Should I include photos with friends, family, or children?
There’s a lot of advice floating around about what you should or shouldn’t include in your dating profile, but when it comes to showing the people in your life, things get more nuanced.
Are group shots helpful? Should you include that cute picture with your niece?
What about a family beach photo from last summer?
At its core, dating is relational. And sometimes, showing your relationships gives others a window into how you might relate to them. But not all connections communicate the same frequency.
We call it Relational Frequency - that unspoken pulse in a photo that tells someone what kind of energy you carry in connection with others. Photos with friends, family, or children can amplify your warmth, loyalty, or sense of fun, but they can also unintentionally send mixed signals if not chosen thoughtfully.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before including these kinds of photos:
Does this photo reflect the kind of connection I want to offer someone new? A candid moment laughing with your sister? Great. A blurry group photo where no one can tell who you are? Maybe not.
Will this raise more questions than it answers? If you’re posting a photo with a child, consider whether it might cause confusion about whether you’re a parent. Clarity builds trust.
Are you still the emotional center of the photo? Even in group shots, your presence should be readable, magnetic. If you’re lost in the crowd, the viewer’s attention is too.
When done right, these photos can offer emotional dimension to your profile. They hint at how you show up in the world and how you might show up for someone else.
The goal is never to perform connection, but to reflect it - honestly, clearly, and with care.
Find out what your photos are communicating.
Try LoveLens now.