A woman and man covered in colorful powder embrace and smile outdoors near a sandy area with water and trees in the background.

How Vinicio met Whitney on Hinge

From swipe burnout → thriving dating life → happily married

How Vinicio transformed his life by transforming his dating profile

A man sitting indoors, smiling at the camera, holding a half-full pint of Guinness beer.

A man smiling and holding a half-full pint of Guinness in a glass, sitting indoors. He is wearing a dark Totoro t-shirt and has a tattoo on his forearm.

Meet Vinicio

30 / Software Engineer / Seattle

Vinicio was burnt out from dating apps and ready to give online dating a try with a brand new profile - he knew his wasn't working and figured he had nothing to lose.

Vinicio was one of my earliest dating profile clients and I loved him from day one. He is kind, creative, he's hilarious, and he has a smile so big and bright it melts glass.

The problem wasn't Vinicio, it was his dating profile.

When he first reached out, Vinicio's dating profile was like most men's: a collection of random photos from his camera roll + a half-hearted attempt at a bio.

Vinicio's dating photos before:

Triptych showing a person participating in a muddy fun run, running in a race wearing a bib and hydration belt, and speaking at a podium in a turquoise shirt.

Vinicio's Dating Profile Overhaul

The Photoshoot Plan:

Capture candid moments of Vinicio around his neighborhood in Seattle, infusing his dating profile with photos that convey his real day-to-day and his authentic energy (warm, vibrant, disarming).

Photoshoot Highlights:

✔️ Walking the Seattle waterfront (a daily ritual)

✔️ Having a beer (the darker the better)

✔️ Date vibes at the Olympic Sculpture Park

Vinicio's new online dating photos

A man in a dark hoodie stands on a sidewalk near a metal fence, with buildings and a white van in the background.

A person in a purple shirt sitting on steps, smiling at the camera.

Vinicio's new dating profile goes live and...

The results were immediate:

First it was lots of likes & matches...

Screenshot of a dating app showing 23 likes after a few days, with user interface blurred and a red circle around the number of likes.

Then it was dates (and confidence)

Text conversation where one person calls themselves a digital wingman and the other expresses gratitude, saying it had a life-changing impact and asking for a graduation speech.

We stay in touch...

Vinicio is dating and sending me periodic updates like this

A text conversation reads: Lol I have so many dates andrea. Lol thanks for the pics 🤗🤗. Still havent found my one though.

Some time passes and then Vinicio says:

Text reads: Dating is fun until you find someone you really like. Then its nerve wracking.

Vinicio meets Whitney, and everything changes

A woman in a floral dress sits on a log by a rocky shoreline, smiling at the camera, while a man in black sits behind her with his arms around her.

They're Engaged!

Vinicio tells me he's met someone. She's smart, she's beautiful, and he's completely head over heels. Time passes, I keep hearing about Whitney, and next thing I know they're engaged!

I got the pleasure of shooting engagement photos for them at Rattlesnake Lake. Whitney is indeed as special as Vinicio described. Plus, she's got a smile that's as contagious and high-voltage as Vinicio's (something I did not think was possible).

Here's Whitney on meeting Vinicio on Hinge

Instead of telling it to you third hand, I'm going to let Whitney do most of the talking:

Andrea: So, which dating app did you and Vinicio first match on, and what drew you toward him?

Whitney: We matched on Hinge! The first thing I noticed about Vinicio was that he had a beautiful & kind smile. His photos gave me butterflies 🦋.

Andrea: Was there a particular photo on his dating profile that captured your attention?

Whitney: My favorite photo of him was the one where he was in his purple shirt. Purple is my favorite color. I felt like the fact that he chose to wear purple showed his confidence & ability to be himself. I also liked the photo of him where he almost looked like he was laughing, with his origami shirt.

Andrea: Yesssss! When men wear bold colors in their dating photos (and in life) it sends a strong signal that they're self-assured and not afraid of standing out. I love that Vinicio's purple shirt captured your attention.

A couple is embracing and smiling at each other by a lake, with mountains and trees in the background. The photo is in black and white.

A black and white photo of a couple smiling as they embrace, with the womans hands on the mans head.

Whitney: He looked so warm and inviting, like he had a kind soul. Since I'm a professional photographer myself, I tend to be more drawn to professional dating photos.

"Vinicio's photos made me feel he cared about how he was perceived and wanted to put his best foot forward and invest in dating photos that highlight him in the best way."

Andrea: Right?! So you're saying Vinicio's dating photos didn't just make him look good, they gave you a sense that he was self aware and he was making an effort to present himself well. Some men are concerned that professional dating photos will make them look like they're trying too hard when in reality, most women see professional dating photos as a very good thing.

Alright, so when you met up in person, where was your first date? Did Vinicio come across in person like he did in his photos? (in other words, was he how you expected/hoped he would be based on his dating profile?)

Whitney: Vinicio and I met up in person 2 days after matching on the Hinge. We couldn't wait to meet! We had long, deep conversations over text and were excited to see if the connection continued in person. We met at the Olympic Sculpture Park for a walking date, and then went to Umi Sake House for dinner.

A couple dances barefoot in shallow lake water. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man wears dark clothes. Pine trees and stumps are visible on the shore in the background.

A man and woman sit closely by a lake, smiling. She wears a floral dress, and he wears a black shirt. Mountains and trees are in the background.

"Vinicio was everything I thought he would be and more. He was handsome, a gentleman, kind, and so easy to talk to."

Andrea: I love that -- he is definitely all of those things! So, what has happened since that first date?

Whitney: Since our first date we couldn't get enough of each other! We quickly set up follow up dates, and continued to talk endlessly over text. We fell hard and fast for each other. We spent a lot of time really getting to know each other. We talked about our pasts and what made us who we are today, as well as what we see for our future. We were so aligned!

A couple kisses passionately by a lake with mountains in the background on a cloudy day.

A person lifts another in a embrace on a rocky lakeshore, with mountains and trees in the background.

"We became exclusive within the first week of dating, and also told each other we were in love. Before the end of the first month we were officially together and a year and 3 months later we got married."

A couple stands smiling by the water. The woman is wearing a white dress and holding a bouquet, while the man is in a light gray suit with a bow tie.

A couple stands with arms raised and smiling in celebration by a waterfront, overcast sky in the background.

Whitney: They say "when you know you know!" and I think that is entirely true with Vinicio and I.

I knew right away I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him! I know he'll continue to be a partner in life and we'll always work hard to make each other happy, and feel supported and loved.

Our wedding was a simple ceremony on Alki Beach and we plan to having a 2nd destination wedding ceremony with our families next year.

Andrea: 😭😭😭

A man, covered in colorful powder, joyfully carries a smiling woman by a lakeside. The surroundings include a forest and hills in the background.