Having a great eHarmony profile isn’t just about concentrating on one thing – be it thoughtful answers or an attractive main profile picture. It’s about the whole package, and one big element of that is using your photo gallery the best you can.

We’ve lost count of the number of profiles we’ve seen where the user has uploaded just one photo (and sometimes not a very good one) and left it at that. If you do have a photo that’s a great step – users with photos are nine times more likely to receive communication – but there’s much more you can do by using your photo gallery to tell your life story in pictures.

If you haven’t uploaded a photo yet, read our article ‘Online dating: photo dos and don’ts ^[1]’

Be honest
Your main image should be an honest, up-to-date photo of you. Yes, it’s tempting to upload something that’s was taken when you were a few pounds lighter, or had fewer grey hairs but this really is a false economy. If you meet up with someone and you’ve clearly posted an older photo of yourself, however well you get on in person, they’ll constantly be thinking that you lied to them from the outset. Enlist a friend to help you take lots of photos from different angles and pick your favourite three to go on your profile.

Your interests
It’s very attractive to see that someone has interests and passions, so show your matches what you like to do with your spare time. Whether that’s long countryside walks, cheering on your football team or going to gigs, include a photo of you doing something you really love ^[2]. It’ll show on your face in the picture, and be instantly attractive to any match who has the same interests as you.

Friends and family
Your friends and family are at the centre of your world, so it makes sense for you to show your matches the people that are important to you. Don’t go overboard though – no one wants to see a whole slideshow of photos from your last holiday in Italy.

Your achievements
Whether you’ve helped your team win a regional final, gained a qualification or climbed a mountain, you should be proud of your achievements. Let your matches see that you like to stretch yourself and reach your goals – it shows dedication and an enthusiasm for life.

Your free time
How do you relax? Maybe it’s gardening, painting, or simply having a few drinks in the pub with your friends. Let your matches see how you like to chill out too – you need to balance out all those hobbies and accomplishments! One word of warning though: photos of you drunk on a night out will be a huge turn off. Relaxing in a beer garden with a pint and some friends – ok, dancing on tables at 3am after too many Sambucas – not ok.

You back in the day
This might sound like a contradiction to our first point, but posting photos of you when you were younger can actually tell your matches a lot about you. As long as you explain the significance of the photo in your caption, a picture of you back in the day can really illustrate who you are and where you’ve come from. And those old clothes can give them a bit of a giggle too.

Your profile photos are not just for a visitor to see what you look like (though they obviously help) but they also show the kind of person you are, and the life you lead. They can also really help to illustrate the points you make in your written profile, and potentially be the hook that gets a match to contact you. You can upload up to 12 photos, so don’t waste a single opportunity!