What if every photo you posted to your online dating profile led to a match? Here’s how Lauren Urasek does it.
Lauren Urasek was just minding her own business when?New York?Magazine contacted her one day last year?and told her that, according to some serious math, she was the most-messaged girl in New York City?on OkCupid.
That’s when her life kind of blew up ? strangers would bombard Urasek with?questions about her?crazy?dating stories. She had enough?tales of meeting pervy?and bizarro men?that she just wrote a book about it, called?Popular.
But Urasek, a makeup artist by day, also gets a ton of questions about how she looks as good as she does in her online dating pics. Here are a few of her?tips:
1. Post a Realistic Yet Flattering Full-Body Photo
Courtesy of Lauren Urasek
This shot was taken at a networking event. A girl asked me to take a snap of her, and then?offered to return the favor. (Note: If you’re shy about asking people to take pics, this is a great way to get one without having to be the first one to ask).
I like to pose with my stomach in, chest up, butt out, and arm not directly pressed against me.
The lighting in the room was great ??it was at eye level and?not overhead, which creates weird shadows.?I was wearing a new dress, so I was feeling good.
I vignetted the border to take the focus away from the other people sitting around me, but I didn’t crop them out entirely because it helps to show that I have a life and I’m out in the world doing things (i.e., not just a full body mirror pic).
2. Make One Picture a Conversation Starter
courtesy of Lauren Urasek
A snap of doing something interesting (like this pic of me?hiking at?Antelope Canyon)?is an instant icebreaker. People who have been there are always?excited to share their experience. People who haven’t been there usually ask me?if this is real, where it is, and if I edited the background (I only upped the contrast, but for its 99.99999 percent?real).
Side?note: I think it’s good to have at least one shot with minimal makeup on so everyone can see the real you.
3. Step Up Your Selfie Game
Courtesy of Lauren Urasek
One day, I was at a MAC store visiting my friend and I noticed that the lighting was amazing in there.?Ever since, I can’t pop in to see him without taking a few pics.
When I was ready to snap this, there was a girl behind me who kept getting into my shot, so I (very politely, of course) asked her to move out of my selfie zone.?I used this image as my profile pic for a while because it’s a pretty good representation of what I look like every?day (not super glammed up).
Remember these selfie tips the next time you’re posing for your phone:
- Never zoom in. This will dilute?the quality of the photo.
- Don’t be afraid to shoot your “bad side.” Otherwise, you may end up with all your pics looking exactly the same.
- Hold you arm just above eye level.?Any?higher and you get the MySpace?look.
- Do?not?use Instagram filters! They over- or underexpose your photos and make you look washed out.?Use apps if you want to tweak things; my faves are VSCO Cam?and Enlight.
4. Make Your Mirror Pics Count
I’m not usually pro-mirror selfies, but there are a few exceptions:
When they’re clean (no laundry or unmade bed in the background), when you look into the camera — not the mirror (which creates eye contact instead of that?weird wandering eye look), and when the pictures show you doing something that reveals a hobby or piece of your personality. I get so many messages about hockey because of this pic!
One last thing: If you still need help deciding which pics might lead you down lovers lane, download?The Grade. It’s an app that rates photos?to show?which?will get?the best response.
By Loni Venti