About Dating Headshots

Are Dating Headshots Important?

Have you ever met someone that you instantly either liked, or disliked?

Perhaps you knew why you felt that way about them, or perhaps you didn’t, but most people generate “first impressions” of other people in just 1/8th of a single second. These first impressions can have dramatic impact on who they hire, buy from, and otherwise listen to.

In dating apps, most people will first review your top photo, create a first impression, and then decide if they’d like to learn a bit more about you. 

When most people are swiping, they’re making a decision about their selections in just a couple seconds, so it’s critical to have several good photos of yourself that you can use to peak some initial interest. A bad first photo will ruin your chances with many matches that might have otherwise been interested. 

How Do I Pose for Dating Headshots?

No need to go crazy on your poses for dating headshots. In our sessions, we tend to focus on minimalist poses. We’ve seen other photographers force clients into some truly bizarre poses. But, we avoid this practice like the plague.

In an ideal shoot, we’ll capture some poses/situations that feel authentic to your life, but perhaps just needed a bit of staging so that a professional photographer was ready to capture the moment. The final photos shouldn’t feel staged…even if it felt that way during the shoot. If you have something specific in mind, feel free to ask us.

Example: Want us to come with you to the beach and catch you running with a surfboard? We’re game!

But, in most scenarios, we can come up with some great shots just hanging out around a park or urban center.

How Should I Prepare for Dating Headshots?

There are three keys to preparing for your headshot ahead of time.

First, if possible, try to get some sleep, exercise, and sunshine in the weeks before your session. Our editing team airbrushes your selected photos before delivering them to you, but your preparation will help ensure that the photos look as natural as possible.

Second, make sure to briefly wear your desired clothing a couple days before your session. You want to make sure that your outfits still fits properly and doesn’t need dry cleaning.

Third, take a look at some prior photos of yourself and see if there are any that you particularly like. When you arrive at the session, show those photos to your photographer, and that will help us find an angle that you find flattering.

How Much Do Dating Headshots Cost?

Dating headshots can cost anywhere between $89 and $1500 depending on geography, package, and provider.

When considering pricing, remember to look at a) licensing (who owns the photos) and b) retouching fees.

In terms of licensing, photographers typically only give you ownership for photos that you buy from them. This fee is separate from your “session fee,” which just covers the time spent inside their studio.

If you want to use your photos on a press release, advertisement, magazine, or book cover, you may have to pay additional licensing fees.

For retouching, many photographers charge between $50 and $150 per photo. Calculate those fees into your total session cost.