Professional photos?

[LukePhx]

Hey guys!

As clients, how do you feel about professional photos on our ads? Especially the main profile pic. I'm reaching out to a few Phoenix photographers for new pics for RM & my socials (and definitely open to suggestions for 📸!). I'm obviously not gonna take down my phone pics/videos but would like some new pro photos! I'm a novice photographer with about $10k in camera gear but am terrible at photographing myself, even with a remote shutter 🤣 

[Mark_fl]

Nothing wrong with them, but not a value add for me. Just a few natural pics, smiling, shirtless, natural and a humble attitude in the text is all I need to see.

[CheeseBoy]

If all the profile pictures are selfies, I don’t tend to give them as much consideration. Professional photos aren’t necessary, but have a buddy help you take a few shots, or at the very least use a tripod.

[Nightowl]

Selfies taken in the bathroom mirror with the phone clearly visible are pretty standard and boring.  Professional photos that look natural and inviting might make you stand out.  

[jackcali]

If selfies don't work for you (and I think they don't work for a lot of people), go for it.  A professional photographer or even a good amateur will put you at ease and get pics that let your physical presence but also some of your character show through.  However, do NOT have those photographs retouched in any significant way.  Even using AI, a retouched photo doesn't have the same impact.  

[mikefl81]

I think a mix of professional pics and regular selfies are fine. Personally, I prefer selfies because they’ll show your regular, every day look and closely resemble how you’ll actually look when you meet a client, versus professional pics that might be touched up, better lighting, etc.  

[soloyo215]

4 hours ago, LukePhx said:

Hey guys!

As clients, how do you feel about professional photos on our ads? Especially the main profile pic. I'm reaching out to a few Phoenix photographers for new pics for RM & my socials (and definitely open to suggestions for 📸!). I'm obviously not gonna take down my phone pics/videos but would like some new pro photos! I'm a novice photographer with about $10k in camera gear but am terrible at photographing myself, even with a remote shutter 🤣 

Personally, I can get a good sense of you and your looks, as well as the way you look now with your current pictures. Professional pictures definitely enhance your image, but personally, all I need dis to have a sense of how you look, and how you look now.

Hopefully you don't decide to photoshop things to the point that they look unrealistic or misleading. Go for it.

[+ JamesB]

To be honest, I tend to pay more attention to selfies than to professional photos. In my experience, they’re usually closer to what someone actually looks like and are often more up to date than polished shots. That said, I don’t see anything wrong with having both types of photos in a profile.

[jeezifonly]

Selfies are particularly good for the scowlers.  

If your nature is lighter and happier, having someone else snapping the shot for managed angle of the eyes to capture a gleam in them while smiling produces a better result. 

If you're a tongue-out bird-flipper, no photographer can make you look more hirable, so don't bother...

[HockeyMan]

I think professional erotic photos are a great addition to a profile. But they don't have to be recent. Recent selfies and photos taken during everyday life are good. 

[+ Just Chuck]

Recent non-pro photos (selfies, or shot by an amateur photographer) are the most trustworthy to answer “what does this person actually look like?  Pro photography looks great and I’d choose it for the single profile photo.  But, I’d want some other photos in the portfolio showing who’s actually going to show up at the meeting.

[DMonDude]

Echoing what most others have said. Pro shot photos are fine, they don't detract from the profile, but yeah always still have some normal life selfies/photos too. Pro shot photos imply you take the work and other related work like modeling or porn or OnlyFans seriously but it's the normal life selfies/candid photos that are more what i use to get a sense of your vibe and true in person looks since most pro shot photoshoots are usually heavily airbrushed and edited and the model did 20 push ups/sit ups right before the photo was taken lol. Pro shot photos definitely are more attention grabbing for the main profile photo thumbnail though.

[+ 7829V]

I usually ignore the professional photos. They’ve got perfect lighting, the perfect pose, and they’ve been through a whole editing process. I know the guy won’t look like that in real life. They don’t hurt anything, but they don’t really help me decide who to hire either 🙂

[Veryshyone]

I prefer selfies. Professional photos are unrealistic. I want to see the natural untouched man.

[LukePhx]

On 1/17/2026 at 6:48 AM, jackcali said:

If selfies don't work for you (and I think they don't work for a lot of people), go for it.  A professional photographer or even a good amateur will put you at ease and get pics that let your physical presence but also some of your character show through.  However, do NOT have those photographs retouched in any significant way.  Even using AI, a retouched photo doesn't have the same impact.  

I would never!!! Aside from basic Lightroom enhancements like hue, saturation, contrast etc

[Veryshyone]

Luke, you are a sexy MF!

[Simon Suraci]

I agree with hiring a professional photo shoot, but don’t have your photographer heavily retouch the work, or attempt to enhance yourself in any way ie make things bigger/smaller, cover things, blur wrinkles, etc. Or worse, try to do any of these things yourself. So many people think they can be an armchair photo editor because they have photoshop or filters on an app to apply, or now more and more use AI.

I like when I can see a wrinkle or two, a blemish or some other imperfection, because it tells me this is a real person, a human being, and not an object, a doll.

Photos are your chance to showcase not just how you look, but your expression, your personality. I take the inviting smile approach because it’s natural to me. I make those expressions in real life with clients without thinking or trying. It’s just me. Let as much of yourself shine through as possible. A great photographer is not only good with technical aspects, but finding ways to make you feel comfortable and allow you to be yourself and project who you are as a person - effortlessly.

I disagree with including selfies. In my opinion, it makes you look unprofessional, like this is paid Grindr, something you barely put effort into or care about. And lots of providers are exactly like that in real life too. It’s less about looking flawless, jacked, or young, and more about showcasing yourself in a way that projects both confidence and competence.

[aiseeya]

I prefer non-professional photos for RM. I tend to question the accuracy of photos taken professionally.