Dating Profile Photo Tips For Over 80s

A profile with a photo gets far more replies than one without, and you certainly do not need to look like a film star. All you need is a bit of daylight and someone willing to press the button. Here are five easy tips.

1. Smile Please!

A warm, natural smile is the best thing you can put in a photo. Think of something that makes you chuckle, perhaps a favourite episode of Dad's Army or the grandchildren trying to explain what an app is, and let it show. A smile tells people you are friendly and good company.

2. Find Some Good Light

Daylight is far kinder than an overhead bulb. Sit by a window or step out into the garden on a bright but cloudy day, which gives lovely soft light. A second photo of you doing something you enjoy, pottering in the greenhouse, at the bowls club or with a dog on your lap, gives people something to ask about.

3. Frame It Well

Dating sites often crop pictures to fit, so keep your face near the middle with a little space around it. Ask your helper to hold the camera at your eye level rather than looking down at you, and make sure the picture is sharp. A head and shoulders photo is best for your main picture.

4. Just You, Please

That photo from the family wedding may be a treasure, but with thirty relatives in the frame nobody will know which one is you. Choose pictures of you on your own. It is also kinder to keep photos of a late husband or wife, or a former partner, for the family album.

5. Keep It Current

Use photos from the last year or so. The one from your seventieth may be lovely, but your date will be looking out for that person when they walk into the tearoom. A modern phone takes excellent pictures, so ask a son, daughter or grandchild to take a few and pick your favourite two or three.