Your personal ad dating profile is a representation of who you are. It’s the first impression you’ll make when getting involved in the classified dating world, whether online or not, and just like with any other first meeting, you want it to be a good one. While you don’t have to be perfect, your personal ad photo should be an accurate reflection of you - your personality and your personal style. Those are the elements of the picture that most people will be attracted to, so forget the camera phone, the high school year book photo or the quick, slightly blurry snap shot where you’ve cut someone else out of the picture. Take a few minutes and do it right. Here are some tips that may help you:

Ask a Friend

Its hard to be objective when choosing a photo for your personal ad. It seems like every little flaw jumps right off the paper. This is why you should talk to a trusted friend whose opinion you know will be in your best interest and not just what you want to hear. Ask them to tell you honestly how you look, what their impression is when they look at the picture and if there is anything you should change about the photo such as clothing, lighting or angles. Taking it a step further, have the friend take a picture for you. Choose a few different tops and backgrounds and spend some time taking a few shots you can choose from.

Take Your Time
Because you want a picture that accurately reflects you, be prepared to take some time to get it right. While you are not required to have professional take the shot, general, everyday photos tend to have a few common problems. For example, one of the biggest problems is that casual snapshots are taken much too far away from the subject. It’s hard to see your face clearly and really get an idea of what you look like. Photos for personal ads are typically small, so one taken too far away is counterproductive. Another issue is lighting. Certain lights can create harsh shadows on people’s faces which is very unflattering. Avoid using picture under night lights such as streetlights, or relying on the flash. The best kind of picture is taken outside, in the afternoon, with a little cloud cover. Avoid taking shots at midday under the direct sunlight.

Be Creative

While taking a simply black and white photo against a plain background can be classy, its also a little generic. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different backgrounds or ideas. You may want to take a shot of you doing something that you like, or reflecting a certain mood.

If you’re going to put time and energy into meeting someone by using personal ads, take the same time to get a great photo. A good photo makes you ask questions-who is this person, what are they like? Remember: A picture is worth a thousand words.

Claire Brent is the author of the free 7 days mini course “Online Dating Mastery”. Discover the essential steps of a highly successful online dating experience by signing up free at http://onlinedating.ezguide2.com/newsletter.html

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