10 Of The Worst Match.com Photos
The worst Match.com photos men use include not smiling in profile pictures, creepy bedroom shots, and wearing sunglasses. Don't be surprised if you're ignored when using bad photos in your dating profile.
Here are 10 of the worst Match.com photos that instantly turn women off. If you use any of them, immediately replace them. It literally took me 5 minutes to find all the photos below on men's profiles on Match.
If you're looking for go do photo tips, visit my blog post, What Are The Best Match.com Profile Pictures For Men? The post includes 5 of the best pictures you can use in your Match profile.
1. Pet Photos
The only acceptable pet photo you should use on Match.com is a picture where you're with your dog. However, most guys choose to use pictures of just their dog.
Never use a picture of just your dog. Zoosk found that people who post a picture of their pets on their profile reduce their popularity by 53%.
I get it.. you love your dog. I have a dog myself and totally understand. Dog's are awesome.
It's OK to show your dog in your dating profile, but only if you're in the picture with your pet. Makes sure the photo includes both you and your dog.
Photos of your pet are not acceptable on your dating profile.
2. Not Smiling
The first thing women look at in your picture is your smile. Unfortunately, many men on Match choose not to smile in their photos - One study found that nearly 40% of men don't smile in their photos. Yikes!
Not smiling in your photos is a huge blunder. Match.com found the first thing women look at in your photo is your smile.
Smiling shows your friendly. It's inviting. A smile is a fantastic first impression - a real smile - not a smirk. You must show teeth in your smile.
Photofeeler, a site that analyzes profile photos, found, "Most men who look threatening in their dating pics aren't aware that they do." This means you may think your portfolio of non-smiling photos is OK. The reality is it turns women off.
Do yourself a favor...smile in your pictures; especially your main profile picture on Match. If you choose to not smile in your pictures, don't be surprised that women ignore you.
Not smiling makes you appear threatening to women.
3. Pictures Holding Fish
I get it... you love fishing. It's one of your passions. Maybe you live for it, but for goodness sake, no pictures with fish.
Photos of yourself holding a fish is now a bad cliché on dating apps. It's as bad as writing how you enjoy "long walks on the beach" or how you "love to laugh."
Don't use pictures of yourself with fish - ever! These pictures don't make you desirable to women.
Holding a fish in a profile photo is now a bad cliché.
4. Wearing Sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses in your pictures is a no-no. A common complaint from women is their inability to see men's eyes.
Photofeeler found sunglasses "can significantly harm your impression." The site discovered your likability drops when you wear sunglasses in photos.
Zoosk found people who wear sunglasses get 63% fewer messages. Tinder found sunglasses reduces your right swipes by 12%.
The facts above prove any photo with sunglasses is a terrible decision. Keep them off your Match.com profile.
Wearing sunglasses in your Match.com photo is a turnoff to women.
5. Car Selfies
Here's a fact about using photos inside your car - Zoosk found photos of people inside a car tend to get fewer likes. Photos inside your car are another terrible first impression.
I'm all for "in the moment" pictures on your Match profile. "In the moment" pictures highlight your interests and allow your photos to stand out. These types of photos include a picture of yourself hiking, maybe grilling a steak on the BBQ, or even grabbing a beer in the brewery.
Pictures taken while driving a car or at a stoplight are not fun and give little insight into your hobbies or passions. It's a half-assed photo that doesn't help you one bit.
Car selfies do not impress women on Match.com.
6. Creepy Bedroom Photos
For whatever reason, many men choose to use a picture of themselves lying in bed (usually shirtless) looking at the camera. If you do this, please remove the picture right now.
Photofeelter found photos like these come across as "predatory" to women. Why? Because the photos suggest sex - they come across as overly forward and aggressive.
Women don't know anything about you yet. And here you go, presenting yourself in a lame attempt to appear seductive. It doesn't work.
Laying in your bed at the camera is creepy to women. This type of photo does more harm than good, so keep it off your profile.
Bedroom photos come across as creepy to women.
7. Fake Poses
Your photos on Match should be genuine and in the moment. Never use pictures where you gaze to the side of the camera - focusing on the distance as if you're thinking about the meaning of life.
All too often, men use pictures in various phony poses. I don't know why. It's a big blunder.
Posing in pictures looks fake and is clearly staged. Something is "off" in these types of photos, and women don't like them.
Remove any photos of yourself making your best "Thinker" impression. Never use a photo unless looking at the camera smiling or engaged in some sort of action photo. Using a phony pose doesn't work.
Fake poses are a terrible idea for your Match portfolio.
8. Photos of Lakes/Beaches/Sunsets/Mountain
Here's a rule of thumb for your Match.com photos - if you aren't in the photo, don't use it on your profile. I can't believe how many guys use pictures with them nowhere in sight.
Pictures include the beach, the mountains, a lake, the sunset, the moon, stars, a tree, etc. Good grief. Why would anyone use this picture?
No woman looks at a picture of a lake and thinks, "Wow, I must meet this guy." Photos like this make women think you're hiding something.
Save scenic pictures for Facebook - keep them off your Match.com profile.
9. Women In Your Photos
Never use a picture if there are women in it. Standing next to a woman takes the focus away from you. This is the last thing you want.
A lot of men think women in your picture makes you more desirable. This is false. 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."
Think about it, a woman sees a female in your picture. Her focus switches away from you and towards the other girl in the photo. She immediately thinks, "who is that" and in that instant, you may lose a chance to connect.
Keep women off out of your photos on Match. Period.
Don't use photos with women in them.
10. Selfies
It's 2021.. enough of the selfies already. Selfies do not help you on Match. Seriously, why do you still use these types of pictures?
Pictures that are shot from a mirror are worse. 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.
What's worse than a mirror selfie? Shirtless selfies in front of a mirror.
If you choose to use shirtless selfies, you're digging your own grave. The same Match.com poll above found 33% of women found shirtless photos taken in front of a mirror were a complete turn-off.
Avoid selfies - especially ones with mirrors AND in the bathroom.