD PHOTOS
If your best years were in high school and you’re 28.
Don’t post pictures of you in high school with your varsity jersey. No one cares.
Unless you look so close to your old photos that it’s almost non-noticeable, go ahead.
There can be exceptions, but even then it’s best to use as recent as possible pictures of yourself.
It’s inauthentic and adds confusion when the time to meet up comes around. It’s best to have recent photos.
USE GROUP PHOTOS SPARINGLY
Group Pictures where it’s not obvious who you are within the group.
If a girl can’t tell who you are and what your face looks like, she is more likely to swipe no on your profile.
The few times a girl will overlook you have girls in your picture is when you are in a group photo.
Group Pictures where it’s not obvious who you are within the group.
If a girl can’t tell who you are and what your face looks like, she is more likely to swipe no on your profile.
Don’t have her playing Where’s Waldo with your pictures.
NO SELFIES
Avoid these if possible unless it’s fitting.
You want to be doing something cool in the selfie, like traveling, skydiving, surfing.
It’s best to ask someone to take a second and snap a few photos of you.
If not then grab a simple tripod or gimbal for cheap and use it to take some shots of you.
As much as possible try and avoid the bathroom selfies.
If you are wanting to show off your abs then do some in a more candid style, pool, or beach setting.
NO HAT OR SUNGLASSES
Studies have shown that people are more willing to trust others when they are able to see their eyes.
So many photos of sunglasses keep them out.
When it comes to hats, this is more situational.
Some women may have the thought creep up, “Is he trying to hide something underneath the hat?”
It’s best to have photos where your hair is well kept.
Leave the hats for another time.
USE A VARIETY OF PICTURES
9 images from the same location or event make it seem as though that’s the highlight of your life.
Having a varied amount of photos in different situations/events gives the feel of an active and fun life.
SHIRTLESS ONLY IF YOU LOOK GOOD
Shirtless bathroom selfies, on every picture, are always gonna get you a swipe left.
Pictures where you are shirtless and you’ve got no muscle definition won’t help your cause.
Only use shirtless pics if you can pull it off.
That means if you want these shirtless pictures then hop on a diet, get to the gym, and shed that fat.
If you are going to show off abs, or some muscle definition, again look as candid as possible.
This is best while doing something that calls for you to be shirtless.
Skiing, Running, Surfing, Skateboarding, or even riding a motorcycle.
DOESN’T HAVE PICS WITH THE SAME SHIRT
If you have 5 pictures, and four of the 5 are all with the same outfit girls will pick up on this.
If you are wanting to have a professional photo session bring many outfits.
I understand you might have a “Lucky Shirt” that makes you look good.
Buy others that are either similar in fit and style but have some variety
ONLY USE HIGH-QUALITY PICTURES
The picture itself should be of decent to high quality. No grainy or pixelated images.
You want good lighting.
If you can afford it, invest in hiring a professional photographer.
This will help out in getting those high-quality photos. Selecting a photographer can be difficult though.
The higher quality photographers will charge at least a few hundred dollars in the US.
If they are new and looking to expand their portfolio then you might be able to do it for a cheaper price.
Check out each one’s portfolio before hiring.
If you can’t hire someone then get a friend or family member who has a DSLR, a good eye, and time on their hands to take photos.
WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE IN YOUR PHOTOS
Knowing how to set up your pictures is vital.
Knowing what you should have in your pictures will make or break your pictures.
This means that you don’t have a weird facial expression, poor posture, bad outfit, poor grooming, etc
It also means that you are the star of the picture and you are visible.
A certain picture can make you appear as though you are a high-value individual.
OUTFITS AND GROOMING ARE KEY
Have 3-4 outfits that compliment your physique and style.
Also, get a haircut that follows a current trend.
Outfit wise, look what influencers are wearing on Instagram.
If you can’t decide on a hair cut, bring in a few ideas to a hairstylist.
It’s best to ask an expert for advice.
The stylist will let you know what will look best on you.
SHOW YOUR FACE CLEARLY
This is the most important aspect of every single one of your pictures.
