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Photo Tips for Online Dating—Whether You're In Front of the Camera or Behind the Lens
By Anne Lowe | Wisdom and Inspiration |
Nov 1, 2006
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© Vanie Poyey |
We probably all know a few people who have tried online dating, but
don’t seem to give a lot of thought to the pictures they post and how
they’re being portrayed. Some people use unflattering snapshots or
photos taken 15 years (or 15 pounds) ago. Online dating is competitive;
you don’t want to attract the wrong kind of attention—or too little of
it. On the other hand, as photographers, we may be called upon to shoot
portraits purposely for online dating sites. For this Double Exposure article, we decided to consult a couple of experts for advice.
Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Vanie Poyey, who’s based in Studio City, California, shoots primarily
head shots for actors and actresses, as well as personality photos for
musicians and sports figures. She says that most of the images she
takes appear on the Internet, “and many of my clients have posted these
pictures with online dating services. I think that what many people are
looking for in their dating photos goes hand-in-hand with images that
they use when getting jobs as actors.”
When people tell her that they want to use her photos online, Vanie
says, “I give them a clean, natural look; I don’t do anything too posed
or glamorous. They’re putting their best foot forward, so you want to
portray them on their best day.” She shoots a variety of pictures, both
close-up portraits and three-quarter views. “This way, they have a
variety of photos that they can use, and they can post the close-up on
the main page.”
“For online purposes, you want to keep the pictures clean, and avoid
busy backgrounds,” Vanie emphasizes. “You don’t want to make it about
anything else besides the person in the photo.” She often uses a clean,
white backdrop, although some clients don’t want to appear as though
they’ve had a formal photo session done specifically for the purpose of
putting their pictures online. “In that case, I might photograph them
in a park; someplace that’s neutral with pretty colors, but nothing too
busy.” Vanie shoots portraits with a wide-open aperture to blur the
background.
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© Vanie Poyey |
She advises photographers to use soft lighting to flatter subjects,
whether shooting in the studio or utilizing natural light outdoors.
Vanie says that if she’s shooting in her studio, she would just use a
softbox, “and if I’m shooting outside, I use open shade.” Outdoors, a
little fill-flash enhances a photo on a cloudy day, and a reflector
comes in handy to bounce a little light back onto the person’s face.
She also recommends shooting color as opposed to black-and-white,
“Because color is more forgiving. You don’t want to look mysterious,
which is a quality that black-and-white tends to bring to
pictures.”
As for women’s makeup, Vanie says, “Don’t overdo it—you don’t want to
look as though you’re trying too hard. You don’t want to have ‘glamour’
shots taken. People pick up on that instantly. You want to look
natural, and as close to who you are as possible, only with
professional photography.” Likewise, she doesn’t recommend that women
go to a salon to get their hair done before their online photo shoot.
“It should be you on your best day.” Even for men, she says, a little
makeup is beneficial before a photo shoot, as long as it’s very
natural—“something to even out skin tones or to cover blemishes.” She
advises clients to wear solid, vibrant colors that “pop” online.
“People go through lots of photos like they’re in a grocery aisle
shopping for people.”
She also asks clients to look directly at the camera, rather than
staring off into the distance. “What you want to portray is warmth; an,
inviting smile works best for attracting people online.”
To see more of Vanie Poyey’s work, visit http://www.poyeyphotos.com.
Flattering Light for Best Results
April Rocha—also based in the Los Angeles area—shoots weddings,
publicity photos, and pet portraits. She offers this advice to people
who want to have pictures taken for online dating: “Don’t try to look
like someone you’re not. Don’t glam yourself up and have your hair
done. Be yourself!” Like Vanie Poyey, April advises clients to look
natural and wear casual clothes. Models who audition for commercials
that advertise soap, laundry detergents, “or the girl who has the
headache,” she says, “are usually normal-looking people who look very
nice.” Theatrical head shots, on the other hand, can be a little more
dramatic.
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© April Rocha |
Makeup should be “clean” for Internet dating photos, April emphasizes.
“No purple eye shadow, or overly dramatic, heavy makeup. Just highlight
what you have.” In terms of photography, she says, people should stick
to having photos taken from the waist up, rather than full-length
views. She says that posing people in a flattering manner is very
important too. “If a person is looking down in a photo, sometimes it
looks as though he/she has a double chin. For women who are posing for
a three-quarter length shot, it’s a good idea to have their hand in a
pocket. Even a slim woman’s arms may look heavy if they’re pressed
against their body.” She frequently asks subjects to lean against a
doorway or to sit on a pillow. “This looks more casual, which is what
you want for online dating photos,” she points out.
April prefers using natural light in her photography. She often shoots
portraits of people standing in a big doorway at a time of day when the
light is soft and flattering. “A lot of people taking pictures of their
friends for online dating don’t understand what good light is,” she
says, adding that photographers don’t always need studio lighting. Any
location that offers soft, flattering illumination is good for
portraiture, such as just inside a doorway, or under the shade of a
tree. “People take pictures of their friends on the beach with horrific
shadows on their faces. There are easy ways to get light, but many
people don’t understand this.” April has also photographed people in
late-afternoon light under a pier at Manhattan Beach or Santa Monica.
Recently, she photographed three generations of family members in her
aunt’s garage. They opened up the garage door, and the women stood just
inside the doorway where the light was soft and even. “I put the camera
outside on the driveway, the light was great, and you can’t even tell
what the background was,” she explains. She also advises shooting color
as opposed to black-and-white “because it’s more eye-catching on the
computer screen.”
You can see April Rocha’s work at http://www.aprilrocha.com.
Online Portraiture at a Glance:
• When shooting pictures for online dating sites, ask your subject to
aim for a clean, natural look. Avoid taking “glamour shots.”
• Use soft lighting (whether you’re shooting indoors or out) and simple backgrounds.
• Make sure the person is posed in a way that’s flattering to him/her.
• Shoot in color rather than black-and-white.
• Ask your subject to look directly at the camera, with a warm, inviting smile.
• Above all, remember that your subjects should look like themselves on their best day.
Let us know if you found this article useful, and tell us what kinds of articles you'd like to see in upcoming issues. Send your comments and ideas to the editor.
© Copyright 2010 by PHOTOWORKSHOP.COM
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Last Updated: Jul 10th, 2010 - 16:19:44
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