The best first photo for Hinge

The best first photo for Hinge is a recent, well-lit photo of just you, with your face clearly visible at about eye level and nothing over your eyes. That's the whole rule. It doesn't need to be professional or dramatic; it needs to let someone see you in one glance.

The checklist

• It's only you in the frame
• Your face is clear: no sunglasses, no cap shadow, no hand in the way
• It's daylight or soft indoor light, not a dark bar
• The camera is at eye level, not from below or high above
• It's from the last year or two
• You're framed from about the chest up, so people can see your face
• You look like yourself on a good day, not like someone else

If your current first photo misses two or more of these, it's the first thing to change.

Light does most of the work

Open shade (under a tree, beside a building) or the hour before sunset flatters everyone. Harsh midday sun makes you squint, and overhead indoor lights cast shadows under the eyes. If you're indoors, face a window.

Expression: mid-sentence beats posed

Ask a friend to talk to you while they take a burst of photos. The frame where you're about to laugh or mid-reply usually beats the one where you smiled on command.

What to leave for later photos

Group shots, full-length photos, hobbies, travel and pets are all good, just not first. The first photo is for your face. The rest of the profile, including prompts like “I go crazy for” or “Unusual skills”, shows the rest of you.

Backing it up

Once someone taps your profile, your second photo and your first prompt keep them there. A warm answer like “My simple pleasures” or a playful “Dating me is like” next to a candid photo works well. See the full photos guide for what each of the six slots should do, and check your answers with the prompt checker.