Carlos Solis
People looking for romantic relationships can improve their chances if they present themselves the right way in their profile photos.
A team of psychologists at the Open University of Catalonia (Barcelona) analyzed photos posted by Tinder users.
The Daily Mail reports the researchers identified nine common image types and explained what those shots reveal about a person — and how those images can hurt someone’s chances of finding a partner.
So it’s never too late to use the researchers’ interpretations and swap out photos that aren’t working for you.
“All Tinder profiles look the same, and that pushed me to figure out what’s going on,” said lead researcher Alejandro García Alaman.
What your dating app photo says about you
Overall, the team examined 1,000 real Tinder profiles of Barcelona residents. The results, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, showed most users picked one of nine visual strategies.
The team says these strategies reflect less who we really are and more who we think we have to be to be loved.
“Choosing a strategy based on social desirability robs us of authenticity and blurs our individuality,” said Dr. García Alaman. So what are those strategies?
Waist-up portrait: the most neutral and socially acceptable option for self-presentation.
Casual pose: appears spontaneous and comes across as friendly.
Close-up (selfie): can suggest dissatisfaction with one’s body.
Full-body shot: most often posted by heterosexual, self-confident women.
Sunglasses: signal a desire to protect oneself or to hide.
Photos in nature: signal activity, health, and a connection to the outdoors.
Revealing photo with significant nudity: often indicates a search for casual hookups.
Neutral placeholder with a quote or landscape: often used by older people to avoid drawing attention to an aging body.
Photos of isolated body parts: essentially convey nothing and stem from a desire to hide one’s appearance.
A few comments
Photos with a “high level of nudity” made up 10 percent of the sample, which contrasts with Tinder’s reputation as a platform for casual hookups.
The team said young people usually show more exposed areas of their bodies in photos. As people age, nudity in photos decreases. But there’s an exception — people aged 30–39 often put their assets on display.
They called it a transitional period between youth and maturity, when the drive to boost self-esteem and improve appearance persists.
One of the most popular image types was the waist-up portrait: one in four users chose it.
Women in their profile photos often smiled and posed in revealing clothing. Other users emphasized their love of nature and active lifestyles.
Dr. García Alaman believes that beyond showing physical attractiveness, a photo can carry a subtle, hidden message. For example, an image can hint at a person’s social standing or professional success.
“Your profile should first and foremost appeal to you and reflect your personality. If you want to add a bit of authenticity, show something a little unusual — something that’s truly yours,” he said.