In group pictures you want to make it obvious who you are.
Don’t make her think, she will not spend the time searching the whole picture looking for you.
Treat this as though you are making your best first impression.
APPEARING HIGH VALUE
With this in mind, there are a set of rules anyone looking to maximize their exposure on Tinder should keep in mind.
Appear comfortable, in control, and as if you are enjoying yourself.
CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY
Don’t cower or appear as though you are in a fragile state in the picture.
Your posture should be upright and well maintained.
This means no slouching, hunching, or rounding of the back.
Women want a man who has composure in his appearance.
SMILE IN YOUR PICS
This ties in with showing your face.
Although not every single picture needs to be you smiling.
Look like you are enjoying life.
Don’t appear like your life is way too serious.
If you are uncomfortable with your smile, start working on it now.
Brush your teeth floss, get a dental check-up.
I know I shouldn’t be saying this but there are some out there that need it.
Be aware of how wide of a smile you are giving off when you are smiling.
You won’t have to be grinning ear to ear, but a smile with some teeth can do wonders.
Work with the angles that best flatter you, while smiling. Get a few photos taken and see which side is your “good side”.
Keep in mind you will have to meet up with your match and she’s going to see your smile.
SHOW YOUR INK
If you have tattoos then show them off.
It’s up to you how to best show them off and what you are most proud of.
But tattoos can add some individuality to you.
Even better if there is an actual symbolic emotional meaning behind the ink.
A large number of women find ink attractive so if you got it, show it.
LET YOUR PICTURES DO THE TALKING ABOUT THE PERSON YOU ARE
Most people can pick up when something isn’t natural.
Most photographers will and should be taking a decent amount of photos to get the best shot.
Giving a large amount of opportunity to find a photo that is best. Again you want the candid appearance.
POPULAR TYPES OF PHOTOS
While cookie-cutter, these types of photos have proven to give you the best chances of landing a match.
They invoke many of the qualities we’ve spoken about above when it comes to what you want to be doing in a given photo.
PETS
Girls love almost all types of pets.
Pets understand one thing, they love their owners.
Having pets will give you the appearance of “O he can be nurturing.”
SPORTS
In school, athletes were always popular.
That also carries over after graduating.
You don’t have to be part of a professional team, but having photos of you with a group of teammates tells women a lot.
In good shape, social and, goal-oriented
HOBBIES
Are you a hiker, guitarist, or rock climber?
Having hobbies outside of the house means you are an active guy.
Some hobbies are more attractive to a woman than others.
Sorry if you spend your time collecting sports cards, or playing chess.
It doesn’t intrigue the majority of girls.
If you don’t have hobbies, ask yourself what interests you.
Try and find some hobbies that will be on the physical side. Running, cycling, skateboarding, etc…
SUIT
A stylish fitted suit will go far with women.
You might get away with the rental but having a suit that best fits you will give you a more mature appearance.
If you are going to be wearing a suit keep in mind that you are going to want to make sure it’s suited for the situation you’re in.
If it’s a photo of you strolling through the mall, or a pier, some may question “Why are you wearing a suit at GameStop?”
SOLO WAIST-UP/HEADSHOT PHOTOS
This should line up with almost most of your photos unless you’ve got some full-body action shots.
POPULAR SPOTS TO TAKE PHOTOS
POOL
Flattering pics of you in the pool will do several things for you.
Show off those abs and muscles, if you’ve got the muscles.
Whether you are athletic from sports or working out, a good pool picture will give you a way of “showing off”.
You give the appearance of appearing “candid” in the photo.
If you have friends in the picture, it’ll show off your social aspect as well with the photo
BEACH
The beach is great for many reasons, most people who go to the beach are enjoying themselves.
On top of that, it’s a scenic outdoor shot which you can show your body.
The possibility of getting a great candid shot while you are enjoying yourself is high.
The types of shots you want give the appearance of you enjoying life.
Sitting in front of your gaming pc won’t or tv watching Netflix ain’t gonna cut it.
NATURE TRAILS
Most women want to feel as though if they are matching and going out with you, they are going to be going on an adventure.
