For the photographer
You're the photographer for 15 minutes
Your friend wants better photos for his dating profile and asked you to take them. You don't need to be good at photography. You need a phone, fifteen minutes and this list.
The plan: eight shots, one job each, about one to two minutes per shot. He knows the poses. You stay behind the phone.
6 rules
- Use the back camera. Not the selfie camera.
- Phone at his eye level, a few steps back, then zoom in. Close up makes his nose look bigger than it is. Distance fixes that. Use the 2x button.
- Keep shooting. Take more frames than you think you need. He picks the best one later. Turn on burst: on an iPhone swipe the shutter button to the left and keep your finger down (or turn on Use Volume Up for Burst in Settings > Camera). On a Samsung Galaxy pick Swipe Shutter button to in the camera settings and choose burst, then swipe the shutter. On a Pixel turn on Top Shot in the camera settings. Otherwise just tap the shutter again and again.
- Don't say “smile”. Not every photo looks into the camera with a smile. Give him something to do instead.
- Soft light. By a window with the ceiling lights off, or in open shade outside. No harsh midday sun.
- Don't delete anything. He decides afterwards.
The 8 shots
The face shot
Shows your face clearly.
- He does
- Head and shoulders, sunglasses off, by the window, looking into the lens.
- You do
- A few steps back, phone at eye level, then zoom in. Take a handful of frames and move on.
The walking shot
Looks like someone caught you in the middle of your day.
- He does
- Walks toward you at normal speed and looks past the camera.
- You do
- Stand still, phone at eye level, and keep shooting the whole way (use burst, see above). You pick the best frame later.
The laugh
You can't fake this one, so don't.
- He does
- Doesn't pose. Laughs and looks at you.
- You do
- Say something stupid (an inside joke, an old story) and keep shooting while he reacts.
Full body, standing
Shows the rest of you.
- He does
- Stands relaxed, weight on one leg, looks at the camera or a bit past it.
- You do
- Step back until you get him from head to shoes with a little space around. Hold the phone straight, not tilted.
Sitting (cafe or bench)
Relaxed, no effort.
- He does
- Sits leaning back with a coffee and looks at something off camera.
- You do
- A few steps away and a bit to the side. Get your phone down to his eye level while he sits (crouch or sit too).
The activity shot
Only something you really do.
- He does
- Does something he really does and looks at it, not at you.
- You do
- Stay close enough to see both him and what he's doing. Keep shooting. If he doesn't do anything worth showing, skip this shot and take a second one of shot 4 or 8 instead.
Profile, looking away
Calm and confident.
- He does
- Turns sideways and looks at something far away.
- You do
- Stand at his side and keep the phone at eye level.
Place and mood
Shows where you spend your time.
- He does
- Stands or walks in the place and looks away from the camera.
- You do
- Step back so the place is in the shot. Hold the phone level and take a few frames, or burst if he's walking.
When you're done
Send him everything, unedited. He picks the frames. Thanks for helping out.
This page belongs to a photo session guide by Alexander from @tinderprofile.ai. Open the full guide.