I get asked this a lot, usually in a slightly sheepish way, like it's a bit embarrassing to even be thinking about it. Mate, it's not. Pretty much everyone I shoot in Austin and San Antonio has had the same wobble before booking, and then about twenty minutes into the shoot they've forgotten the camera's even there.

The thing people are really worried about, I'd say, is that professional photos are going to look professional. You know the ones. Standing in front of a wall, arms folded, looking like you're about to sell someone a house. And yeah, if that's what you end up with, it's not going to do much for you on Hinge. That's why I don't shoot like that.

Here's how I normally set it up

We'll do a phone call first and have a chat about what you're into and what you're after out of dating. Then on the day I'll generally come to your place, or we'll start somewhere inside, and we just hang out for a bit. You make me a drink, we go through the facial coaching together, I'll probably throw a cushion at you, and then we start. Don't worry, it's not as daunting as it sounds. I'm basically just teaching you not to be a deer in the headlights.

From there it's three to four hours moving around a few different spots, up to seven outfits, and we keep playing until we get the real moments. The photos I'm after look like a mate caught you on a really good day. Laughing at something, halfway through a story, giving your dog a treat. Not posed. That's the whole trick, hey.

The way I build a profile is pretty simple. Photo one is a portrait that's a good honest representation of you. Photo two is the reaction shot, so you laughing, you with your puppy, you playing pickleball. Photo three is a vibes shot that shows your style and what you're about. Everything after that is complementary, so someone scrolling through gets a proper sense of who you are. Getting all three of those in one afternoon, in decent light, without you freezing up, is genuinely hard to do on your own. That's the bit you're paying for.

I'd say the other thing you get is that you actually look like you. No heavy retouching, no catfish situation. Just you in good light with someone who knows what your face is doing and can tell you before it goes weird lol.

Why I reckon it's worth it

First, it shows intention. It shows that you actually care how you are representing yourself and that you are not just throwing six random camera roll casualties onto Hinge and calling it a strategy. Second, it shows that you are willing to invest in yourself, and honestly, that is not a bad signal to send.

Third, you are not just getting pretty photos. You are getting photos with actual thought behind them. We have all been on the apps and seen a good-looking photo of somebody and still had no idea what to say because the picture gives you nothing to work with. No context. No entry point. No conversation. That is a huge part of what I am thinking about when I shoot.

When it's worth it the most

Honestly? When you're getting back out there after a while, when you've changed your look (new haircut, got in shape, whatever), or when you've been on the apps for months and the matches just aren't coming. That last one's the big one. It's usually not you, mate, it's the photos.

So should you hire someone? If you've been using the same three photos for two years, or you've got a cropped-out ex in there, or you're just sick of doing the kitchen selfie thing, then yeah, I reckon it's worth it. Have a look at the Austin page or the San Antonio page, and if it sounds like your kind of thing, book a call. We'll have a chat and go from there.

Quick questions

Will professional dating photos look fake or try-hard?

Not the way I shoot them. We're on location, not in a studio, and we're moving around doing stuff, so the photos read like a friend took them on a good day. I keep the editing honest too, so you still look like you when you turn up to the date.

What if I'm really awkward in front of a camera?

Pretty much everyone is, so you're in good company. You get a short facial coaching video when you book, we practise it together at your place before we start, and then I direct you the whole way through. Most people are laughing within the first ten minutes.

Should I hire a photographer for my dating profile?