Your dating photos shape your first (and possibly last) impression.
Singles make swipe decisions in seconds—and even if you get a right swipe, your photos still influence how much effort someone puts into the conversation and whether they see you as worth meeting in person.
These eight mistakes are guaranteed to tank your online dating success. If your main profile photo includes any of them, it’s time for a change ASAP. (Seriously, do it now.)
Photo Mistake #1: Sunglasses
If people can’t see your eyes, they won’t match you.
Eyes build trust—covering them makes your photo feel guarded and less engaging. Also, eyes are one of the first things people notice, so you’re removing a lot of opportunities for initial attraction by keeping them hidden.
Reddit voices from r/OnlineDating:
“Guys, if your profile has photos of you in sunglasses and not one showing your eyes… I just swipe left on them now.”
“How are we supposed to know what you look like if every photo is you in sunglasses?”
Photofeeler Proof:
Scores were 1-2 points lower for the same photo but with sunglasses:
Immediate Fix:
If you love the sunglasses photo and can’t bear to replace it on your profile, move it to a later photo slot. Save your main profile picture spot for a clear, well-lit, smiling shot of you that you’ve tested on Photofeeler.
Photo Mistake #2: No full-body photo
You are losing matches if you only have close-up selfies on your profile. A profile full of photos like these sends red flags because it comes across like you’re trying to hide your body:
People want to see your body type– it’s a huge differentiator in attraction. If you’re big, little, tall, or have three arms– let your matches know before you show up for a date.
Mitigate disappointment and start on the right foot. Plus, if they’re not actually attracted to you, it’s way better to never match than to find out after the first date, and you’ll only find that if you give them the full picture (literally).
Reddit voices from r/OnlineDating:
“I used to be optimistic and give them the benefit of the doubt. But every single time they were hiding their weight. I’ve finally learned my lesson. I never meet anyone who doesn’t have a full body pic.” -u/v6underpressure
Immediate Fix:
Include at least one full-body shot on your profile. Avoid mirror photos and shirtless gym selfies– these are in the no-go zone. Bonus points if you’re doing something you enjoy.
Photo Mistake #3: Obvious filters
Leave the dog face filter in the doghouse. It doesn’t matter how hot you are; no one’s barking up your tree with puppy ears on your face.
Also, the more obvious a filter is, the less trustworthy you seem. Women report trustworthiness as a leading factor in deciding whether or not to meet up, and men look for trustworthy-looking women for long-term relationships.
Reddit voices from r/OnlineDating:
“Please stop uploading photos with those stupid animal face filters. You look ridiculous. I’m sure this has been discussed before, but nothing makes me swipe left faster than a grown woman posting a picture on a dating app with that dog filter or bear filter. Especially if it’s the first picture on your profile. To me it suggests that you are insecure about your appearance or feel the need to cover something up on your face.” -u/Jhurpess
Immediate Fix:
If you’re self-conscious about putting your unfiltered self out there, test a few of your favorite shots on Photofeeler to see what works. Even if you’re not insecure, it’s good to know what your target dating pool thinks of your photo choices before you lose possible matches.
Photo Mistake #4. Hats, caps, and beanies– oh my!
Fast left swipe: A hat and sunglasses in your main profile picture.
Slow left swipe: A hat in your main pic.
Slow right swipe: The main pic is without a hat and sunglasses, but the rest of the profile has hats.
Fast right swipe: Multiple hat-less, sunglass-less photos on your profile.
The thing about hats that irks daters is that they’re hiding a lot of what you look like. Just as face-only photos may hide weight, hats hide hair or baldness.
Keep it simple and clear in your profile. If people have to work to figure out what you look like, you’ll get fewer matches, plain and simple. The hard truth is that no one knows you well enough yet to dig past your main photo. Make it easy for them to see you.
