What Are The Worst Photos On OkCupid?
The worst photos for OkCupid include not smiling, looking away from the camera, and terrible group photos. First impressions are everything on OkCupid. You get fewer likes, matches, and responses using bad pictures.
With a few tweaks, you can change your results quickly. This post focuses on 10 terrible pictures guys use on OkCupid. Read through the post and make sure you don't have any of the offending pictures below.
For good photo tips for OkCupid, check out my blog post, What Are Good Photo Tips For OkCupid? 7 Tips That Help You Stand Out!
Here is the list of photos you must avoid:
- Pictures you're not physically in.
- Photos that look completely staged.
- Pictures with women in them.
- Group photos where it's not obvious who you are.
- Cropping someone out of a picture.
- Not smiling in pictures.
- Pictures taken inside of a car.
- Not making eye contact with the camera.
- Pictures of yourself as a kid.
- Pictures where you look very different.
1. Pictures you're not physically in.
For whatever reason, a lot of guys use pictures they're not physically in. This is a huge mistake. You must be in each photo on your profile. If you're not in the picture, it looks like you're hiding something.
The list of photos that men use in this category is numerous. I see these type of photos often:
- Cars, motorcycles, jet skis, boats.
- Beaches, lakes, mountains, sunsets.
- Quotes, art, celebrities, sports stadiums.
- Food, beer, wine.
The photos above DO NOT help your results. No woman is going to swipe right because of a quote or a picture of a beer. It makes zero sense using a photo that you're not in.
Here's a simple rule for you; if you're not physically in the picture, don't use it.
Photos you're not physically in are a common blunder on OkCupid.
2. Photos that look completely staged.
Authentic pictures are critical for success on OkCupid. You don't want to use pictures that appear fake or staged. They don't work.
Use pictures of yourself doing things "in the moment" because they appear genuine. Take the guy below. The picture looks totally staged. He's not even looking at the camera (more on that mistake below).
Staged photos come across as phony - don't use them!
Your pictures should be in the moment. Completely real. Don't try too hard. Just relax and be natural.
You're not making an advertisement for clothing or a Men's Health cover model. It's a dating photo, so make sure it's authentic.
3. Pictures with women in them.
There should never be women in any of your pictures. Ever. Seriously, don't do it. Even if it's your sister, keep her off your profile.
Some guys think pictures of themselves next to a woman make them more desirable to women viewing it. Somehow it elevates their appeal. This is a total myth.
There is no study about dating apps that found adding a woman to profile photos boosts results. Dating apps warn men to avoid using pictures with women. Hinge found, "standing with a member of the opposite sex is one of the worst things you can do" and that "your likes decrease by 98 percent."
Photos of yourself with women does one thing, it takes the focus off of you. It raises suspicion and is a total red flag.
Women may think, "Who is that next to him? An ex-girlfriend?" In that instant, any chance of matching up is gone. Keep women out of your profile photos!
Avoid using pictures alongside women.
4. Group photos where it's not obvious who you are.
A huge problem on OkCupid is men using bad group photos. Below is a typical example of a group picture that is typical for guys on the app.
If you're not easy to identify in a photo, don't use it.
The picture above has several problems. First, there are women in it (see #3 above). The second problem is there are too many people in the picture. Women don't have time to look at a picture and figure out who you are.
Make it easy for women to identify you in a picture. You should include one group photo, but it must be the right type. The best type of group photo is one of you with a male friend on both sides of you. This photo shows you're sociable and friendly.
5. Cropping someone out of a picture.
Cropping your photos is another no-no on OkCupid. These type of pictures should be avoided in your profile because
Below is an example of a cropped photo. It looks like a phantom arm is reaching around the guy in the picture. It takes the focus away from the main guy in the photo because the phantom arm stands out.
Cropped photos on OkCupid looks like you're hiding something.
