A Step by Step Guide to Doing a Dating Photo Shoot

Finding the right photo for your online dating profile can be a real pain, particularly if you don’t have many options from which to choose. One of the best ways to update your dating profile photos is to get help from a professional, a photographer who knows how to make you look great. However, for many the idea of working with a professional photographer is intimidating. Perhaps you’re shy in front of a camera or you generally feel weird about hiring someone to help in this area. Maybe you don’t entirely understand how the dating photography process works. Well this blog post is for you. We are going to go step by step through what it is like to hire a professional photographer for dating profile photos.

Step 1 - Find a Photographer

Especially if you’re shy in front of a camera, it’s important to find a photographer who has experience with dating photography because they will be more in tune with how to make you comfortable throughout the experience. Essentially they will be practiced in knowing how to put you at ease and in creating a vibe on the shoot that helps you relax, smile and even laugh. Look for photographers who prefer to work with regular folks instead of models and check out their portfolio to see that they’ve done portrait photography before. 

Most dating photographers have websites that you can browse to get a feel for their style, approach and experience. You should definitely check out their Frequently Asked Questions section (if they have such a section) because this can be a great place to learn more about them before booking. 

Step 2 - Book a Photographer 

Once you’ve picked your photographer, many photographers enable you to book directly through their website. Others require you to call or complete a contact form. One of the nice parts about online booking is that usually you can pick a time/date for your shoot and sometimes you can even choose from a list of potential locations for your shoot. Most photographers have a few specific locations that they have scouted for shoots. These are places that usually lend themselves to a mix of urban and scenic settings, are easily walked, and have convenient places to change outfits during the shoot.

If you have any questions about your shoot after booking, you can usually email, call or even text your photographer to ask questions. This can be a great way to get comfortable with your photographer and the overall process before the day of your shoot.

Step 3 - Prepare for Your Shoot 

Planning your outfit(s) for the shoot is something you should think about before the day of the shoot to ensure you everything you’re going to wear is clean and ready to go. Most hour-long sessions allow for three different looks but you should confirm this with your photographer. If you are able to make outfit changes during the shoot, one way to approach this is to think about three different outfits you would wear on a date. Perhaps you want to try three different levels: casual, put-together and formal. In general, outfit changes are a good way to get more variety in your shots and even a simple shirt change can be enough. Some people recommend wearing an undershirt (i.e. a base layer) so that it’s easier to switch tops without being temporarily topless. 

Depending on your shoot location, you may be able to change in a public washroom or in your car. It’s a good idea to ask your photographer about potential outfit change locations in advance. However, it’s always recommended to keep your outfit changes as simple and fast as possible because you want to use most of your time for taking photos. 

Another consideration is which outfits look best in photos. At Toronto Dating Photos, we suggest solid colours over prints and darker colours over bright colours. However, clothes that show your personality are generally a good choice. This usually isn’t a good time to test-drive new outfits. You will want to stick with clothing that you’ve owned and loved for a while. Finally, whatever outfits you choose, you should plan to wear something comfortable that enables you to be on your feet for up to one hour. 

Step 4 - Do the Shoot

Most outdoor shoots are done in the afternoon or early evening because that is when the natural light is optimal for the best shots. On the day of your shoot, if it’s raining and the weather is miserable your shoot will likely be rescheduled. However, if it’s just cloudy out, the shoot will probably go ahead because cloudy days can make for excellent photos.

The photographer will usually meet you on location at the predetermined place and time. You’ll typically start with a quick chat about the plan for the shoot (outfit changes, where you’re going, etc.). A good dating photographer will help you relax and direct you through the entire shoot. There’s really nothing you need to worry about. 

A great way to think about the shoot itself is as a casual stroll with a friend. In fact, many photographers encourage their clients to bring a friend along to support them. Having moral support from a friend and someone you’re already comfortable chatting with can help elicit more candid-looking shots.

Step 5 - After the Shoot

After the shoot is complete, the photographer will go back to their studio to begin the photo editing process. This can take anywhere from 2-10 business days, depending on the photographer and the number of photos purchased.

Once the photos are ready for your review, the photographer will upload them to a secure location where you can take as much time as you want to review. You will typically be sent a web link to an image gallery where you can preview and sort through JPEG files at your leisure. At this stage you are looking to pick the best images from among a large (often 100+) set of images (aka ‘proofs) taken during the shoot. You typically don’t keep all of the proofs but rather you choose your favourites for final editing. Once you let the photographer know which images you want, they will send you the final, high resolution JPEGs which can be used on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, etc. At this stage, you will own these high resolution photos and you can do whatever you want with them.

Usually you will have purchased a certain number of edited, high resolution photos as part of your package (i.e. 10), however, you can usually purchase more photos if you’re having trouble choosing. Some dating photographers will even share with you which images among the proofs they feel are your best shots and so don’t be shy to ask for their advice. 

Your New Dating Profile

That’s really all there is to it. Just 5 steps to a new dating profile photo. Most dating profile photographers will keep all of the information gathered during your photoshoot in strict confidence and they will destroy your photos following delivery to you. Just like the whole thing never happened. If confidentiality is important to you, it’s a good idea to confirm this prior to booking.