Attracted to a Profile Picture?

If you're single and are one of the millions of people trying to meet online, how do you know if you are really talking with the person in the picture? I recently met a great guy who was meeting his date from PlentyofFish.com for the first time. They seemed to hit it off through emails and had a great conversation over the phone. He was very excited to meet this woman that he had been conversing with, and he was very attracted to her profile picture.

I don’t think their date even lasted an hour. He was definitely turned off by her lack of interest in him and constant talking the entire time, but he also was very disappointed in her appearance. Whether the picture was six years old or six months old, she did not look the same. If you think you are going to WOW them with your personality, think again! People want to meet the same person they met in the picture. It is time to update your profile picture if:

• You radically changed your hair style
• Lost or gained more than 10-20 pounds (if this is a dramatic change in your appearance)
• Suddenly grew or shrunk a few inches J (If you are really short or tall, don’t just show a head shot in your profile picture)
• More than a few years old – the best pictures are the most recent (within a few months)
• Your current style/personality portrayed in your picture doesn’t really match what your interests are (i.e. dressed up look in picture but always dress pretty casually)

When you are have met someone you are attracted to by their picture and have great chemistry over the phone, don’t feel bad about asking about their picture. Be up front and state you have met people who have looked very different when you met them in person. Ask them how recent their picture is, do they feel it represents what they look like now, etc. Also, make sure the same is true for you!