Photos of you out in nature will give off this, even better if you actually are the active outdoors type.
HOW MANY PICTURES DO YOU NEED FOR TINDER?
On the low range, you’ll want to be at around 4 photos.
While the max is 9 pics.
There is no correct answer to this. Use what you got that is best suited for your profile.
Girls will only swipe no on you if your profile looks like a bot with one or two pictures. So the more the better appearance of “legit”.
HOW TO TAKE TINDER PICTURES BY YOURSELF
You can use a DSLR camera or a recent phone model.
Depending on the situation this will vary in methods.
If you are a skateboarder or surfer, this will be some of these few exceptions where a selfie is suitable.
In other situations investing in a gimbal or tripod for your camera/phone is your best bet.
Set a timer and snap pictures.
You’re gonna want to take a large number of pictures from many angles.
In this department, the quantity will lead you to quality.
HIRING A PHOTOGRAPHER
Go through their portfolio, find photographers that specialize in taking pictures of people.
Scourer their Instagram or Facebook, some will have a website too.
Ask them all the questions you have.
Photographers understand you do not have their knowledge.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
A portfolio specializes in taking pictures of people.
Ask the opinion of other people of the photographer you are researching.
Does that photographer’s style match what you are wanting to project on your profile?
If you are on the baller status, try out different photographers.
Each will have a distinct style.
COMMON RATE
Rates vary from photographer to photographer.
The better/more experienced they are the more they are going to charge.
You can expect a low-end photographer to charge your $75-$100 for an hour or two.
Higher end pros can cost $375-$500.
Some photographers won’t get out of bed for less than $200 these days.
HIGH-QUALITY PICS DSLR CAMERA
The photographer you hire should have a DSLR camera that is from the past few years.
Cameras don’t make a photographer “great” but they help improve picture quality.
They should not be taking photos with their phone.
NUMBER OF SHOTS & LOCATIONS
Get as many photos taken as possible.
Large sample size = more chances of grabbing that great shot.
You can expect to take hundreds of photos but only get 5-15 final edits depending on what you are paying for.
- Downtown
- Pier
- Mall
- Art District
- Beach
- Hobbies
- Sports
FILTERS CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PICTURES
Don’t add filters to the pictures a photographer sends you.
The photographer will find you and SLAP THE SHIT out of you.
That’s telling that photographer he wasted hours of his time editing for you to “do it yourself”.
If you don’t like an edit, tell the photographer and they will most likely make some changes for you.
That said, filters can improve photos taken by phone.
BUT BE EASY ON THE FILTERS
The point of a filter is to make it subtle.
Don’t make it super dark, light, or vibrant.
GETTING FEEDBACK ON YOUR PICTURES
You are not the best judge of pictures, get many opinions.
Ask your friends, family, or roommates for honest feedback.
They know you the best and can say whether that matches who you are or not.
ASK GIRLS WHAT LOOKS BEST
Now send your top picks to 5-6 honest, attractive female friends.
These girls should be close or in the same demographic to the girls you are wanting to attract.
I can already tell that this is something you may not want to do…
But, this is going to pay dividends in the long run.
You won’t have to guess what girls find attractive.
If these girls whose opinion you’re asking for are friendly, they will love to help out a friend.
You might be able to land a date from that alone.
Your pictures are the MOST IMPORTANT focus when it comes to your Tinder profile.
I’ve seen it time and time again.
Guy’s asking why they aren’t getting results with Tinder.
When they only have 3 pictures on their profile with 2 being selfies.
Bad pictures are all around the Tinder community.
Most guys are unaware of how it’s hurting their chances of getting matches.
Other Profile Tips
While pictures are the most important aspect of a profile, there are still more parts to it.
If you want to increase your matches, grab my free tinder profile hacks.
They can and will double your matches in a short amount of time.
How to go from matches to dates
Once you get your profile in order, you will be getting a lot more matches.
If you struggle with sending an opener
They will get you a response and start the conversation.
Final Thoughts
Photos are a tricky part of a profile.
Once you get the right ones, it’s game changing.
