A dating coach reviewed a 26-year-old's Hinge profile and said his photos look too staged

Andrey submitted his Hinge profile for review by an expert as part of Insider's Dating App Clinic.
Expert Amy Nobile suggested 26-year-old Andrey update his photos with more candid ones and write more about himself and his relationship goals.
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Andrey, a 26-year-old using Hinge to date, submitted his profile for Insider's Dating App Clinic, a series where we ask experts how to revamp your dating profiles to increase your chances of finding a match.

Andrey said he's looking to date women. He's seeking someone who is honest, kind, and a good listener. He said his deal breakers are drug use, being lazy or unhygienic, and an unwillingness to have children.

"I'm a kind and hardworking young man full of life and love who is ready to settle down and start a family," Andrey told Insider. He said his ultimate goal is a committed partnership that could lead to marriage.

Andrey said his profile responses are simple yet precise, but would love more help expressing his true self through photos and word choice.

Amy Nobile, founder of date-coaching service Love, Amy, told Insider how Andrey could spruce up his dating profile to increase his chances of finding a match.

Nobile said it was clear to her that Andrey is a 'good-looking guy who's in great shape.' Still, she'd like to see his personality shine through more.

Andrey should aim for photos that appear less staged, Nobile said. Insider

According to Nobile, Andrey's profile comes off as honest and genuine, which is always beneficial when seeking a compatible match.

At the same time, Nobile said many of Andrey's photos feel staged, making it unclear to potential matches what Andrey's personality is like.

Nobile typically cautions against mirror pictures, especially ones that obscure the face, like this one.

Andrey is hiding much of face in this photo, which could be a turn-off for potential matches. Insider

To replace the staged-looking photos, Nobile suggested Andrey recruit a friend.

She said they should head outdoors while it's still light out to capture Andrey in a more casual outfit. For poses, Nobile said Andrey should smile and laugh to create a candid vibe.

"We need a lead photo that shows the sparkle in his eye and his smile," Nobile told Insider.

When it came to the written portions of Andrey's profile, Nobile said he was a bit too general.

Andrey should be explicit about his goal to find a committed relationship, Nobile said. Insider

Andrey said he's serious about finding a partner and working towards marriage. But that's not clear in his profile, Nobile said.

She suggested using a written prompt to make Andrey's relationship goals stand out more. This way, potential matches with similar family values will notice Andrey.

Nobile said he should use the prompt "The key to my heart" and write, "Honesty, kindness, and good listening skills. I'm excited to build a life with a partner who sees life the way I do – as an ongoing adventure!"

Swapping in some new written prompts could take Andrey's profile to the next level, Nobile said.

A few simple tweaks could make Andrey's profile more eye-catching, Nobile said. Insider

According to Nobile, a close friend should be able to pick your dating profile out of a line up. Otherwise, it's not specific enough, she said.

Here, Nobile suggested Andrey swap out the "Typical Sunday" prompt for one that says "My simple pleasures."

Underneath, she'd write "Church, watching funny movies with friends in my home theater, learning new skills, and playing putt putt golf."

Overall, Nobile said Andrey is off to a great start with his Hinge profile. Small personal touches could help it stand out more.

Nobile said Andrey could also try Bumble to expand his dating pool. Insider

According to Nobile, singles often make the mistake of creating a profile that's too general.

Often, this stems from a fear of coming off as strange or weird, but Nobile said leaning into quirks is a great way to land a compatible match.

To do that, Andrey should get creative with some new photo backgrounds and poses that show case his interests, Nobile said. Picking written prompts where Andrey can offer specific examples of his personality and interests will help too, she said.

Then, if Andrey wants to expand his potential matches, he could consider making a Bumble profile too, Nobile said.