Dating Profile Photos That Work

The Science of Dating Photos

Studies show that dating app users make swipe decisions in less than one second. Your main photo needs to communicate attractiveness, authenticity, and approachability—instantly.

The difference between a photo that gets passed over and one that gets a match often comes down to technical factors: angle, lighting, expression. Not your actual appearance.

The Ideal Main Photo

Your first photo should be a clear headshot or head-and-shoulders shot with:

• • Just you in the frame (no cropping out exes)
• • Your face clearly visible and well-lit
• • A genuine expression—smile or relaxed confidence
• • A simple, non-distracting background
• • High image quality (no pixelation or blur)

Why Most Dating Photos Fail

The most common issues we see in dating photos aren't about attractiveness—they're technical:

• Selfie distortion — Close-up phone cameras warp facial proportions, making your nose look bigger and face narrower.
• Wrong angle — Shooting from below creates unflattering shadows and hides your jawline.
• Forced expressions — Fake smiles are subconsciously read as uncomfortable or untrustworthy.
• Bad lighting — Overhead lights create harsh shadows under eyes and nose.

Get an Objective Assessment

GoodSide analyzes your photos for all these factors—distortion, angles, expression quality, symmetry—and tells you exactly what's working and what's not. No more guessing why some photos get matches and others don't.