Join the Facebook group to connect with other like minded individuals. If you ever need any help someone will reach out to you.
HIRING A PHOTOGRAPHER
Go through their portfolio, find photographers that specialize in taking pictures of people. Scourer their Instagram or Facebook, some will have a website too. Ask them all the questions you have. They understand you do not know what they know(9 times out of ten they already have answered pr-planned for common questions)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
A portfolio specializes in taking pictures of people.
Ask the opinion of other people of the photographer you are researching. Does that photographer’s style match what you are wanting to project on your profile?
If you are on the baller status trying out different photographers with different styles can also work for your advantage.
COMMON RATE
Rates vary from photographer to photographer.
The better/more experienced they are the more they are going to cost you(unless you have a friend that is into it, then you can get it for free lol) you can expect a low-end photographer to charge your $75-$100 for an hour or two and the higher end pros can cost $375-$500 for a couple of hours.
Some photographers won’t get out of bed for less than $200 these days.
HIGH-QUALITY PICS DSLR CAMERA
The photographer you hire should have a DSLR camera that has been created within the past 5 years. Cameras don’t necessarily make a photographer “great” but you can expect to notice minor quality differences.
They should not be taking photos with their phone. The better the camera the higher quality image you can expect, yes the camera does not make you a great photographer but it will definitely help.
NUMBER OF SHOTS & LOCATIONS
Get as many photos taken as possible, large sample size = more chances of grabbing that great shot of you. You can expect to take hundreds of photos but only get 5-15 final edits depending on what you are paying for.
Downtown, popular local spots(pier, mall), art district, beach, on a motorcycle (if you have one), doing your favorite hobbies, playing sports, hanging with friends.
FILTERS CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PICTURES
IF YOU ARE PAYING A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PHOTOS AND YOU ADD A FILTER TO THE PHOTO, I WILL FIND YOU AND SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF YOU.
That’s basically telling that photographer he wasted hours of his time editing for you to “do it yourself”. DON’T BE THAT GUY. If you don’t like an edit, tell the photographer and they will most likely make some changes for you.
That said, if you do have photos that have been taken with a high-quality camera phone, filters can be added to give some flare to it.
BUT BE EASY ON THE FILTERS
If by chance the photographer you went to is not up to par and refuses to re-edit any photos for free, then carefully select a filter that gives just a smidge of a better effect. Don’t make it super dark, light, or vibrant. Make it SUBTLE.
GETTING FEEDBACK ON YOUR PICTURES
You are not the best judge of pictures, get multiple opinions. Ask your friends, family, or roommates. For honest feedback. They know you the best and can say whether that matches who you are or not.
PHOTOFEELER
We’ve seen this one mentioned several times before and well… If you want, give it a shot. But we are gonna be recommending this, seeing mixed reviews, we feel the best choice is going with the opinion of the type of girls you are interested in getting their opinion and go with that.
ASK GIRLS WHAT LOOKS BEST
Now send your top picks to 5-6 honest, attractive female friends. These girls should be close or in the same demographic to the girls you are wanting to attract.
I can already tell that this is something you may not want to do…
This is going to pay dividends in the long run, you won’t have to guess what the girls you find attractive to think of the pictures because they already gave you their opinion. If these girls whose opinion you’re asking for are friendly, they will love to help out a friend.
Girls pick up on the finer details more so than men, having several opinions will get you way more lies because they will notice what the girls swiping will notice.
Get a sample size from girls you find attractive.
Your pictures are the MOST IMPORTANT focus when it comes to your Tinder profile. If you’re not putting up pictures that are best fitted for you, that get girls to notice you, you aren’t going to get her to swipe yes on you.
We’ve seen it time and time again. Guy’s asking why they aren’t getting results with Tinder and they only have 3 pictures on their profile with 2 being selfies.
Bad pictures are all around the Tinder community and most guys are unaware of how it’s hurting their chances of getting the matches.
We help guys get started down the right path, having a clear set of methods that are designed to get you the matches you want. Visit our free download section for Tinder related guides on how to get started and creating The Ultimate Tinder Recipe for success.
