As I enter into
the world of online dating, or trying to find someone to date online, it amazes me to see how many men have studio portraits of themselves posted as their pictures. And I'm not just talking one or two. I'm talking a handful of staged shots that they paid a professional photographer to take in their studio. They are each slightly different -- the backdrop will change color or the "subject" will be leaning with elbow on knee and chin resting on fist. Sometimes the blazer is on - other times off.
But whatever pose they chose, they are still studio shots taken by a PHOTOGRAPHER in a STUDIO. I don't get it. Is this a common practice that I have not thus far been aware of? Are there certain studios/photographers who specialize is such shots, or can you just contact anyone with a camera and a backdrop?
Do they use these photos for other purposes? Or is it strictly for online dating? Cuz I don't think they're using them for their resume (as is the new trend even though I am vehemently opposed). If you have any insight, please let me know as my subscription with eHarmony is about to expire and I do not intend to renew it ... even though this will mean no more studio photos to gag at. I think I can live with it.
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Comments (16)
haha i don't think i'd be too interested in a guy with a cheesy studio portrait.
I don't know about you but when I was on POF, some of the guys on that thing were plastering a lot of their STUDIO set pictures... black and whites, in sepia tones, "casually posing" outdoors, etc. But most of these guys claim they were "actors" thus the head shots available to look at...
BUT if their studio pictures will get them more attention, maybe it works for them? Why not?
Why not?
Maybe they have no one else trustworthy enough to take a decent photo of them (no close friends or family? Could be a bad sign....), or the only shots they have are inappropriate to post online, so they have to hire a professional.
hahaha def not my style, even if online dating were my style. unless i posted them as a joke.
..............no.
It might be their senior pictures... depending on the ages...
For Christ's sake. I think if someone went to the trouble of going to a studio to look nice in a shot it's demands more respect than going to the trouble to extend their arm all the way out of its socket to get the perfect myspace angle. Yeah, the hand/fist thing is cheesy as hell, but really, that person is just doing it because they're serious about online dating. So screw you!
Nothing wrong with trying to look your best but I'd take it as a sign of low confidence if all their photos were professional. There's no reason why you can't post at least one candid...
lol sounds like insecurity on the guys part. Studio shots are always nice, but to post an ass load of them on a dating site doesn't show the "real" you...just a little bit of the soul the photographer stole.
Did you ever think that maybe it was a picture they had taken for another reason and they USED it for their profile because they look their best in it and they want to look their best for the prospective dates ? My first thought when I see someone with a studio photo isn't that they are pathetic because they went out and had portraits done for eharmony, it's more like wow, they look nice.
My profile picture for my MySpace used to be a studio picture, but I sure as hell didn't go get them taken just for MySpace.
The pictures are for us to enjoy....
This one actually made me laugh. I think a man taking professional headshots should only be for professional portraits, as is the case of actors. But for the sake of online dating sites, that kind of gives off a sense of desperation or severe vanity.
Whatever floats their boat, I guess.
They probably decided that they look better when they're posing in studio photographs than they do in regular, real life pictures. I don't see much of a point in this though, as when they DO find someone to date on these sites, they aren't going to be posing the entire time - they're going to be real. So unless they want to hold that pout and keep their chin on their palm through every single second, it makes sense to show whom they really are.
Unbelievable!
You are hacking on someone smart enough to look like they are a professional business person instead of some redneck who has to hold the camera himself?
If a guy has a professional business portrait for work and/or they go to the trouble of taking a proper portrait - good for them! I'm more likely to date someone smart, sexy and professional than someone who can't put in some time and effort into the dating scene.
Think - he puts in some effort to look good - he's more likely to show up looking good on our date. And if he's put effort into finding someone, he's much more likely to put some effort into me! So I'm dating that guy first.
You can be jealous all you want guys - but he's shown me he's much more interesting and motivated than you!