The biggest problem with cropped photos is they look like you're hiding something. Women immediately notice something is off. Similar to photos of men standing next to women, cropped pictures are distracting to the viewer.
Using a cropped picture shows you can't put effort into using better photos. In this day and age, you shouldn't have to resort to a cropped photo.
6. Not smiling in pictures.
Statistically speaking, the first thing women look at on dating apps is a man's smile. According to a study, nearly 40% of men don' smile in their pictures. This is probably the biggest mistake a guy can make.
Smiles are THE PERFECT introduction to women viewing your photos. A smile is welcoming. It's inviting and says to women, "this guy is OK."
It's too bad guys choose to not smile and thus, make a poor first impression. What does the photo below signal to women? Does it make the guy appear friendly? The answer is no.
It's important to smile in your profile photos.
Photos like the one above are going to scare women away. No woman will ever comment on a photo like the one above and say, "Wow, nice bland picture devoid of any emotion."
It's a better idea to smile in your pictures, especially your primary photo. You're more likely to get responses to messages, an increase in right swipes, and a lot more likes. A smile may even prompt women to send you a message first, like the one below.
Smiling in photos can get you compliments.
7. Pictures taken inside of a car.
Do not use photos inside your car. Typically, these photos are selfies. However, photos of yourself in the driver's seat hanging out the window of a stationary car are also a bad choice.
What is the point of using a selfie with you behind the wheel of a car? It doesn't make a very good impression.
No study about online dating has found car selfies help guys get likes. But tons of men choose to use this type of picture.
I'm all for in-the-moment pictures. Photos on a hike, grilling something, out and about. As long as you're doing something interesting, it can be used in your profile. A photo of yourself inside a car is the definition of not interesting.
It's a mistake using car selfies on your profile.
8. Not making eye contact with the camera.
Always look at the camera in your picture. You want women to think you're looking directly at them. According to a study, men are 102% more likely to receive a like when looking straight-on towards the camera.
Why? Because women want to see your eyes. It's one of the first things they look at in your profile. This means no sunglasses either.
Stop with the looking away from the camera nonsense. Look at the camera and smile. It's that easy.
Looking away from the camera is a no-no.
9. Pictures of yourself as a kid.
I don't understand why men use pictures of themselves as children. I see this type of photo often on OkCupid. For whatever reason, guys seem to think the picture helps get right swipes. It doesn't.
Women want to see current photos. They don't want to see pictures of you from 20 years ago, regardless of how cute you were as a kid. Keep photos like the one below off your profile.
Avoid using pictures of yourself as a kid.
10. Pictures where you look very different.
Make sure you look similar in all your pictures. Don't use a picture with long hair and another with short hair. You want a consistent look in all your photos.
Below is an example where the guy is clean-shaven and sports a beard in two pictures. He looks completely different, which is off-putting. Tack on the glasses, and it appears like you're seeing two different men.
Make sure you look similar in all your photos.
Using pictures where you look different is a red flag for women. They question if your photos are current. Women think, "which guy am I getting?" Using pictures where you appear different will definitely hurt your results.
It's simple. Look at your picture. Then, look in a mirror. Whichever photo doesn't match your current appearance, remove it from your profile.
Final Thoughts
Avoid using pictures from the list above because they all impact your results negatively. Just one can cause a woman to instantly swipe left. So, think twice if you want to keep them on your profile.
Choosing good pictures for your OkCupid profile is pretty simple. Here are a few tips for better photos on the app:
- Smile in your pictures.
- Maintain eye contact with the camera.
- Include at least one full-body photo so women can see you from head to toe.
- Show yourself doing hobbies giving insight into your life - attending a concert, on a hike, wine-tasting, traveling, etc.
- If you have a dog, add a picture with your pet.
A profile using the photos above will dramatically increase your results. Grab a friend and have them snap a few of these types of pictures.
Looking for more photo tips on OkCupid? Read this, What Are Good Photo Tips For OkCupid? 7 Tips That Help You Stand Out!