Today, we’re running a unique dating photo experiment to answer a simple but intriguing question: Do you, your friends, a dating coach, and Photofeeler agree on your best photos?
We all like to think we know our best angles. But what if we’re off the mark? To find out, we’ve tasked five decision-makers—including Leo himself—to pick six photos for Leo’s Tinder profile from the same set of images.
We’ll hear each contestant’s reasoning, compare their picks, and discuss their biases at the end. Let’s dive right in!
Five Contestants
| Contestant #1 | Contestant #2 | Contestant #3 | Contestant #4 | Contestant #5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo, as himself | Lulu, Leo’s best friend | Alberto, Leo’s gym buddy | Jess, Dating Coach | Photofeeler |
Setting up the experiment
Leo provided about 20 photos, from which each contestant independently selected the six best photos in just 10 minutes—no peeking at others’ picks!
Here’s the folder of images Leo provided:
The Selections: Who picked which photos?
All contestants have locked in their selections. So, which six photos did they each choose as Leo’s “best”? Drumroll, please… 🥁🥁🥁
Contestant #1: Leo (Current Tinder Profile)
Leo initially selected a set of photos but didn’t manually order them. Instead, he let Tinder’s algorithm (which isn’t always trustable) automatically determine the order.
Contestant #2: Lulu (Leo’s Best Friend)
What Lulu had to say about her selection:
“I didn’t choose any of the other photos because I don’t like pictures where you see other people on Tinder. I prefer just to see the person and not with other people. And I think these photos show his personality a little bit, but it’s hard to see personality in pictures. These make him look like he could be a fun guy!”
Contestant #3: Alberto (Leo’s Gym Buddy)
Why Alberto chose these photos:
Photo #1 (Leo’s profile picture)– “I picked this as Leo’s first photo because I liked the colors; he looks nice, and since his eyes are closed, there’s an aura of mystery that makes you want to see more. If I were a girl, I would swipe at least one more picture to see his eye color.”
Photo #2– “I like the second photo because you can see his smile, eyes, and his friends, and know he’s a friendly person.”
Photo #3– “I like this photo because he’s with a cat and shows his side that likes animals. I feel like people who are good with animals are easier to trust, so that’s why I chose this. Also, you can see his eyes better, and he has nice eyes, so that’s an added plus.”
Photo #4– “It’s funny, a nice photo, and you can see his personality. Leo is a funny person, so this sums him up well.”
Photo #5– “The same sentiment as photo #3. It shows that he’s nice with other animals, not just his cat.”
Photo #6– “It’s a nice photo; you can see his side profile.”
Contestant #4: Jess (Dating Coach)
Jess’s full lineup and reasoning:
Photo #1 (Leo’s profile photo)– “This photo is nearly perfect, though I recommend zooming out more to show a bit more of Leo’s body. Users often associate tightly cropped images with someone hiding their physique, but otherwise, it’s ready for right swipes!”
Photo #2– “It’s quick to validate Leo’s body type and add some extra oomph with a side profile shot. The setting helps potential matches visualize spending time with Leo.”
Photo #3– “Although this isn’t the most photogenic photo of Leo, it shows his smile, which is one of the most important things for many online daters. Not including a photo with teeth, even if you usually smile closed-mouth, could cost you matches. To avoid doubts, answer common questions (e.g., teeth condition, weight) upfront.”
Photo #4- “Social photos with same-gender friends who are equally or less attractive are ideal. It signals that Leo has an active social life without raising awkward questions. If he put a photo with a woman, that could come across badly. Women may assume it’s his ex. It’s not ideal to block out other people’s faces in a social photo, as it feels a bit negative, so this photo is perfect. Bonus points because Leo is the tallest guy in the pic.”
Photo #5: “Although Leo’s eyes are closed here, his overall presentation is well put together. Out of all the other photos, this one was the one I was least confident about.”
Photo #6: “The strong closing photo with a cute(?) cat. I intentionally chose to end with this image because if someone is still on the fence, the cat usually seals the deal and starts a conversation. I don’t recommend selfies, but this one feels well-balanced in Leo’s profile.”
Contestant #5: Photofeeler (Internet Voters)
Photos are in no particular order.
Remember that Photofeeler voters evaluate each photo in isolation, unlike other contestants with multiple images to compare. This is beneficial because 55% of swipers will not look at the rest of the profile if they’re not attracted to the first photo.
Although the group shot scored the highest, it’s not the best choice for a first photo since people must guess which man Leo is. Here are our tips for choosing which photos make it to our profile.
Discussion
Agreement on Top Photo
Luckily for Leo, the photo Tinder’s algorithm selected as his top picture was also chosen almost unanimously by everyone else as his best profile photo. There was also a decent amount of overlap between contestant picks, but not so much with Leo’s own choices.
Variations in Photo Choices
While the primary profile photo was widely agreed upon, subsequent photo selections varied significantly among contestants:
- Lulu, Leo’s best friend, prioritized clear individual images (without other people) that communicated a bit of Leo’s personality.
- Alberto, Leo’s gym buddy, appreciated photos that revealed Leo’s playful personality and love of animals. He cared less about appearance and more about photos that felt like the Leo he knows in real life.
- Jess, the dating coach, emphasized practical dating app strategies, such as validating physical appearance, showcasing a social life, and including approachable conversation starters, like the cat photo.
- Photofeeler leaned toward photos ranked highest in attractiveness and trustworthiness, aligning more with general public appeal rather than personal familiarity. Since Leo isn’t planning to date his best friend, gym buddy, or dating coach– these are the opinions of his target audience, the people who matter most.
Important Takeaways
- Proximity bias is real. The closer people are, the more bias exists. Friends, dating coaches, and public voters have unique perspectives on what makes a great dating photo.
- Make it easy to start a conversation. Lulu and Jess wanted some personality/hobby-based photos in Leo’s folder. He presents himself well and attractively, but there’s nothing significant or niche to start a conversation on or connect via common interests.
- Leo’s female best friend had more images in common with the public vote than Leo’s male friend. This makes sense as Leo’s photo tests targeted only female voters.
- A well-rounded profile should include variety. A mix of facial close-ups, social settings, and personality-driven images creates the most engaging profile.
At the end of the day, a great dating profile isn’t just about looking good—it’s about making the right first impression. Take control of your presentation with Photofeeler.
Do these results surprise you? Were there any photos you expected to see selected more or less? Let us know at jessica@photofeeler.com if you enjoyed this article and want to see more like this!