Reddit voices from r/Online Dating:
“I love a bald head. My guy is bald, and we met online. Not a deal breaker, but they should have pics with and without the hat.” -u/luvthatbamaboy
Photofeeler Proof:
Immediate Fix:
Change your main profile picture to a well-lit photo that clearly shows your entire face and head. People need to see what you look like before they connect with who you are. Once you’ve met in person, cop your cap all you want.
Photo Mistake #5: Using prehistorically-old photos
Two years is pushing it, one year is okay, 6 months is best, but the true answer is: if you don’t look like your photos anymore, you need to change your pics.
If you:
- Look older
- Changed your hair color
- Changed how you wear your facial hair
- Gained/lost weight
- Don’t look the same whatsoever
… then it’s time to update your profile.
Reddit voices from r/Online Dating:
“It depends on how much your appearance has changed. If you’ve had a drastic appearance change in the past 3 months, then they should be from the recent 3 months.” -u/buchwaldjc
Immediate Fix:
Take some new pics! All you need is good lighting and a smartphone. Update your photos every six months and choose ones that accurately reflect your current appearance.
Photo Mistake #6. No “smiling” photos
No matter if you smile closed-mouth or by showing all 32 white and sparkling little fellas, you need a smiling shot on your profile. If not, people are going to assume you may look like this:
Plus, smiles are a significant indication of trust and approachability, which attracts everyone, so it’s really in everyone’s best interest to have at least one smiling shot.
Reddit voices from r/Online Dating:
“I once met a date who didn’t have any pictures showing their teeth. When they smiled in person, I was greeted with a black, dead front tooth. It was disgusting. Definite dealbreaker for me because teeth are a big deal to me. I don’t like super-white, perfect teeth, but decent teeth and good oral hygiene are a must.
It’s about transparency, and you’re not being transparent. That’s a red flag for me. Your pictures should give a clear picture of what you look like, and teeth, eyes, full-body shots, are all important.” -u/littlebratinsocal
Immediate Fix:
Brush those teeth and then have a photoshoot that would make your dentist proud. Jokes, jokes. But really, just include at least one photo (preferably your main pic) with your smile. Give people an extra chance to connect with you.
Photo Mistake #7: Can’t see you, can’t match you
Although these photos are stunning (and we wish we were there), they don’t work as a main pic on your profile because people can’t see you.
A photo of you in your element is fine, but not just you in your element. If all your photos look like you called National Geographic and asked for the photographer with the biggest zoom lens, people aren’t going to know what to expect and will swipe left on you.
However, if you must concentrate on the “I’m into hiking and the outdoors” line in your bio, crop the photo tighter to you and ensure you can see your face.
Reddit voices from r/Online Dating:
“Whenever people’s profiles have a bunch of pictures of them far away and doing stuff, it’s a little frustrating. I can’t see how you look surfing in 3 different pictures buddy! Can I at least look at your eye color?” -u/littlefluffybun
Photofeeler Proof:
The dating photo results:
And the usual feedback:
However, after changing the category to a social photo test, people’s perceptions of these photos greatly improved:
So keep them for the socials, but stick to photos where you’re the main character (not the mountains) for dating apps.
Photo Mistake #8. Not using Photofeeler
Even if you’re funny, thoughtful, and a great catch in person, none of that matters if your pics turn people off before you can connect. The good news is that every single mistake on this list is totally fixable–right now.
Trade the filters for clarity. Ditch the sunglasses for eye contact. Swap the outdated pics for ones that actually look like you—full body, real smile, clear face. Make you the focus, not the scenery.
And yes, that includes the stuff you’re tempted to hide—like being bald, heavier, or having imperfect teeth. It’s easy to think that covering it up will help you get more matches. But here’s the truth: people don’t ghost or unmatch because you’re bald. They ghost because you weren’t upfront. Confidence isn’t about looking “perfect,” but showing up real from the start.
The right photos won’t just get you more matches—they’ll attract better ones.
Before you upload, make sure your pics are sending all the right signals. Test them on Photofeeler for real, unbiased feedback—so you can be confident you’re putting your best face forward.