Say cheese! I remember lining up for school photos and thinking, "I have to look good this year! I just have to!"
Digital photography
has freed us from those cringe-worthy moments (and the desire to burn photos!) because we can always pose again, try better light, and edit without wasting film.
Of course, getting that perfect photo is critical in an age of social networking and dating sites. I was cruising the
Canon
website and I came across the company's suggestions for taking better online dating portraits. It says:
- Keep it Simple: Posing, Cropping, Framing, and Backgrounds —Your online dating portrait should be about you. That means no one else should be in the shot, and you should avoid distracting elements that will take attention away from the most important thing in the frame – YOU! Try turning the camera 90 degrees, and shoot a vertical picture. The longer vertical frame
is better suited to capture a single person, without too much 'empty space' in the background. - Photo Techniques: Lighting, Lenses, and Camera Settings — One of the biggest mistakes in online dating portraits
is poor lighting. Again, the photo is all about letting others see what you look like. The goal is to make sure the image is well (brightly) lit, but with no harsh shadows.
- Say No to Mug and Lingerie
Shots — Profile pics that look like mug shots are the worst! Don't take a picture specifically for the purpose of being your profile image (you know, like the ones where you can tell the subject held out her arm to take the shot?!). Pictures taken in the mirror (unless they are incredibly artistic), or pictures taken on a camera phone are also discouraged. Also, think twice before you use that sexy one of yourself on the beach in Hawaii with a barely-there bikini (especially for a dating profile!). 
- Act Natural! — Whether you are looking for a dating profile picture
, or a pic to use for your Facebook or Sugar account select a fun, natural picture. It doesn't have to be a glamor shot, just an image that shows your personality. Sure it's an ego boost to show off how cute you looked in that bridesmaid dress, but you don't look like that every day. Try a pic in your natural element. Or a casual photo from your last vacation.
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