(…even if you’re worried about looking like you’re “trying too hard”!)
A relaxed, outdoor photo shoot for people who want better dating profile photos—and don’t want it to look like a LinkedIn profile accidentally wandered onto Hinge.
- No awkward studio posing
- No fake lifestyle shots
- No “look wistfully into the distance and contemplate the future!” nonsense
Just natural light, calm direction and a collection of dating photos in London which make you look warm, current and like yourself on your best day.
Whether you’re using Hinge, Bumble, Tinder or another app, the goal is simple: give your profile enough strong, varied photos to stop the scroll long enough for people to genuinely consider what it’d be like meeting you in person.
Portrait shoots from £160 · £50 deposit to book · Based in London
Dating apps ask for a lot of photos. Most people are lucky if they have a single one they actually like.
You’re ready to put yourself out there and meet someone.
You finally download Tinder, Bumble or Hinge and create a profile. Things are going fine, until you get to…the photos. Not to worry; there have been a few pics of yourself you liked over the past 12 years…
But wait. How many is it asking for? Six!?
Suddenly, you’re not just “making a dating profile”. You’ve begun an archaeological dig through your camera roll.
- There’s the wedding photo where you look good…but someone else’s shoulder is in the frame.
- There’s a holiday photo where you look happy…but the lighting makes you look like you’re inside a Victorian coal cellar.
- There’s an old photo where you looked decent. And it would have been the perfect choice for your profile…when it was taken 8 years ago.
- And then there’s…the mirror selfie.
Sometimes, those photos create the wrong impression before anyone even gets near your bio.
Weak photos still make a strong impression
Bad dating app profile photos don’t politely step aside and say, “I promise they look better in person!”
They speak for you.
They set the tone before your bio gets a chance. They leave impressions about your confidence, your sociability, your style and whether meeting you would be comfortable…
…or awkward.
Yep, it’s unfair…but people are making quick judgments without much information.
If your first 1-2 photos don’t get them to stop? One quick impression, one swipe and they’re gone.
Not your best prompt.
Not that hysterical joke you spent hours fine-tuning.
Not even the part that shows what you’re actually like.
The rest of your profile might not even get a chance.
The harsh truth? It’s too easy to ignore because you don’t see it when it happens. It’s not like anyone who swiped left ever wrote feedback on why…
Even the people who would have laughed at the joke.
Even the people who would have liked you in real life.
If someone who might genuinely have liked you scrolls past because they got the wrong impression? You don’t get a notification…
You just never meet them.
Better dating photos mean people don’t have to guess
You might be warm in person. Relaxed once a conversation gets going. Funny in a way that doesn’t fit neatly into a prompt box.
But if your first photo makes you look nervous? People will just think you’ll be nervous around them, too. They’re unlikely to stop and think, “Maybe they’re just awkward in front of a camera.” The first few seconds are all you get, because guessing based on what you can’t see is dangerous on dating apps.
- If they can’t clearly see what you look like, they might assume you’re hiding something.
- If every photo is a selfie, they may assume you don’t get out much.
- If every photo looks formal, they might think you treat dating like an interview.
Even if none of these is true, weak photos leave room for people to make the assumptions anyway.
Great dating photos do something different: they make you easier to understand quickly.
And no; they aren’t corporate headshots, either. “My LinkedIn headshot made me get way more matches on Tinder!”…said no one ever.
You don’t need photos that make you look like a model, an influencer or a suspiciously well-lit entrepreneur standing near exposed brick.
You need relaxed, natural photos that make it easier to see you clearly.
A dating photographer in London who won’t make your photos look staged
This is a zero-pressure outdoor photo shoot designed specifically for online dating profiles.
We’ll walk around a great-looking London location, stop wherever the light works, and create a mix of clear portraits, casual shots and candid-feeling photos that give your dating profile the variety it needs.
A great dating profile needs more than one nice photo. It needs a small set of images that work together:
- one clear photo of your face
- a few relaxed portraits that feel warm and approachable
- some wider shots that show style, setting and personality
- enough variety that your profile feels like a real person, not six versions of the same selfie
Nothing fake or overproduced, and most certainly not “professional” in any corporate sense.
Just authentic photos that make it easier for the right people to get a quick, honest sense of you.
What makes the shoot work
- Calm direction so you don’t have to know how to pose. Camera-shy? Not a worry; you’ll be given simple direction throughout: where to stand, where to look, what to do with your hands…and so on.
- Natural light, so photos feel flattering without looking fake. Terrible lighting makes even the most beautiful of us look tired and uncomfortable. Natural light helps your photos look clear, warm and believable.
- London as the backdrop, so your profile has more life in it. A dating profile with six photos from the same room gets boring pretty quick. Outdoor London locations give the photos variety without inventing a fake lifestyle.
