A picture is worth a thousand words, so make yours count! Here are some key points to keep in mind before uploading that picture from New Yearys Eve 1999 into your online personals profile. Put your best foot forward, starting with these tips on how to make the most of your first impression.Donyt be tacky! I think the most off-putting of all personals ads I come across are the ones that showcase some smiling guy and the side of some other femaleys head cropped out of a picture. For crying out loud, the last thing a potential mate on the hunt wants to see is a photo of you sporting a Kool-Aid grin with what looks to be your arm around some chick. Aside from the fact that itys a no-no on virtually any dating site known to man to have more than yourself featured in a personals ad photo, itys also just downright tacky. yBut itys a great conversation starter!y some may argue. A conversation starter, yes, but a great one? Hardly.Blurry is not flattering on anyone. Digital photos are a godsend for those not inept at taking photos. That being said, donyt just snap 3 or 4 shots and call it a day. Spend some time putting in the effort on taking a quality personals ad photo. If your camera doesnyt have a timer on it, enlist a friend or relative to shoot some photos for you. Keep in mind that people will want to see your face, so frame the shot in such a way that itys (a) clear and (b) showcases your good-looking mug.Donyt lie! Yeah, so what if you have a great photo of yourself with every eyebrow hair in place and your hair perfectly coifed. If itys from five years ago, then what is your date going to think when you show up and he/she thinks your someone else because you now have a receding hairline or two chins as opposed to only the one that was in the photo? Stay current with your picture. Current, as in, use a photo that was taken no longer than a year agoy and even that is stretching it. You may not think you look much different than you did last year at this time, but some people age faster than others. If at all possible, use a photo taken with a week of listing your personals ad.Imposters are doomed! Donyt, I repeat, donyt lift someone elseys photo off the Internet and claim that itys you! Not only is this illegal, but itys also not going to get you anything past a first date. If you need to stoop so low as to use someone elseys photo, then perhaps you should be spending your time making a date with a therapist and reading some self-help books to mend your self-esteem issues. Not every guy out there wants to date someone who looks like Cindy Crawford'and not every woman wants to date Keanu Reevesy twin, either.What to wear. When it comes to choosing the right top to wear when taking your online personals photo, choose something that says you. If you are sports-minded, then throw on a favorite team jersey. Or, if preppy is more your style, throw on a flattering shirt and be on your way. If at all possible, stay away from patterns and prints and stick to solid colored shirt options instead. As a natural habit, people make assumptions about you based on your personals photo, so keep that in mind before posing in a string bikini or bare-chested (guys) flexing your pectoral muscles. Keep it classy and tasteful. Of course, if you are easy and just looking for somewhat of a bootie call partner, then by all means, hoochie it up all you want in your photo!
No one said dating is easy, but with the above hints and tips, you too can be on the road to a successful online personals add listing!
09/15/06