your first photo isn’t “the best photo of you.”
it’s the photo that makes a stranger think: “ok. i get it. let me see more.”
most people fail here for one reason: their opener creates questions instead of answers.
first: hinge might not always show your chosen opener
hinge’s Top Photo can reorder which photo shows first to someone else. (Hinge) so either turn it off for control, or make sure none of your photos are a liability.
what the opener must do (in order)
- identity: your face is obvious, eyes visible
- approachability: you look friendly / normal
- trust: it doesn’t feel misleading (filters, weird angles)
- context (optional): a simple “this person has a life” vibe
that’s it. save “look how interesting i am” for later.
see the difference
slide to see how small tweaks make a photo go from "hidden" to "confident opener".
the 10-minute method to choose your opener
pick 3 candidates from your camera roll and run them through this:
test 1: the squint test
make the photo small or blur it slightly. if your face becomes unreadable → not an opener.
test 2: the “stranger would believe this is you” test
if you met someone tomorrow, would they recognize you immediately?
test 3: the “comment potential” bonus
if the photo has a simple hook (coffee shop, street fair, nice backdrop), it helps. but clarity beats “vibes”.
openers that almost always lose
- group shot (detective work = left swipe)
- car selfie (bad light, low effort)
- sunglasses (you removed the most human part of your face)
- obvious crop (people assume drama)
- gym mirror shirtless (unless your niche is “only gym people”, it reads try-hard)
what works (even if you’re not “photogenic”)
- outdoor shade / overcast light (easy mode)
- camera at eye level (no weird angle distortion)
- neutral background
- relaxed smile or calm expression
if you don’t have it: manufacture it. ask a friend: “yo, take 30 pics of me while we walk to coffee.” you only need one.
if Top Photo is on: make every photo opener-safe
since hinge can reorder photos, don’t include:
- super old photos
- super edited photos
- low-res screenshots
- anything “ironic” that could be misunderstood
want to know if your opener is working? i’ll pick your best opener and tell you exactly why it wins (and what to replace). upload your screenshots for a free profile review.