Wisdom and Inspiration
Photo Tips for Online Dating—Whether You're In Front of the Camera or Behind the Lens
By Anne Lowe
Nov 1, 2006

© 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.  

© 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.

© 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.



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