Let’s not lie to ourselves—your bio might be, and probably is, brilliant… but no one’s reading it until they’ve scrolled through your photos like it’s a visual résumé. 

In dating app land, your photos are your first impression, your personality pitch, your pre-date energy check. So if your lineup is giving “blurry group trip from 2018,” “panicked front cam selfie,” or worse, “my ex definitely took this,” then babe… we’ve got some work to do.

Because I know that you’re funny, smart, kind, probably smell great, and look even better in person. But unless your profile reflects that—clear, confident, and actually showing who you are—no one’s gonna stick around long enough to find out.

So pour a glass of wine (or a green juice if it’s one of those weeks), and let’s clean up your camera roll. Your next first date depends on it…

1. The “Yes, This Is My Actual Face” Photo

This is your handshake. Your cover shot. Your trust-builder. Your first impression, and we all know how important those are. This is not the moment for sunglasses, a blurry Vegas night, or that cursed dog filter that should’ve died with 2017. Yes, they're still out there…

When someone’s deciding whether to start a conversation (or in FROM’s case, set up a date) they need to know who they’re talking to. A clean, confident head-and-shoulders photo—with a real smile, eye contact, and solid lighting— signals emotional availability. It says, “Hey, I’m a real person, and if you match with me, you’ll actually recognize me when I walk into the bar.”

2. The Full-Body Shot

Yes, really. Not for vanity, but for context. We’re human—we want to see the whole person, not just cropped shoulders and mysterious angles. A full-body photo shows confidence, clarity, and comfort in your own skin. It doesn’t need to be posed or sexy. It’s you in your favorite outfit walking down the street, laughing with your iced coffee, or standing outside the bar waiting for you friend. It gives people a sense of what it might feel like to be with you in real life—and that’s the entire point.

3. The “In-Your-Element” Photo

This is the picture that says, “Here’s what lights me up.” It’s you mid-laugh at a backyard dinner party, post-hike and sweaty but glowing, DJing a friend’s rooftop night, or holding your dog like he pays rent. It's not about being impressive—it’s about being real. What do you love? Where do you feel most like yourself? This photo shows passion, personality, and presence—and gives your match a reason to ask something other than “how was your weekend?”

4. The “Social but Solo” Photo

We get it—you have friends. But your dating profile isn’t a group project. Instead of crowd shots where no one knows who to look at, opt for a photo of you in a social setting, but still the focus. You’re not isolated—but you’re not lost in a crowd either. It should say, “I’m fun, approachable, and probably a great plus-one,” without making someone play detective to find your face.

5. The “Wild Card / Curveball” Photo

Here’s where you surprise us. This could be you in a very nichè Halloween costume, a pic of you performing on stage, feeding a camel, or standing next to a wax figure of Rihanna. It’s meant to spark curiosity. This is the photo someone will use to open the convo. It should show confidence, self-awareness, and just the right amount of not-taking-yourself-too-seriously. And let’s be honest—“I need to know the story behind this” is a far better opener than “Hey.”

Bonus Advice, Because You Know I Can’t Help Myself:

• No bathroom mirror selfies. One? Okay, fine. Five? Unmatched.

• Avoid dead eyes. If you’re not smiling, make sure you’re still giving something. Energy, expression, anything.

• Quality matters. Blurry pics or bad lighting give "I didn’t try." You’re not a mystery. You’re looking for a match. Show up like it.

• Filter with caution. Or better yet, ditch them all together. Show the real you—the one people actually get to date.

At the end of the day, the best thing to remember is this: Each photo should serve a purpose.

• One that says, “Here’s what I look like.”

• One that says, “Here’s how I move through the world.”

• One that says, “Here’s what lights me up.”

• One that says, “I have a life you might want to be part of.”

• One that says, “You’ll remember me.”

  
  

Because the goal isn’t just to get another swipe, in either direction. It’s to get a date. A real one. Face-to-face, eye contact, drinks on a Thursday kind of date. Until next time x