Make sure that you’re creating an excellent first impression by following these Tinder photo tips:
You can use Tinder for any of the above reasons, but it pays to be clear with yourself and everyone else; if you know exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll have a better chance of finding it. If you’re not looking for anything more than hooking up, you should make that clear, ideally in your bio (“not looking for anything serious,” “seeking hook ups”) or at least once you start chatting to your matches (more on that below). If you’re looking to date seriously, that should also be immediately evident to anyone interacting with you.
Once you’re clear about what you want and you’ve made sure everyone else is, you’re going to need to craft the perfect profile to maximize your chance of getting matches:
2. Crafting Your Tinder Profile
If you’re one of the few remaining singles on Earth still unexperienced with Tinder, the first step is to create the best possible profile with the best possible pictures. Yes, Tinder is largely a looks-based endeavor (most dating apps are) and can sometimes feel superficial for that reason, but remember: It’s not really any different to meeting someone at a party or bar. You tend to approach the people you find physically attractive in real life, and then talk to them to see if there’s a deeper connection, right? It’s the same story with Tinder.
Lead Photo
It’s important to use a flattering (but not misleading) picture of yourself in your profile, and starting with a clear, well-composed, smiling image is your best bet. Make sure that your leading pic is a solo shot without other people in it – you don’t want potential matches to fall in love with your best friend.
Helpfully, Tinder has a “smart photo” function which continually tests the success rate of the photos you’ve uploaded to your profile, and automatically shows your best-performing photo to other users dating in your 40s dating first. It’s well worth enabling this function as it doesn’t cost anything extra, and Tinder claims that it boosts right swipes by 12 percent. Like it or not, choosing the right Tinder pictures is the key to your online dating success.
Photo Diversity
Ideally, you want to take advantage of all the photo slots Tinder offers you to provide as much information as possible to potential matches. Consider that your pictures give away crucial information not just about what you look like, but also how you like to spend your time, matches are going to form a certain impression of you depending on whether you’re squatting in the gym, splayed out on a beach with friends or chugging back beer at the game.
Don’t partake in kittenfishing – the lite version of catfishing – by uploading misleadingly flattering photos, and make sure your images are recent enough to show what you look like now. Remember, there’s no point in being dishonest. It’s all going to come out in the wash when you meet a match IRL, so be upfront from the start. If you’re really having trouble selecting photos, you could consider linking your profile to your Instagram account.
Your bio is optional, but we highly recommended including one. You’re allowed up to 500 words to showcase your dazzling personality here, but we’d suggest you err on the side of relative brevity as online daters don’t want to read a novel while they’re swiping. Make your bio about you, and keep it short, simple and friendly – it’s a bonus if it’s funny, but you don’t want to come across as trying too hard, either.
