Skip to main content

3 Tips to Make Your Profile Pic Catches His Eye

You know your photo matters more than it should.

Even on online dating platforms like eHarmony, which prioritize compatibility over looks, men spend more time looking at photos than they do reading your profile.

OkCupid found that text contributes to less than 10% of a potential mate’s impression of you.

Not only are men skimming over what you’ve written, but the average man spends just 58 seconds perusing each profile.[1]

So you’ve got just under a minute to give him a reason to look deeper.

What can you do make sure he likes what he sees?

Well… here are 3 lesser-known profile picture tips backed by science.



Profile Pic Tip #1.
Use the Rule of Thirds

Many people make the mistake of centering their face in the middle of a shot. Symmetrical images are forgettable, while asymmetrical images are eye-catching.

You can make sure your profile picture stands out from the crowd by cropping it according to the Rule of Thirds.

The Rule of Thirds is a principle that photographers use to compose a shot. It involves dividing an image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Photographers align their subject based on that grid.

You don’t have to get that precise. Simply envision imaginary lines dividing the image into thirds. Crop your picture so that your face is positioned along one of those lines. You’ll immediately notice the difference!

Profile Pic Tip #2.
Show Your Hands

You already know you should face the camera, take off your sunglasses and hat, and show your teeth when you smile. (A closed mouth smile performed worse than a neutral face in an experiment done by behavioral investigator Vanessa van Edwards. [2])

But did you know that showing your hands could make you appear more trustworthy?

It turns out there’s good science behind the classic photographer’s pose of placing your hand under your chin.

Keeping your hands visible makes a man feel as if he can trust you, and trustworthiness is a factor in his decision whether or not to contact you.



Profile Pic Tip #3.
Get a Stranger to Pick Your Pic

As crazy as it sounds, don’t pick your profile picture yourself. Ask a stranger.

That’s the conclusion of a 2017 study that asked students to choose a profile picture from a set of 12 images they’d posted of themselves on Facebook.[3]

Researchers then asked complete strangers to choose the best profile pic from the same set.

Finally, the pictures were rated for traits such as attractiveness, trustworthiness, and confidence.

It turns out that the pictures selected by the strangers—but NOT the pictures selected by the students themselves—were more likely to display positive traits.

In a way, that’s not surprising.

It’s hard for us to see ourselves clearly. We’re so used to our own features that we don’t see them in the same way as someone who doesn’t know us.

Our friends may be unable to see us clearly, either. That’s why you don’t want their opinion on your profile picture. You need a stranger’s opinion, because a man who views your profile online knows nothing else about you!

If you’re uncomfortable approaching a stranger to ask for advice on your profile pics, there’s a website that will crowd-source the best profile pic for you.

Photo feeler gives you feedback on whether your picture makes you look smart, trustworthy, attractive, likable, fun, etc. It uses a combination of human votes and artificial intelligence.

It’s also a great resource for image tips. For example, did you know holding the camera in front of your face distorts your facial features? Selfies can give you a larger nose or a larger forehead than you have in real life. Ditch the selfies and use a timer—or, better yet, get someone to take a picture of you.

Getting a great profile picture is an art. If you don’t want to spend the time and energy to get your profile pic right, consider asking a professional to take some amazing shots of you. 

You’ll want to choose someone with experience in shooting profile pictures, as the design considerations are different from headshots or studio shots.

Having a great profile picture gives you confidence. You may find that you enjoy online dating more, because you know your profile shows you at your best.

Which tips do you think you’ll put into practice, now that you know what makes a great profile pic? 

[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120207006032/en/Tobii-Technology-AB-Catch-Valentine%E2%80%99s-Eye-Online

[2] https://www.scienceofpeople.com/profile-photo/

[3] http://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-017-0058-3

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

12 words that trigger a man’s love response - secret signal

If your man is hot or cold, acting distant or putting you last on the priority list then you will definitely want to see this. Did you know there’s a 12 word sentence you can say to your man... that will trigger intense feelings of love and instinctual attraction for you deep within his chest? Because hidden in these 12 words is a “secret signal” that fuels a man’s instinct to love, please and protect you with all his heart... >> 12 Words That Trigger A Man’s Love Response   " I've realized I won't be happy without you in my life" This instinct is so hardwired into a man’s genetics that it will drive him to work harder than ever before to make your relationship the best part of both of your lives. In fact, triggering this powerful instinct is so important to having the best possible relationship with your man that once you send your man one of these “Secret Signals”... ...You’ll immediately notice him open his mind and heart to you in a way...
1 comment
Read more

3 Signs He’s Not Worth Another Date

As much as  online dating   is a ton of work without much reward, it does teach you a lot about human nature. The way men present themselves when you meet them for the first time is INCREDIBLY revealing. Pay attention, and you’ll start to notice patterns. There seems to be a common script that many guys follow. It goes like this… 1. They drop comments about their wealth or status. Think of the guy who wants you to know he has a Maserati in his garage back home, or that he’s got an inside connection who get you backstage at the next concert. 2. They drop comments about the life you could expect if you were their girlfriend. Think of the guy who explains in great detail how well he treats his girlfriends, or how he’s got a holiday home at the beach that he could take you to. 3. Sometimes, they drop provocative comments to see if you’ll react. Think of the guy who mentions that he listens to Howard Stern, or the guy who says he doesn’t understand the fuss about waiting ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Secret to Instant Sex Appeal

Would you rather  look  sexier or  feel   sexier?  What if you could have BOTH? You can. And no matter if you’re currently single or happily dating, the effect on your love life can be profoundly positive. There are many ways to feel sexier.  But one of the simplest ways is the tried and true cosmetic, lipstick. Psychologists have known about the “lipstick effect” for a while. The term was coined after the Great Depression when cosmetic sales soared despite limited financial resources. [1]  It was later confirmed as a legitimate trend. But not without some backlash. A few years ago, a group of researchers argued that women only try to make themselves more attractive to secure a mate.  [2]  The theory was understandable unsettling, as it suggested women will do whatever’s necessary just to find a man. But a recent study has revealed something new. A team of Harvard researchers found that women actually perform cognitive tasks  better...
Post a Comment
Read more