When enrolling for the first time with an online dating agency, you complete, more or less, a personal profile of yourself, with or without a photograph at that time. You then search the profiles of others to seek potential partners. You may view profiles that have photographs of the other person or sometimes not. Don't ignore profiles without photos.
No Photographs on a Profile? For several reasons there may be no picture on a profile when you search:
1. Default search criteria that you are using excludes profiles without photographs. This is easily dealt with by changing those settings in the search panel of the dating site.
2. The other person is not technical (though most people today can load a photo or get someone to do it for them).
3. They have just started setting up a basic profile and have not organised a photo yet.
4. They loaded a photograph and it is awaiting approval by the agency (this can in some circumstances take a while).
5. They dont think other people will find them attractive
6. A lady is very attractive and wants to restrict her picture to those who are interested in her profile first. Private photos or galleries help to get around this problem. This is not usually a problem for men posting pictures.
7. Some people are just nervous or cautious about a visible online presence, and that is quite reasonable. They may well have photographs ready and waiting to email; alternatively, if the site has the feature, they may have private photographs loaded in a private gallery, though this should be obvious from the profile.
So, you can see that there are quite valid reasons why photographs may not be present at a given point in time. Dont forget, the very person you are looking for may be one of those!
Importance of Photographs. Photographs are important, because if someones appearance is not attractive to you, then thats not a good start (and vice versa). Of course, when it comes to a photo of yourself, then you will get a much lower response if you dont have one posted! Dating companies typically quote a ten times difference in response for those profiles which have no photographs.
From your own perspective, be fair though, and make sure your own photograph is a reasonably recent one. Get it loaded and approved as soon as possible. Most worthwhile dating sites insist that your primary photograph is a clear head-and-shoulders picture with no other people included.
Smile in your main picture, and preferably avoid a forced smile when posing, just think about a time when you were happy or of a joke you find particularly funny. You may have been researching dating site and profiles as a guest before signing up with a site. Think about those pictures you have found attractive, and why. And think about those where people look unhappy or stressed!
Style. Formal studio photographs do not appeal to everyone. However, if someone has gone to the trouble of organising studio portraits, then you can bet that they are serious about online dating. I wouldnt load a passport shot though!
Complete informality probably does not do the subject any justice either. For example photos taken quickly with a mobile phone in poor light will probably not show you in the best light, if you will excuse the pun.
Photograph Backgrounds are Important. A lot of photographs you see have been taken on holiday, at family events and parties. The background may give you some insight into that person (some people do not complete their profiles rigorously as it can be quite a time consuming process). Likewise, your own picture background may say things about you (e.g. an untidy computer desk or posing by your car).
There are negatives too. Im not particularly keen on pets, so a picture of a lady with a pet is a potential negative (but it could be a friends pet). So, picture backgrounds can disclose a lot about the subjects, both positive and negative, or nothing at all.
They can increase your appeal e.g. climbing a cliff face if you are looking for someone who is into mountaineering, but could decrease your appeal too!
Private Picture Galleries. Most sites offer this facility in one form or another. Ideal for the less formal photographs, perhaps taken at a party with friends or family. And, obviously, not for general public viewing. Do try to appreciate that the photographs will give clues about you, as you may well discover more about the other person from their less formal photographs. They can also be a good source of questions for that first telephone chat or email.
InSummary
Do
- present yourself in the best light and do try to smile
- think about style and background in photographs
Don't
-miss out on profiles with no photographs if the rest of the profile is of interest, as people may be taking time to present themselves in the best light!
Photographs in online dating profiles are important!
Call in at => www.sailingsoulmates.blogspot.com
(C) 2009 Phil Marks
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