Ultimate Guide To Improving Your Profile Photos

What’s up, guys! This Is Justin Harder and I am a professional dating photographer. As many of you know, I used to be an active member of this group while on my journey towards mastering dating and relationships. Along the way, I developed an eye for taking photos that get guys matches. Over the last couple of years, the dating app landscape has changed, and the photos that used to work two years ago no longer yield the same results.

If you’re struggling to get matches on dating apps, or having trouble converting your matches to dates, there’s a good chance your photos are the bottleneck. It’s been proven that 80% of men on dating apps are seen as unattractive. This is not because 80% of men are actually unattractive, it has more to do with men not knowing how to present themselves in a way that sparks women’s attention.

Firstly, if you have at least an 8/10 SMV (use the PWF blueprint to determine your SMV), you can get away with posed model photos. This is because your looks provide enough value on their own, eliminating the need for fun lifestyle photos.

If you’re below an 8 on the SMV scale, you need to compensate for your lower SMV with your photos. A high quality photo can make you look 1.5, maybe even 2 points better. The biggest problem I see is that most guys are doing the opposite. They have terrible photos that actually lose them points.

Example: John has a 6/10 SMV in person. With crappy cell phone photos, he becomes a 4/10 on dating apps. However, with the best photos of he can be 1.5 points higher and become a 7.5 on dating apps. Thats a 3.5 point difference just through photography

So what’s the solution here?

Maximizing Your SMV Before the Photoshoot

Hit the gym, lift weights, and get to around 10% body fat. This will bring out your jawline and overall aesthetic.
Get a fade haircut or find a hairstyle that suits you best. (The fade will get you LAID)
Grow a beard or keep short stubble. This will enhance your masculinity. If you have trouble growing a beard, consider using minoxidil or keep it clean-shaven.
Develop a daily skincare routine. Girls notice your skin, and dry, flaky skin is a turn-off.
Upgrade your wardrobe. Shop at stores like Zara, Express, and H&M. One company i know Alex loves to use is “Cuts” just google them. They’re a bit pricey but it’s very well worth it. Follow influencers like Austin Dunham for inspiration. We also have an in-house stylist that can help you.
Make sure clothes fit you well and wrinkle-free.

Master Your Body Language & Posing

Once your SMV increases and you’re looking great, you’ll naturally receive a boost in confidence. This boost will affect your body language. Leading up to the photoshoot, set the intention to be mindful of your body language.

Keep your chest up, shoulders back, and avoid slouching.
Take up more space than usual.
Start a daily embodiment practice/meditation to increase body awareness. The more self-aware you become, the more control you have over your body.
The more confident you feel, the better body language you will have. In psychology, there’s something called the law of state transference. This means that whatever you feel, other people will feel as well. The same applies to getting your picture taken. When you’re nervous, that feeling will be broadcasted onto your photo. It’s very important that you embody a confident state throughout the entire photoshoot.
Practice expressing different emotions before the photoshoot. During the shoot, display a range of emotions such as confidence, excitement, joy, relaxation, anger, etc. The more emotional range you show on your dating profile, the more interesting and intriguing you will appear. Guys with a boring, monotone look on their faces fail to spark any emotions in girls looking at their dating profiles.
When it comes to posing, the key is movement. Movement makes your photos appear more candid and less stiff.

Some things I have my clients do are: adjust their watch, roll up their sleeves, button and unbutton their jacket, adjust any article of clothing, take off and put back on their sunglasses, place one hand in their pocket with their thumb out while walking.

To create photos that look more candid and natural, engage in some type of activity while utilizing props. A perfect example is playing fetch with a dog and throwing a tennis ball. Another way is to bring a friend with you on the shoot and have a conversation with him while taking photos. If you can’t bring a friend, have a conversation with the photographer.

A great dating photographer will actually joke around with you during a photoshoot and make you laugh. He will help you get in the right state to have the best outcomes. That is the key to getting the best results

Photoshoot Game Plan

The first step in the planning process is picking locations that are clean and high-value.

Recommended photoshoot locations:

Gyms
High-end shopping centers
Upscale restaurants and bars
Beaches
Sports locations (basketball, volleyball, golf, etc.)
5-star hotels
Luxury Airbnb
Private airports
Boating docks
Coffee shops
Offices
Kitchens
Lounge areas
Cigar bars

When shooting at these locations, look for spots that are clean, have minimal background clutter, and have good lighting. The cool thing about working with me is that I’m located in St. Pete and have access to many different high-value locations all within walking distance.

If you’re unsure about which locations to pick, here’s a photoshoot shot plan that has produced great results for our clients. You can either copy this plan verbatim or modify it to be more authentic to you.

Photoshoot shot plan:

A strong model shot (waist up with a candid pose)
Dog shot
Social shot (preferably with two girls and one other guy)
Activity shot (motorcycle, sports, jet ski)
High-value shot (helicopter, yacht, or boat)
An attractive selfie

The order in which to place these photos on your profile can vary from person to person, but the most important thing is to start with a strong model shot that clearly shows your face.

Photoshoot Do’s & Don’ts:

Don’t take photos in low-value locations such as a cluttered house, dirty bathroom, random street, empty field, parking lots, or old basement.
Do display a variety of photos with different outfits, activities, and emotions.
Don’t show up to a photoshoot with wrinkled clothes or an unkempt appearance.
Do take every action necessary to improve your SMV before the shoot.
Don’t go into a shoot feeling nervous and tense. (Have a drink if you need it)
Do get into a relaxed state and put yourself into character (such as James Bond).
Don’t try to take the photos by yourself.
Do hire a professional photographer to take your photos.

I hope this photoshoot guide was helpful for you. From experience, if you implement everything discussed in this guide, you will have a successful shoot and photos that will get you a ton of matches.

If this seems like a daunting task, we’d be happy to take the photos for you. We offer several packages that will absolutely take your dating life to the next level.

Send me a message today to learn more about booking a photoshoot with us.

https://www.instagram.com/jharderphoto

Ps: we are offering a special discount to pwf members so make sure to tell us that you came from here 🙂