If you’ve had a profile up on one or more dating apps for a while, and you finally pulled the trigger on hiring a dating photographer (or improving your dating photos on your own), this move could be the difference between getting a small bump in quality likes and matches, and a HUGE one.
Dating apps are attention marketplaces powered by algorithms. Each profile has an algorithmic ranking -- think of it like a credit score --based on the quality of the profile (photos, prompts, bio, etc.), the user's behavior on the apps, and the responses they get from other users. *this is a simplification of a complex technical process but you get the idea.
Here's the thing -- adding stellar new photos to a dating profile with a poor ranking will help, but there's a power move that can be a game changer and enable you to start fresh with a higher ranking , rather than trying to dig yourself out of a hole.
(or Bumble, or any Match Group apps)
‣ Fully delete your account (on Hinge or Bumble, whichever dating app). Not just the app! Deleting Hinge from your phone does not delete your account.
‣ Wait at least 90 days (I know, not ideal but I promise it's worth it)
‣ OR (and this is a heavy lift), skip the wait by starting a new profile with all new *everything* (not just email address and phone number but a literal new phone, IMEI, new SIM, etc.. Literally nothing that can tie you back to your old profile, including not a single dating photo you've ever used before. The apps have sophisticated fingerprinting technology so this is a varsity-level move with no guarantees. You'll want to do your own research before embarking on this path.
Deleting your dating profile and waiting at least 3 months means when you create a new account, you're showing up as a "new user".
The algorithms need to gather a lot of data fast on new users so they get a "new user boost" -- a 24-72hr period after launch with maximum visibility. A LOT of people see your profile in a short time so that app can learn about you and also give you a sense that this is a magical and bountiful place filled with potential dream lovers so stay on here and keep scrolling (lol! remember - -dating apps are for-profit businesses, so this is all strategic).
In my early days as a dating profile photographer (before I knew anything about algorithms and Hinge didn't even exist yet) I saw this play out with a savvy client. Here's how it went down...
After his Level Up Dating Photoshoot, Seth uploaded his new dating pics to his old Bumble profile, and left his written bio pretty much the same.
Seth’s Bumble profile photos before he hired me for dating photography were...not great.
In his new dating profile photos Seth looks HELLA FINE. To be fair, Seth *is* hella fine. But he also hired a great dating profile photographer (I’m not even attempting to be modest anymore, lol!).
Anyhow, after his dating photo session Seth uploaded his new hella fine dating photos to old Bumble profile. He told me,
"I saw a slight increase in likes and matches but it didn't feel right considering the giant leap in the quality of my new photos..."
He marinated on it for a week and then decided to do a full dating profile reset.
He deleted his Bumble account, waited 48hrs (back in the day, this was long enough but the apps wised up and extended the length of time they hold onto user data.
By deleting the app, waiting, then starting fresh, Bumble's algorithms saw Seth as fresh meat. And in this case, the meat was FRESSSSHHHHH because his new dating photos looked amazing!
‣ Just deleting the app from your phone does NOT delete your account.
‣ When you delete your account(s), all your account info, matches, and chats will be erased
‣ If you connected any other accounts (Apple ID, Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc.), make sure to disconnect them. It’s wise to double-check from within the settings of each app to be sure.
Hinge has a feature called "Fresh Start," which isn't the game-changer of a full reset but offers some perks:
You will start seeing some of the same people you passed over before, but that feels like a relatively small price to pay for the possibility of people who passed up on YOU before getting to see you again (with fresh photos!) and swiping right this time.
Heads Up:
There is mixed information on how often or how many times you can do a "Fresh Start" (so, be aware that there might be limitations)
1. Head to Settings: Open Hinge, tap on your profile, and hit the gear icon.
2. Choose "Delete or Pause Account": Don’t worry—this won’t actually delete your stuff.
3. Pick any reason for leaving (doesn't matter)
4. Select "Fresh Start": Confirm and reset your Discover feed instantly.
You don’t hire a pro and reset your profile just to keep swiping in circles. If you’re serious about meeting someone great, make the apps work for you—not the other way around. Play it smart, and you’ll give yourself the best shot at turning matches into the kind of relationship you actually want.
Good luck! Let me know how it goes for you.
And if you want more tips about how to improve your dating profile, you might like these posts:
4 Reasons you're Choosing the Wrong Dating Photos
What to Wear in your Online Dating Photos
*This post was updated September 10, 2025.