Sean reached out while going through a divorce.
Not in a rushed, reactive way—but thoughtfully, before starting to date again. He wanted to get his footing before jumping back onto dating apps.
In his words:
“I’m currently going through a divorce and need to clean up my profile before I re-enter the dating world.”
That framing matters.
Because the difference between reactively throwing a profile together and intentionally building one is usually the difference between frustration… and traction.
Sean wasn’t starting from absolute zero but he knew the photos he had wouldn't land him the kind of matches he was after. This is a really common scenario, especially for men coming out of long term relationships.
Sean was already thinking about platform context:
“Previously, I mostly used Bumble, but I’m considering using Hinge again too. Ideally, I’d love photos that strike a balance and work well across both platforms.”
The challenge wasn’t just “get better photos.”
It was:
Here's a look at three of the photos Sean was considering for his dating profile, and why they didn't make the cut:
This is a cute photo with two fatal flaws:
Hey, Sean looks good with a beard! Except... he isn't rocking the beard anymore so this shot is a no-go (your facial hair in your dating photos needs to match the facial hair you'll show up with on a first date)
Ah, the iconic man-holding-fish dating photo! Honestly, this is a great shot (genuine smile, warm light). BUT, the fish photo is a radioactive male dating photo cliche and not worth the risk.
There was one image that worked, and it was from that same fishing trip.
Instead of holding up a fish, Sean is out adventuring with people he cares about here. It's social, it's active, and while it's clearly a fishing trip, it's so much more engaging than "look at me holding this fish". This shot is a winner.
This photo also passes all three tests for group photos on dating apps (group shots can go wrong in several ways so always proceed with caution).
We kept this photo in Sean's dating profile and built everything else around it.
Sean’s goal was clear:
He didn’t want two completely different dating profiles—he wanted one cohesive set of photos that could work across platforms.
That meant building a photo set with range. Not just:
But a mix that shows different dimensions of the same person.
From his photoshoot planning questionnaire, Sean’s life already had strong raw material:
The job wasn’t to invent anything. It was to translate that into a visual story that reads clearly on dating apps.
Sean lives up on Whidbey Island and was in temporary housing so we decided to forego photos at home and shoot in an area Sean loves and frequents — downtown Kirkland.
Here's how I mapped out Sean's shoot:
We started with casual first date energy. This is where we captured what most men's dating profiles are missing:
These images do a lot of heavy lifting early in a profile.
They help women decide: “Would I want to grab coffee with him?”
Next, we shifted into movement.
These aren’t random “activity shots.” They're pulled directly from Sean's real life — he loves being on or near water, and running and paddleboarding are a part of his weekly routine.
This kind of dating photo is powerful because it captures
From there, we moved into a quieter environment to showcase Sean's love of reading and learning.
A bookstore adds a completely different signal to balance out the activity photos:
This is what creates contrast in a profile. Still Sean, just another side of him, proving he's multi-dimensional.
Final stop on Sean's dating photoshoot: Home Depot. This is where things get interesting.
Photos like this:
…tend to perform ridiculously well on men's dating profiles. Because they signal something deeper:
These are the kinds of cues that don’t get talked about much—but matter a lot. We live in a time and a place where women can't assume that a guy knows how to fix things with his hands. If you're a guy who can fix things, showing this on your dating profile is powerful. It signals — "when we own a home together some day, I'm equipped to take care of it". Speaking frankly as a woman myself — this is sexy AF.
By the end of his Kirkland dating photoshoot, Sean had a complete high-signal set designed to attract compatible women on both Hinge and Bumble.
Not a random collection of images—but a system.
One photo draws you in.
Another builds comfort.
Another adds dimension.
Together, they answer the question:
“What would it actually feel like to date this person?”
When Sean launched his Hinge profile he was stunned by the response — more matches than he could keep up with, in less than a week! He had planned to also create a Bumble profile but didn't need to; he was already buried.
Sean texted me "I'm trying to juggle like 10 different conversations. It's kinda hard"
This is not a typical male experience on dating apps.
Most men are used to sending messages out into the void.
When the photos start doing their job, the dynamic flips.
Instead of trying to convince someone to engage, you’re managing attention.
It wasn’t just “better photos.”
It was clarity.
Sean’s profile now:
That’s the real goal.
Not more attention from everyone.
Better attention from the right people.
Sean’s situation is incredibly common.
You’ve built a full life—career, relationships, routines.
But when it comes to dating apps, you’re working with:
Starting fresh can feel like a disadvantage.
It’s actually the opposite.
It means you get to build your profile intentionally from the ground up.
If you’re thinking about doing this right the first time, we can talk it through. No pressure—just a conversation.
Not quite ready for your own dating photoshoot? Because you're not totally sure your current photos are the problem? Get clarity with a Photo Audit.