- Varied photos so you aren’t constantly reusing that one “good” photo. You’ll get a mix of close-up portraits, wider shots and candid-feeling photos, which means your profile can feel like a real person rather than six emergency backups.
- Light retouching, so you still look like yourself. The final photos are polished; NOT plastic.
- Bonus: Free casual phone snaps, so your profile doesn’t look TOO polished! A dating profile with only professional photos might feel…overproduced. So, during the photo shoot, I’ll take a few relaxed phone photos, giving you extra casual options to mix in.
What you get
You’ll receive:
- a relaxed outdoor dating photo shoot in London
- calm direction throughout, even if you’re camera-shy
- a mix of close-up portraits, wider shots, and candid photos
- edited photo selection that looks polished but still natural
- casual phone snaps for extra profile variety (100% free addition!)
- digital image delivery, 1-2 weeks after the date of the shoot
By the end of the shoot, you’ll have a useful set of dating profile photos you can actually upload.
The job isn’t to make you look flawless.
It’s to make your profile stop underselling you.
How it works
- Book your shoot. Secure your timeslot with a small deposit.
- We confirm the details. I’ll get in touch to confirm the exact time, meeting point, and what you need the photos for.
- We go for a relaxed shoot. We’ll walk, chat, stop when the light looks good and take photos along the way.
- I’ll edit/touch them up. It’ll take me 1-2 weeks from the day of the shoot.
- You pick your favourites. No guesswork; you choose the ones you like!
- You get your final, high-resolution images. Delivered ready to use.
Simple portrait packages
Essential—£160
A focused shoot for a single use case.
Best for anyone who needs a small, easy-to-obtain set of strong images
Includes:
- 60-minute London shoot
- 5 retouched final images
- proof gallery to choose from
- light direction throughout
- online delivery
Standard—£250
A more flexible shoot with enough time for variety.
Best for anyone who wants a broader set of usable images across different platforms.
Includes:
- 90-minute London shoot
- 10 retouched final images
- proof gallery to choose from
- relaxed direction throughout
- online delivery
Premium—£480
A deeper session for people who need a proper image library.
Best for anyone who wants enough photos to use across several platforms.
Includes:
- up to 180-minute London shoot
- 20 retouched final images
- multiple locations
- outfit changes if needed
- proof gallery to choose from
- online delivery
You don’t need to suddenly become “photogenic” before booking
Too many people put this off because they think they need to be better at being photographed first.
They think they need to lose weight, learn their angles, practise their smile, or buy a whole new wardrobe.
You don’t—that’s the point of the shoot.
Most people feel awkward for the first few minutes. Most people don’t know what to do with their hands. Most people have at least a few fake smiles before a real one shows up for the camera.
None of this is a problem.
We’ll start simple, keep things moving and make adjustments as we go. Great photos don’t just spring out of a single magic pose. They come from light, timing, direction…and a little patience.
You don’t need to arrive confident.
You just need to arrive.
Hi! I’m Tommy.
I’m a London-based portrait photographer specialising in relaxed, natural shoots for people who don’t necessarily love being photographed.
I’m not here to turn you into someone else.
I’m here to make the camera finally stop making such a weird argument against you.
I’ll help with the things that make a big difference but are hard to manage on your own: light, background, expression, framing; anything that helps make a photo feel more natural.
I won’t promise a full set of pictures guaranteed to make absolutely everyone swipe right.
What I will promise is photos that make people think, “I could imagine meeting this person.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the photos look too professional?
No. The aim is natural, relaxed dating photos, not corporate headshots or fake lifestyle images.
The camera photos will be polished, but still believable. I’ll also take a few casual phone snaps for free, so you have some more relaxed options to mix into your profile.
What should I wear for this shoot?
Wear clothes that feel like a slightly better version of yourself.
The rule is: “Dress up how you would if you knew you were going to run into your ex today.”
Can I change clothes during the shoot?
For a short shoot, it’s unlikely we’ll have time. But by all means, bring something you can change into/out of quickly and decently, such as an overshirt or a jacket.
For longer shoots, feel free to bring multiple outfits. We’ll find a public restroom for you to change outfits.
What if I’m awkward in photos?
Everyone is awkward in photos.
You don’t need to know how to pose. I’ll give simple direction throughout the shoot, and we’ll keep things relaxed so you can settle into it gradually.
Can I bring something to help show my personality in the photos?
I wholeheartedly recommend it! Bring something which truly represents some kind of hobby that you want to communicate through the photos; it really helps to give the profile more variety.
Examples include: an instrument, a book/magazine or your dog. Heck—bring your own camera if you like.
Ready to stop letting bad photos speak for you?
If your current dating profile photos are already doing the job…that’s fantastic!
But if you already know they’re old, awkward or too formal/similar, every month you leave them there is another month they’re making impressions for you.
Stop missing opportunities to meet the right person. Book a relaxed dating photo shoot in London and get a set of photos that finally show you properly.