A profile with a good photo gets far more attention than one without, and you do not need to look like a film star to get it right. All it takes is you, some decent light and a patient grandchild with a phone. Here are five simple tips.
A genuine smile does more for your photo than any filter ever will. Think of something that makes you laugh, perhaps the Ashes, or your brother in law trying to light the barbie in a southerly, and let it show. A warm smile tells people you are friendly and easy to talk to.
There is no shortage of sunshine here, so use it, but wisely. Stand in open shade or facing a window in the soft morning or late afternoon light, rather than the harsh midday sun that has everyone squinting. And tip the Akubra back a little, as a hat brim casting a shadow over your eyes hides your best feature. A second photo of you doing something you love, out on the bowling green, fishing off the jetty or in your veggie patch, gives people something to ask about.
Dating sites often crop pictures to fit, so keep your face near the middle with a little space around it, or you may lose the top of your head. Hold the camera at eye level, check that the photo is sharp, and use a head and shoulders shot as your main picture.
That photo from the family Christmas lunch may be a favourite, but with fifteen relatives in the frame nobody will know which one is you. Choose pictures where you are on your own. It is also kinder to leave out photos with a late spouse or former partner, even cropped, as a stray arm round your shoulder raises questions best saved for later.
Use photos taken in the last year or so. The one from your sixtieth may be lovely, but your date will be expecting that person to walk into the cafe. You do not need a professional, a modern phone does the job beautifully. Ask a son, daughter or grandchild to take a few snaps outdoors and pick the best two or three.