Are you posting bad profile pictures on your dating apps?

As someone who has used multiple dating apps and websites, I’ve seen all sorts of ridiculous pictures. Some pictures make me gag, some make me laugh, and some make me stare open-mouthed. The one thing they all have in common is that I NEVER contact these people. It just makes me wonder “What were you thinking? Did someone put this picture on your profile as a cruel joke?”

I’ve only looked at the profiles of men, so my list of bad dating profile pictures will be limited to what I’ve seen from that gender. However, this list applies to women as well.

 

Bad Dating Profile Pictures:

1. Shirtless/practically naked: I get that you’re proud of your body, but put a frickin’ shirt on!

2. Working out: Again, I can tell you want to show off your muscles, but I don’t need to see you doing bicep curls.

3. Holding a fish: I thought this was just a regional thing, but apparently guys all over the world love to show off that they caught a fish. That just doesn’t appeal to me.

4. Holding a baby: Is it your baby? A friend’s? Did you steal it? It’s unclear, and it doesn’t make me believe you love babies.

5. Groups: Which one are you? I don’t want to strain my eyes to figure out which person is the common denominator in five group shots.

6. Blurry: Are you afraid to show yourself? Then I guess I’m afraid to meet you.

7. Animals: Maybe you have a cute dog, but I want to see what you look like, not your pet.

8. Not current: It looks like you wore that outfit in the ’90s. Do you have any current pics to show me? Possibly something from the past year (not decade).

9. Creepy: You look like an ax murderer. Why is there blood on your clothes?

10. Unsmiling: One serious picture is acceptable, I suppose, but I’d rather see you smiling and having fun. Stay away from mugshots, please.

11. No full body: If you have six pictures, but they’re all up close and only show your face, it makes me wonder what’s going on down there.

12. No face: I’ve also seen the opposite, where you only show your body and no face pictures. What are you hiding?

13. Nature: I can find a nature photo on the internet. Why is this picture on your profile if you’re not even in it?

14. Hat and sunglasses: If you have a hat on in every picture, I assume you’re bald. The sunglasses don’t make you any cooler. Don’t be afraid to show off your beautiful, bald head.

15. Multiples: If you take ten pictures of yourself wearing the same outfit from different angles, they’re basically the same picture. Get some variety.

16. Far away: Your photos have a lovely background, but it looks like you’re hundreds of miles away. Sorry, I don’t have X-ray vision.

17. Filters: Are you ten years old? Feel free to send your friend a picture of you looking like a cat, but it’s not appropriate for a dating profile.

18. With a date: You have your arm around a stunning woman, and I don’t think she’s your sister. Is she currently your girlfriend? Should I be jealous?

 

 

There are many other awful types of profile pictures I’ve seen, but these are the first that come to mind. If you have doubts about your pictures, ask a few people for advice. Having a variety of photos that show off who you are is the best plan. And I won’t tell you to swipe left every time you see one of the above types of pictures because there will be no one left to match with!

If you’re unsure if you even want to try online dating, read this article to learn more. And here is a concise list of pictures your dating profile should include, in case you’re confused.