Which picture should I open my online dating profile with?

You do not have six images to make an impression. Rather you have ONE image to maker her curious and five chances to undo the good you've done. The order in which you organize your images for your online dating profile is critical to your success.

Always open with an image where you are looking at the camera and smiling. Eye contacts and smiles. The tried and true way to calm the animal instinct in us and telegraph trust worthiness. Do not wear sunglasses in this first one. It's essential your eyes are visible.

Picture two in the line up should echo the same sentiment as picture one, trust values. Or else she could be wondering if its a fluke and never to be had again. Women loves consistency.

Picture three, four and five. Here is where you have room to play. You've established trust and that you are a good guy, now let's find something that is interesting or a potential conversation starter.

Things to watch out for here in pictures three, four and five:

1. Group photos with more than 4 people. It's wasted real estate. She doesn't need to be picking you out of a lineup.

2. Group photos with someone of the opposite who is younger than your grandparents. It doesn't matter that is your twin sister. The women looking at your profile doesn't know that and the first question that pops into her head is, "Is that his ex?"

3. Anything that has been ridiculed online: sunrise at Machu Picchu, petting tigers in Thailand, holding a 15lb fresh caught salmon. You are trying to show something interesting about you, hobbies and travel, except so many have done exactly the same and the Internet has taken to mock. It's sad. But you don't want to appear to not be in the know so let's save those memories for date 8 when you are cuddled up in bed and scrolling through each other's Instagram account.

Picture six, the closer. You've taken great pains to construct a portfolio of your best self, the mistake would be wanting to cram in just a little bit more info. No. No. No. Instead, let's reinforce what she has learned about you thus far --- and the most important thing, that you are a good guy. Close out your profile with another trust establishing photo where you are all eye contacts and smiles.

Everything else about you...we save that for the date.

What should I wear in my dating profile?

The most important thing is for you to feel comfortable and confident. If hoodies and jeans is your daily uniform, we can make it work. if you are a suits guy, bring it. You can rock any look with the right attitude. 

With that said, here are some things to keep in mind. 

1. Make sure the shirts and t-shirts are pressed, neat and free of stains.
   

2. 2-3 pairs of pants (any variety but no yoga pants, sweat, or alike).
   

3. At least one button down shirt. With jacket, without jacket — that depends on you and your vibe.
   

4. Leather jackets, sweaters, any outerwear laying options are all excellent. Think of outwear for Spring or Fall, those transitional pieces.
   

5. Bring at least one light-colored outfit and one dark. One for a lighter season and one for warmer.
   

6. Ladies, insider Tinder stats show that images of you in Spring Summer clothing performs better. I would recommend bringing one top where you are showing some skin, be it tank top or short sleeved.
   

7. Bright colors also perform better for ladies overall than dark colors. However (and this is speaking as someone who has a closet of black on black) — if colors don't suit, don’t do it.
   

8. Think in terms of mix-and-match top and bottoms rather than entire outfits. One entire outfit is great - be it a suit (or sports jacket) for the men and a dress for the ladies or some combination thereof.
   

9. Remember, the second half of our shoot will be outdoors and on foot. We will have to carry your wardrobe with us.

Online Dating Profile - DOs and DON'Ts

Even though you have approximately 6 images in your online dating profile, you do not have 6 chances make your case and get a swipe right. You have one, maybe two images to get it right, the rest is there to reinforce the opening message. In another words, you have four more chances to reinforce why they should go out on a date with you or you four more images to f*ck it up. Choose wisely. 

You DO NOT need to convey EVERYTHING about you in these 6 images. 

You DO NOT need a guitar in one hand and a puppy in another. If you do play and own a dog, that is great! But only include them in the photos if it makes sense (and real) — or else it’s just silly and will prompt questions you can’t answer on the date. 

The first and most important thing you need to get across in your online dating profile is that you are trust worthy. Eye contact and a real smile increases a right swipe by 21%. DO SMILE. LOOK IN THE LENS - MAKE EYE CONTACT. Your date needs to know that you are not a serial killer. 

Which is why, you SHOULD NOT open your profile with an image of you wearing sunglasses. Leave that image towards the number 4-5 slot. 

Shirt-less photos is everyone’s favorite topic. Do I/ Don’t I?
From the ladies perspective, it is an overwhelming NO. It telegraphs cheap and easy. That also holds true for images of women scantily clad or in tiny bikinis. The temptation is strong, you work so hard on your bod, going to the gym 6-days a week, you want to get some credit for the 6-pack. The credit will come later, in the bedroom. 

Mirrored Selfies is another big NO NO. Bumble banned it from the app. Isn’t that proof enough that it’s a bad idea? 

DO NOT include large group photo where it is difficult to tell which one of the 12 bridesmaid/ grooms men you are. You might look like a million bucks that day but it is just confusing. 

DO NOT include more than one images of you holding a drink. It prompts the question of either being into parties or potentially an alcoholic. 

DO NOT crop the image in such a way that it is clear you cut someone out of the photo. It makes the other person wonder, who is that? Could that be their ex? Even if the other person in the photo is your sibling, it doesn’t matter. You don’t want the question in their mind in the first place. 

DO NOT include photos of you with someone of the opposite sex. Again, you don’t want the question in their mind. 

DO NOT blur out the other people in the same photograph. It looks creepy first of all. Secondly, it’s sloppy.

DO include a photo of you looking away, off camera. We are looking for an unguarded moment where you look real and engaged. For men, images looking away and off camera has an increase in swipes. 

DO consider something that shows off the other parts of your personality. A goofy and funny image added levity to overall profile. It telegraphs that you don’t take yourself too seriously and are secure enough to put it out there. 

Most people turn the written portion of their online profile into a narrative version of their LInkedIn profile. “I do this for work. I love to run. Foodie. Love to travel and have lived in X,Y, Z places.” That is all great, except what you have constructed is a closed loop. There is no way in for the person on the other side of your profile. What could their opening line be other than…”So, how long did you live in Bogata?” “Wow! I’m a foodie too!” It’s hard to gain traction. 

DO end your profile with an ask, a call to action. Ask a question. Extend an invite. Make it easier for them to engage in a fun conversation with you. Create a more optimal situation for their interest to turn into a fun conversation, into a date.