Using old pictures on online dating profiles??

Christmascracker0 · 2023-01-21T14:06:43+00:00

I have been single for a while (several years) and looking to start dating again. Problem is, I have maybe one good picture of myself from the last 3 years. But before that I have a few that I used to use on dating profiles. Would it be really bad to use old pictures? I think I look mostly the same (face wise and body wise), but I am 30 now compared to 26/27 when the pictures were taken! I don’t have many friends, don’t really ever go out so don’t have many opportunities to take nice new pics 😬

TenTeo · 21/01/2023 14:12

No excuse to use out of date photos in my opinion. Everyone has got a smart phone and can take a couple of selfies.

Dacadactyl · 21/01/2023 14:13

3 years out of date is fine imo, but iv never done OLD so don't know what the consensus will be.

vaste · 21/01/2023 14:21

I agree with @TenTeo it's easy enough to take a selfie, headshot or full length (in a full length mirror) nowadays. You could then include the older photos as extra.

Pinkbonbon · 21/01/2023 14:25

Imo 3 years is fine. Provided you haven't really noticeably changed since. Past that and you'd be pushing it though.

It's when ppl use them and they've put on more than a stone or started to go bald since they were taken ect... that I'd say they were being cheeky.

Precipice · 21/01/2023 14:26

3 years isn't old for photos, if as you say you haven't changed much. Fine to go ahead.

Walterwhiteswifey · 21/01/2023 14:28

Just do a nice selfie. You're the judge as to what looks good and don't need any one else there to take the pic. You wont be self conscious so can take as many pics you like in different angles.

Original poster

Christmascracker0 · 21/01/2023 14:30

Yeah it would be easy to take a few pics but I don’t see the point in having multiple of essentially the same picture of me in various places in my flat? I think that would just highlight the fact I have no pals and don’t go outside!?

I’m not a fan of group pics but I was a bridesmaid last summer so there are some pics I could choose from.

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SomethingLessIdentifiable · 21/01/2023 14:31

Take some selfies, or prop your phone up and set the photo timer.

vaste · 21/01/2023 14:35

think that would just highlight the fact I have no pals and don’t go outside!?

I've just asked a friend who uses OLD and she said it's quite usual, selfies I mean. The bugbear is using out of date photos, apparently.

Snowybeach · 21/01/2023 14:38

I would definitely have a recent selfie as your main pic.

qqq82 · 21/01/2023 15:09

Christmascracker0 · 21/01/2023 14:30

Yeah it would be easy to take a few pics but I don’t see the point in having multiple of essentially the same picture of me in various places in my flat? I think that would just highlight the fact I have no pals and don’t go outside!?

I’m not a fan of group pics but I was a bridesmaid last summer so there are some pics I could choose from.

Just crop them

ReamsOfCheese · 21/01/2023 15:12

Christmascracker0 · 21/01/2023 14:30

Yeah it would be easy to take a few pics but I don’t see the point in having multiple of essentially the same picture of me in various places in my flat? I think that would just highlight the fact I have no pals and don’t go outside!?

I’m not a fan of group pics but I was a bridesmaid last summer so there are some pics I could choose from.

I feel like you're misunderstanding the point of photos in OLD. Blokes aren't looking at them to see if you have a full and interesting life outside of your job/family commitments, they just want to know if they'd fancy you or not. I'd only put up one selfie and then they can see what you look like when they meet you for a date.
If a bloke had an ancient photo I'd see that as a red flag and as a woman, I wouldn't want to put too many pics out there for safety reasons.

Fuckstix · 21/01/2023 15:20

I think 3 years is OK, if you've not changed noticeably. Maybe take one or two new selfies so you know you've got an up to date one on there, then the existing older ones for variety?

Original poster

Christmascracker0 · 21/01/2023 15:35

ReamsOfCheese · 21/01/2023 15:12

I feel like you're misunderstanding the point of photos in OLD. Blokes aren't looking at them to see if you have a full and interesting life outside of your job/family commitments, they just want to know if they'd fancy you or not. I'd only put up one selfie and then they can see what you look like when they meet you for a date.
If a bloke had an ancient photo I'd see that as a red flag and as a woman, I wouldn't want to put too many pics out there for safety reasons.

Show quote history

I think (having been on and off dating apps for 10 years) I just have a different opinion to you.

If I saw a guy with just one selfie on his profile then I would swipe left, probs assume he was looking for a shag or assume he was married!! It would be a red flag for me.

If you are looking for a relationship then pictures are needed to get a good idea of what that person is like, in addition to your bio. It shows you are taking OLD seriously. They are also good conversation starters - for example I have a good picture of me at St Andrews golf course that gets good chat going. You just don’t get that with a random selfie in a bedroom.

Also really annoyingly, Hinge requires you to have 5 or 6 pictures on your profile before you can swipe 😩

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Original poster

Christmascracker0 · 21/01/2023 15:35

I think tomorrow I’ll take one selfie and mix it up with my older pics. Then try and think of something funny about older pics for my bio 🤔

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TheYearOfSmallThings · 21/01/2023 15:38

Use a current picture. Think of all the men who use a photo that is years old because they feel that is what they look like, and for some reason current photos don't do them justice.

Keep trying until you get a decent photo of how you really look now, and use that.

Dacadactyl · 21/01/2023 15:39

Unless you have become addicted to meth in the past 3 years, at 30 you're not gonna look too much different to 27.

PollyAmour · 21/01/2023 15:40

Why don't you go out and take a few selfies with a scenic backdrop? The 'look at me, I'm so popular, look at all my friends' photos always seem a bit try hard.

StarCourt · 21/01/2023 18:36

and include a full length body shot

Cyberworrier · 21/01/2023 18:46

Use the photos from 3 years ago if you’ve barely changed!

I agree with you OP that you want the photos to give a flavour of your life, not just your face, so it’s nice to have ones where it’s clear you have a life etc! That’s normal on apps like Hinge anyhow.

You could always have a selfie as well. But really don’t worry about a few years back at your age and when you haven’t really changed!

I met my new boyfriend on Hinge a few months back and like me, his photos were mainly from just before Covid because neither of us did much socialising in last 2 years, oddly enough. And pictures relating to his life/interests gave me much more of a flavour of his personality and piqued my interest much more than a generic selfie would!

Drinknumber11 · 21/01/2023 18:59

Please don’t use old photos on OLD, even if you think you look the same you probably don’t.
Men on there just want to know if they fancy you or not, they won’t be judging for not having any photos of you with friends etc.

JosephJoseph · 21/01/2023 20:52

Go and have new photos taken of you. 3 years is too old.

Mehmeh22 · 21/01/2023 21:02

I once went on a date with a guy and I realised his photo was from a few years ago. He looked nothing like it. It was so annoying and gave me the ick.

Original poster

Christmascracker0 · 21/01/2023 21:47

Just checked and all the good ones are from 2018 so I was 25 😬 I don’t think I’ve changed but 25 v 30 is probably taking the piss isn’t it.

I have two trips planned in February so will have to recruit my mum/friend to help take pics hahaha

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Goatbilly · 21/01/2023 22:31

What you self-report and what the reality is is probably quite different, nobody thanks they have changed "that much".