The 10 Worst Dating Profile Pictures Men Use On Apps.
The worst dating profile pictures include creepy bedroom photos, not smiling, and mirror selfies. Photos like these are typical for guys on Tinder, Match.com, Hinge, etc.
This post shares the 10 worst profile photos men use that cause women to instantly swipe left. Compare your pictures to the ones in the list below - if you use any of these photos, replace them immediately.
- You're not physically in the picture.
- You don't smile in photos.
- Selfies in front of a mirror.
- Never hide your face.
- Bad group photos are a no-no.
- Cropped photos take the focus away from you.
- Looking away from the camera appears fake.
- Avoid women in your profile photos.
- Car selfies are not beneficial.
- Bedroom photos are creepy to women.
1. You're not physically in the picture.
A common blunder for men on dating apps is using photos they're not physically in. Women want to see what you look like, not a picture of your food or some random beach.
Topping the list of the worst dating profile pictures are any of the photos below:
- Dog
- Car
- Food
- Beer
- Meme
- Quote
- Celebrity
- Airplane
- Motorcycle
- Sunset
- Beach
Remember, the list applies to you, not in the picture. There is nothing wrong with a picture of you alongside your dog - just don't use a picture of your dog alone.
For some reason, men think it's a good idea to use pictures like the ones above. It's not. In fact, it's a huge mistake.
No woman is going to swipe right on a picture of a beach. Women want to see what you look like, not some majestic sunset.
When in doubt, follow this rule: If you aren't physically in the photo, don't use it. Simple!
Women want to see you in pictures, not objects.
2. You don't smile in photos.
The first thing women look at in a man's profile photo is his smile. Unfortunately, many men choose to use pictures where they stare intensely at the camera.
A huge blunder is not smiling in your profile photos.
The perfect smile is where you show teeth. Hinge found you're 76% more likely to receive a like/swipe when you smile with teeth.
Don't make excuses for not smiling in your photos. I often hear men say, "I don't like smiling" or "I hate my smile." Nonsense.
A smile is welcoming - it shows you're open, friendly, and approachable. Smiling in photos can result in messages like the one below on OkCupid.
Women will compliment a great smile on dating apps.
3. Selfies in front of a mirror.
Selfies in front of a mirror are a huge turnoff for women. Hinge found selfies are 40% less likely to receive a "like," while a bathroom selfie is 90% less likely to receive a "like."
Your phone should never be visible in your photos. Match.com found 29% of women indicated that a photo taken in a mirror with a smartphone was the biggest reason they'd click away from a guy's profile.
You want "in the moment" photos. Pictures of yourself engaging hobbies or interests will get more "likes" and swipes than photos in front of a mirror.
Mirror selfies are a no-no on dating apps.
Also, enough of the bathroom photos. If a sink, or worse, a toilet, is visible, women should ignore you.
4. Never hide your face.
Avoid wearing sunglasses in your profile photos. Sunglasses hide one of your best assets - your eyes.
Making eye contact with women is a great first impression. Here are facts about the impact wearing sunglasses has on your results:
- Tinder found sunglasses reduces your right swipes by 12%.
- Zoosk found people who wear sunglasses receive 63% fewer messages and also receive fewer likes.
- Hinge analyzed which photos get the most likes and found photos with sunglasses scored lowly.
Wearing sunglasses is a huge mistake. A pair of shades hide your eyes, so take them off in profile photos.
Avoid sunglasses in your dating profile pictures.
5. Bad group photos are a no-no.
The right group photo shows your sociable, and it proves you have friends. After all, how bad can a guy be if he has male friends?
The wrong group photo is disastrous to your results. Below is an example of a terrible group photo. It adds zero value and is not necessary.
Bad group photos are a mistake on dating apps.
One of the biggest complaints of women on apps is terrible group photos. Women don't have time to figure out who you are - If it's not obvious who you are in the photo, don't use it.
The perfect group photo is a picture of you in the center. On either side of you is one friend. Make sure it's men in your photos - no women!
Position yourself in the center for a good group photo.
A single group photo is more than enough for your profile. The woman viewing your photo will be imagining herself with you—not you and your legion of friends.
6. Cropped photos take the focus away from you.
Take a look at the photo below from a man's profile on Hinge. The photo takes the focus away from the guy. You look at the picture and see a phantom arm from a female - this is a huge mistake.
Cropping profile photos takes the focus away from you.
As you can see above, cropping photos is a distraction. It looks like your hiding something or too lazy to use better photos.
This type of photo is not beneficial. Your pictures must keep a woman's attention on you and nothing else. Cropped images cause a distraction which is why you must avoid using them.
7. Looking away from the camera appears fake.
A lot of men choose to use pictures that are clearly staged. A typical example is looking to the side (see below), away from the camera.
Avoid looking away from the camera in profile photos.
As I mentioned above in #4, "Don't hide your face," women want to see your eyes. Looking away from the camera is a terrible mistake.
Photos like the one above are a dime a dozen. You'll be shocked at how many men use this type of picture.
The photo looks phony, and it feels fake and definitely not in the moment. Women are wise to this now, so avoid using this photo in your profile
8. Avoid women in your profile photos.
Women in your profile photos add no benefit. It's a colossal blunder standing next to a woman in pictures.
There is a myth that men think women in photos elevates your appeal. Women don't find you more attractive when seeing a woman next to you in pictures.
Hinge found "standing with a member of the opposite sex is one of the worst things you can do. Even if the person is just a friend or family member, if it looks like it could be a significant other, your likes decrease by 98 percent."
A woman in your picture takes the focus away from you. Women viewing your photo will think, "Is that an ex?" or "Who is this woman in the picture?" That's the last thing you want.
Women in profile photos hurt men's results on apps.
9. Car selfies are not beneficial.
Your pictures should showcase your interests, hobbies, and passions. If you hike, great, add a photo. Do you like cooking? Fantastic, add a picture of yourself in the kitchen.
I'm a huge advocate of in-the-moment photos... except for car selfies. A picture of yourself inside a car is an awful first impression.
No woman is going to ask you, "what kind of car do you drive?" or "This is a fabulous picture!" The amount of men who use pictures of themselves inside their cars is shocking.
Car selfies are an instant no with women
10. Bedroom photos are creepy to women.
Using pictures of yourself lying in bed is another mistake. For whatever reason, some men think it's acceptable to lie half-naked, looking up at the camera with a seductive facial expression.
Bedroom photos are creepy and are not attractive to women viewing them. It's way too forward. You're clearly suggesting sex, even if you aren't aware of it.
Women are on the defensive on dating apps. How often do you see a woman write in her bio, "Not here for hookups." Women will instantly think you're all about a hookup and will swipe left instantly.
Keep bedroom photos off your profile. They don't evoke a positive response from women.
Never use bedroom photos on your dating profile.
Final Thoughts
If you use any of the worst dating profile pictures in this post, replace them immediately. None of the pictures above will help you on a dating app.
Want the best tips for photos? Check out my blog post, What Are Good Dating Profile Photo Tips For Men.