In a perfect world there would be no shallow people. Everyone would gauge his or her romantic interests based solely on personality. However, that just isn’t the case – not for you, not for me and not for anyone else, especially when it comes to the world of online dating.

Your dating profile picture is the first thing people see, based upon how appealing that profile picture is, they’ll decide whether or not to investigate your online dating profile further by reading about your likes, dislikes, wants and desires. If you’re thinking that this is shallow, you may want to look at your own online dating habits. Don’t YOU usually do the same thing? Sure you do.

Due to this simple fact, online dating profile pictures are incredibly important, if not completely vital to your success in the world of online dating. So, if you’re not getting enough dates through your online dating service, consider some of the following profile picture blunders

1. Too Pixilated

When you have a profile picture that is blurry and pixilated, then it’s incredibly difficult to tell how you really look. People will most likely pass by a pixilated photo and never know who you really are. Make sure your profile photo is clear and easy to see.

2. Distorted

No matter what online dating service you’re using, each one will have a limit on the profile picture dimensions. They will request a particular file size, pixel width and pixel height. Even if your picture isn’t pixilated, it could be distorted if you don’t pay attention to these dimensions and adhere to them. If your dating profile picture is distorted it could make you look fat even if you’re not, it could make your face look longer than it actually is and it will ultimately end up making you look unappealing. Always read the dimension guidelines before uploading your headshot, that way you won’t be stuck wondering why no one is messaging you.

3. Bad Lighting

If your online dating profile picture is too dark, too light or oddly shadowed, then you’re going to look unappealing. Even taking a picture of yourself in the daylight can cast unwanted shadows over your face because of your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, bottom lips and so on. The best way to solve this problem is to have your headshot taken in soft lighting that isn’t too dark and not too light. If you want to take your photograph outside, make sure to do so when there is an overcast sky so that the sunlight isn’t too harsh.

4. Over Done

No one thinks a profile picture of a guy with his shirt off flexing for the camera or a girl trying to look overly sexy for her profile picture is actually appealing. Not only is that going to attract the wrong kind of people, it’s going to make you look cheap. You need to have dating headshots that show your true personality and that will attract the kind of person you’re looking for. So, cover up, stop puckering up and just be yourself so you don’t over do it.

Now that you have the perfect profile picture you want to look your best on your first online date.

Make sure you Include these things in your handbag.

1. Tooth picks or dental floss
2. Mints or breath strips
3. Make-up touch up kit
4. A small nail file
5. A small comb

1. Tooth picks or dental floss
It is the absolute worst thing to get food between your teeth on a date and have no way of getting it out

2. Mints or breath strips
It’s so embarrassing to have bad breath and you know good and well after you eat you need something to freshen your breath.

Now, if the date isn’t going so well and you know you don’t want to see him again.
You may want to eat large amounts of garlic and onions.  This will definitely hinder your date from going in for a kiss.

However, stay far away from garlic and onions if you like the guy.  Breath freshener will never help after eating these foods.

Oh, and ladies, Never chew gum on a date! I have heard many men complain about this. When you chew gum it looks like a cow chewing its cud.  Soooo TACKY! Save it for being around your girlfriends. Unless of course you forgot any form of breath freshener. Bad breath is worse than looking like a cow.
Bottom line, don’t forget breath freshener!

3. Make-up touch up kit
A girl doesn’t want to be caught looking shiny or have lip liner on when your lipstick has worn off.

Powder, blush, and lipstick:
Pack a small powder compact or blotting papers and a small blush and lipstick for touch ups.
If you’re wearing red lipstick watch your teeth. There’s nothing worse than getting lipstick on your teeth.  One way that I prevent this from happening is to occasionally wipe my teeth with my finger when your date isn’t looking. This can be done inconspicuously.
Eye Shadow:
There’s usually no reason to worry about bringing eye shadows.  You can’t really go wrong with powder and blush but when it comes to eye shadow, if you get a little tipsy you don’t want to come out looking like Cleopatra!

4. A small nail file
For me the most annoying thing is when I chip a fingernail

5. A small comb
You don’t want your hair looking messy. This is good for smoothing out hair or teasing for added fullness to flat hair.

Now you can go on your date with confidence knowing you look your BEST!

Confidence is crazy, not to mention fickle. I mean, how do you really contain your confidence on a consistent level? It’s difficult. But confidence matters, not only in the business world, but also in the dating world. People can always tell how other people feel, it shows in the way you walk, talk, gesture and dress. When you’re confident, it shows and when you’re not, it shows.

But, life is a roller coaster ride, isn’t it? Depending upon what’s going on in your life, you can wake up feeling one way and go to bed feeling another way. So, it’s hard to always maintain the confidence you need in order to be successful.

One of the reasons people like online dating so much is because they don’t really need to go out on a limb in order to gather up dates and chat with other singles. It’s like an anonymous bar, instead of having to deal with all of the potential weirdos buying you drinks and instead of having to walk over to that sexy thing sitting alone at a table and risk rejection, you can post up a picture of yourself, write an intriguing profile and surf through thousands of singles, picking and choosing as you so desire.

But, online dating also has its pitfalls. When you get so used to emulating confidence online, whether real or fabricated, it can be incredibly nerve-racking when having to finally seal the proverbial deal, and by that I mean going on an actual date with someone you met through an online dating service.

Many people have these strange online personas and it makes them feel obligated to perpetuate these online personas in the offline world. This can lead to nervousness and, because of that, a lack of confidence.

So, how do you remain confident when it comes to the date you landed from your online dating service without feeling obligated to perpetuate a false online persona? After all, you’re no longer able to hide behind your computer screen – this is the real deal. Well, the first step is to not have a false online persona. That’s right. Quit it! Be real, be honest and be prepared.

So many people feel ashamed of themselves; they feel as though they should be a different person online. But, the best thing you can do is to embrace yourself – every part of yourself. Even when you don’t feel necessarily confident, be confident in the fact that you are just that way sometimes. That is the essence of confidence in every part of life.

When it comes to your online dating profile, you need to portray your internal essence to other people. That way you will attract the right kind of dates and not feel obligated to be someone else you’re not.

The first step in portraying your true personality in your online dating profile is to get a professional profile picture. Dress in a way that accentuates your personality, use colors that make you feel good and confident and show who you really are to the online dating world and know that when it comes down to that first date, the person you’ll be meeting will be able to except nothing less and nothing more than the person they saw on your online dating profile – you in all your naturally confident glory. Now THAT is a great first impression.

DatingHeadShots.com is the best place to find professional photography studios in your area to get not only the best online dating photographs, but also the cheapest. Check it out and look great just the way you are.