Best online dating photographers chhicago

THE DETAILS (PROFILE REVIEW, DATING PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO SHOOT, WARDROBE, LOCATION SCOUTING)

A quick questionnaire will help me evaluate photos, social media presence and profiles. Next, I review answers and provide analysis on app choice, photo selection and bio optimization. I will use the info to plan a photo shoot that highlights your hobbies, essence and style so that the photos are natural, confident, playful and candid. I shoot outdoors and indoor public places with natural light.

A photoshoot might involve a cocktail bar, beer garden, hiking trail, park, coffee shop, street art, farmer’s market or more. I will observe your comfort level and check in with backgrounds and locations to make sure you are feeling good throughout the process. 

My images are purposefully taken so that they come out looking organic, natural like if a friend took them. They are not overly sharp nor feature a bokeh effect similar to professional headshots. They are taken to capture warmth, presence, attire, approachability, candidness, imperfections in a flattering light.

If you are looking merely to hook up, are looking to get sharp glossy staged photos, please seek another professional. My focus is on character not ego, prestige nor self-absorbed personalities. These photos are meant to attract strangers. They are not for yourself nor your friends who are often times biased.

Be sure to get plenty of rest the night before and stay hydrated. We will spend the first 10-15 minutes to sit down and get to know each other. I will observe posture, mannerisms, look for stray hair, uneven collars, untied shoes, make sure your glasses are clean, give you time to use the restroom to freshen up etc. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive on time – don’t add stress to your day by arriving late, finding parking etc. – TREAT THIS LIKE A FIRST DATE. After spending a few hours with me during the photo shoot, I will help you out with your bio, answers to Hinge Prompts / Coffee Meets Bagel questions / Bumble Bios and more etc.

During the photoshoot I will analyze you like no one else has but in a friendly, relaxed manner. My unbiased feedback on wardrobe choices, posture, conversation, energy and attitude will be helpful in your offline endeavors and transition from online to offline. It’s not just helpful to get good photos but getting a deep dive into your personal life will help me understand who you are, what you are about and where you can improve with respect to candid conversations, 1st impressions, eye contact, vocal tonality, appearance and more.

Unlike friends and family, I will be honest, direct and unbiased. My goal is not to be your friend (although it does happen quite often in my line of work) but rather help you get more, quality dates.

CONTACT INFORMATION – HIRE ME

I prioritize referrals but I do work with new clients too. If you are recently single, have changed your appearance, do not have any recent photos or are looking for help, contact me and I will review your request.I seek out genuine, sincere individuals – those I would introduce to friends, family & colleagues. My goal is to improve the societal dating pool. I schedule shoots ~1-14 days out depending on how quickly you respond to me.

REMOTE WORK, VIRTUAL DATING ASSISTANCE + TRAVEL INFO

For those who are remote, I offer online dating profile critique. More details about that offering here. Clients who work with me via the dating profile critique get advance notice and are prioritized when I travel to their city (visit the contact page for travel updates). I also travel occasionally to places like NYC, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Denver and Boston.

PAYMENT INFORMATION

I accept Square Cash, Venmo, PayPal, Personal Check and Cash at the time of the photo shoot. I do not charge a deposit but if you cancel I cannot guarantee you will be able to reschedule with me. I expect both of us to approach our work together as a first date. It is nearly impossible to obtain a date after canceling the first time around.

PRIVACY POLICY

Your photos are never online; your privacy is of utmost importance to me. I work with C-suite executives, high profile individuals, those new to dating as well as extremely shy/introverted individuals. I have worked with dozens of clients dealing with social anxiety, adult attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), photophobia etc. I am extremely discrete with my photo taking process and have many places scouted ahead of time and will check in with you to make sure you are comfortable in the environments selected. 

Read this guide on how to maintain your privacy when online dating. I also work with clients from a range of interests and orientations: straight women, gay men, bisexual women, furry fanatics and those who are currently exploring their sexuality.

OFFLINE COACHING

For those of you who are looking for offline assistance when it comes to meeting other singles, I offer 1 on 1 coaching in the field as well as over the phone and video calls. This is typically recommended for folks looking to supplement their online dating efforts, are high profile individuals who prefer not to go the online dating route or those that live in remote areas where online dating options are scarce.

This course goes over things like where to sit at a bar, how to create openings for others to engage in conversation with you, what places you should explore nearby to meet singles, body language analysis, topics of conversation to cover on a first date, communication best practices and wardrobe assessment.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE ME

I have done my fair share of online dating in the past and have been in long-term, healthy, successful relationships over the years. I have studied dating apps for over a dozen years across the major cities I have lived in (NYC, SF and Los Angeles) and am inspired by the movie Hitch to improve the dating field one individual at a time and help those that have a hard time revealing their true selves to others.

I come from an analytical, business background studying marketplaces, product features, marketing campaigns, customer segmentation, competitive intelligence, user behavior and analyzing profiles. As a frequent traveler, I have significant experience couchsurfing which requires strong people reading skills and quick, analytical deduction to trust folks when staying at the homes of complete strangers often within a few days or hours of notice.

Most photographers who claim to specialize in dating photos struggle with online dating themselves, don’t have much experience with dating apps or don’t have the years of experience closely following all the dating apps on the market to answer all your questions beyond just photos. Photos are definitely important but bios, inappropriate messaging, wrong app choices can sabotage your dating profile.

I grew up in the Bay Area and know the city inside out. People come to me when planning their trip, researching date spots or looking to meet people organically when new to the city. Most ‘dating’ profile photographers are simply overextending their portrait businesses to monetize on dating app popularity. I spend my early years capturing events all over the city and getting complete strangers to pose comfortably, candidly and willingly in a matter of seconds based on my appearance, approach and my words.

Lastly, I am naturally an introvert BUT I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the camera, know the struggles people have posing and smiling and I know how to put people at ease. I have extensive interviewing skills as well a strong ability to talk to anyone comfortably and enthusiastically which comes in handy when traveling in remote areas, not knowing local languages and not knowing anyone during my travels locally, domestically and abroad.

I am a closet-fashion fanatic – I regularly help clients plan their outfits, adjust wardrobes mid-shoot and provide guidance around color theory based on hair color, skin tone and environments. Ask around, chances are someone you know has worked with me before or knows about me in some capacity.

Hinge’s Study On Photos That Get The Most Likes

According To Hinge, follow these steps:

Bad Dating Photos To Avoid:

Sunglasses (-41%), Snapchat filters (-90%), Posing w/ possible significant other (-98%), beach photos for women (-47%), beach photos for men (-80%), selfies (-40%), bathroom selfies (-90%).

Good Dating Photos To Use On A Profile:

Playing sports (+75), enjoying a night out (+74%), smiling (+23%), woman standing alone vs. group photos (+69%), woman hair up vs. hair down (+23%), men looking ahead vs. looking away (+102%), 

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Click on the questions below to learn more details about my offerings and get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the details of a dating profile critique, photoshoot and offline coaching looks like.