Dog park
Dog Photos for Dating Profiles: Why They Consistently Win
Tested favourite, animals read as warmth.
A photo with a dog shows you being warm at something rather than claiming to be warm. Kindness is hard to photograph directly. Crouching to greet a dog photographs it perfectly.
It is also the shot most likely to produce a real expression. Fake-smiling at a dog is difficult, and the difference between a real smile and a performed one is visible instantly.
What to wear
- Something you would actually wear outside. This shot dies the moment it looks styled
- Sleeves you can push up, since you will be crouching and using your hands
- Darker colours on the bottom half, because you are on the ground and grass stains show
When to shoot it, and the light
Late afternoon in open shade, or any overcast day. Parks at midday give you dappled light through leaves, which drops hard bright patches across the face and is the hardest lighting to correct.
The mistake that ruins this shot
Holding the dog up to the camera like a prop. The interaction is the subject, so look at the dog rather than the lens. One photo in a set where you aren't looking at the camera makes the whole set feel less posed.
Where it goes in your profile
Second or third. This is the photo that turns a maybe into a message, so it should be visible without much scrolling.