Often, singles submit their worst images when hoping to meet someone through a matchmaker. Left with no alternative, if the matchmaker uses those photos for marketing their client, they will probably get subpar candidates willing to meet their single. The same applies to online dating profiles. But it’s not your fault that you select poor photos of yourself, and there’s research that shows you’re not alone.
Why are images so important?
Because as superficial as it may seem, you only get one shot at a first impression, and matchmakers are gate-keepers of their clients. So when we want to collaborate with another matchmaker, especially one who may have a male candidate for our female client, if she sees a poor photo of the woman we represent, that opportunity goes away. We can’t come back later with a new and better picture of the client because they assume we somehow altered the image.
Photos are essential for everyone online, especially when working with a matchmaker. It’s not just your online dating photos, but also any that you have on social media or professional sites. Why? Have you ever heard of Google or Google Images reverse look-up? People can’t help it; with minimal information about you, someone can easily find you online, and if they see a bad image of you, it ends right there.
Women have certain challenges more so than men in so many areas. Image is one of them. Men and women are visual, but men put more weight on what they see, so women have to be vigilant about making sure that only flattering photos of them appear online. We would never send our female clients on a date with a potential match without ensuring that he finds their photos attractive.
Here’s what’s essential for you to know
You should not choose your photos. Get a committee of loving but honest family or friends to help you decide which pictures look best before submitting them to any online platform. If you don’t have people you can rely on, here’s a great resource to help determine what your picture conveys to others:
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Photo Credit: Cognitive Research Journal
As for the Science
Research shows that people make suboptimal choices when selecting their profile pictures. These studies found people choose images of themselves that cast less favorable first impressions than images selected by strangers. With critical events unfolding on the Internet in our professional, social, and romantic lives, you can understand how important it is to have that photo committee. Remember, approximately one-third of employers search online for information on job candidates. Also, people draw automatic social conclusions from photos of unfamiliar faces, and we associate these first impressions with significant real-world outcomes.
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