Creating the perfect online dating profile can seem like a challenging task. How do you decide which pictures to feature and which ones to scrap? The poses? What about the correct number of photos? For the record, I believe five to seven images are best. It's sufficient to give the viewer an idea about who you are while still leaving enough room for their imagination to take over, urging them to make the first move.  

As a matchmaker who utilizes online dating to help my clients get the broadest possible array of potential matches, I believe that taking a holistic approach to online dating profiles results in the most success for singles, especially those over 50. Meaning, I envision the perfect online dating profile to be one that accurately represents the dater through words and images in equal part. Both should tell a story. 

Your online dating photos should tell a story about you just as your write-up does. 

Just as your written description does, your online dating profile photos should serve as a photographic story about you. Think of it this way: if online dating sites are like virtual bars, then the profiles on them are essentially the virtual people sitting at said bars, which means you need to look your best in your photos, just as you would want to in person. 

However, applying this idea to creating an online dating profile can be tricky. What will work and what won't? Below are five simple tips I have put together to help you create a well-rounded and, most importantly, genuine profile that will inspire other users to swipe right on you — because they want to meet you, not some imaginary version of you. 

1. Take a close-up image of your face for your online dating profile.  

Sorry, I know what you're thinking. But, trust me, posting a close-up, especially as the first photo in the gallery, will save you time in the long run. Potential matches need to see what you look like to know if they want to swipe on you. Often, online daters make this decision in a split second. Not to mention, any viable match is going to want to know what you look like, for real. That's why your first picture to be one that clearly shows off your facial features.  

This picture (as well as the rest of the photos on your profile) must be recent, too, as it's a classic online dating nightmare to show up to a date only to meet someone who looks nothing like their photos. Seeing a match's disappointment written across their face right in front of you is much more painful than never seeing it all because they swiped left, keeping their rejection of you private. Hey, don't take it personally; you do the same thing to others.  

Taking a close-up photo may make you nervous, especially if you're insecure about the way you look. But part of dating is putting yourself out there. So, set aside time to make yourself presentable, put on your favorite outfit, take some pictures, and have some fun.  

A selfie or two is fine, but you should also include pictures someone else takes of you. If no one's around to help because of the ongoing pandemic or otherwise, try positioning the phone to take a photo of you from a distance and use the timer function to give yourself a few moments to pose. 

2. Use a full-body shot in your online dating profile. 

The full-body shot is another photo that you may find similarly nerve-wracking. Many people may feel insecure about their bodies and shudder at the mere prospect of posting pictures featuring their bodies online. If you're one of them, remember, the person you meet online will want to meet you in person, too, so it's best to be upfront. 

Also, in a brick and mortar setting such as a bar, you cannot hide your body. Like it or not, body shape is one factor that influences attraction. The good news is everyone has different tastes, which means there are people out there who will be attracted to you, whatever your body type is. Why not give those people a fair shot at finding you? 

3. Include a few action shots in your online dating profile. 

I believe that action shots are what will set your profile apart from the rest. Think of your online dating profile as a visual summary of who you are as a person. These are the photos where you can get creative and show potential matches who you are and how you live.  

What are your hobbies and interests? Do you like to cook? Travel? Practice yoga? Swim? Just name it; I guarantee you can take a photo of yourself doing it. Don't only mention it in your profile either; show it. Here's another tip: beautiful and exotic landscapes can be fascinating to look at but will be even better if you're in them.  

4. Limit group photos in your online dating profile. 

You may have read elsewhere that it's a good idea to include group photos with people of the same sex in your online dating profile because of the "Cheerleader Effect." The Cheerleader Effect holds that people of the same sex in group photos look more attractive when together. However, if you include too many group shots, a potential match may not feel like playing "Where's Waldo" and swipe left out of laziness or frustration. 

My advice is to include individual photos of yourself first, and if there's a group photo you think you look particularly attractive in, add it toward the end of your profile. Just make sure whoever is looking at it can quickly identify you in it.  

5. Add a photo with your pet in your online dating profile if you are a pet owner. 

Research has shown that including a photo in your online dating profile of you with your pet, particularly a dog, will make a person more likely to match with you. Cats, unfortunately, not so much. 

According to a survey, more than one-third of people who swiped right on an online dating profile that included a dog photo did so to meet the dog. So, if you're wondering whether you should have a picture of your pooch in your profile, consider this a clear sign to go ahead. That dog of yours may turn out to be the best friend — and wingman — you ever had.