Dating Profile Photo Tips For Over 70s

A profile with a good photo gets far more attention than one without, and you do not need Hollywood looks to get it right. All it takes is you, some decent light and a willing grandchild with a phone. Here are five simple tips.

1. Smile Please!

A genuine smile does more for your photo than any filter. Think of something that makes you laugh, perhaps the last time your team actually won the Stanley Cup, or your neighbour trying to clear his driveway with a leaf blower, and let it show. A warm smile tells people you are friendly and easy to talk to.

2. Find Some Good Light

Natural daylight is far kinder than a dim living room. Stand outside or next to a window in the soft morning or late afternoon light. In winter, a bright snowy day makes a lovely backdrop, just lose the toque for at least one photo so people can see your face. Add a picture of you doing something you love, curling, fishing at the cottage or tending the garden, to give people something to ask about.

3. Frame It Well

Dating sites often crop pictures to fit, so keep your face near the centre with a little space around it, or you may lose the top of your head. Hold the camera at eye level, make sure the photo is sharp, and use a head and shoulders shot as your main picture.

4. Just You, Please

That photo from Thanksgiving dinner may be a favourite, but with the whole extended family 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 in them, even cropped.

5. Keep It Current

Use photos taken in the last year or so. That one from your retirement party may be lovely, but your date will be expecting that person to walk into the coffee shop. A modern phone takes excellent photos, so ask a son, daughter or grandchild to take a few snaps outdoors and pick the best two or three.

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