HER App Profile Pictures: Complete Selection Guide for 2025

Why Profile Picture Selection Matters on HER

Your profile pictures on HER aren't just about looking attractive - they're about communicating who you are, what you value, and what kind of connection you're seeking. In the LGBTQ+ community, especially among queer women and non-binary individuals, profile photos serve multiple purposes simultaneously. They signal your identity within the community, demonstrate your comfort with being out, showcase your personality and interests, attract people with similar values and aesthetics, and create conversation starters that go beyond surface-level attraction.

Unlike hetero-normative dating apps where traditional beauty standards dominate, HER's community values authenticity, personality, and cultural signaling. The best HER profiles don't try to appeal to everyone - they strategically attract compatible matches while naturally filtering out incompatible ones. This guide will help you select the 6 photos that tell your complete story.

Understanding the HER Photo Slot Strategy

HER allows 6 profile pictures, and each slot serves a specific strategic purpose. Think of your profile as a visual resume that tells a complete story about who you are. You wouldn't repeat the same information six times on a resume, and you shouldn't show the same angle or context in all your photos. The strategic approach involves using Photo 1 as your hook - the image that stops scrolling and makes people tap your profile. Photo 2 provides context about your physical presence and style. Photo 3 showcases personality through activities or interests. Photo 4 demonstrates social connection and community. Photo 5 signals values through environment or actions. Photo 6 creates intrigue and conversation opportunities.

The 6-Photo Framework for HER Profiles

Photo 1: Your Main Profile Picture

Purpose and Priority

This is your most important photo - the one that appears in swipe stacks, search results, and feed posts. It determines whether people stop scrolling or keep swiping. Your main photo must be clear and recent, showing what you currently look like. Your face should occupy 60-70% of the frame so you're immediately recognizable. Good lighting is essential - natural light works best. You should be solo in this photo with no distractions. A genuine smile or authentic expression beats a forced pose every time.

What Works Best for Photo 1

The highest-performing main photos on HER share common characteristics. Natural outdoor lighting creates the most flattering images. Eye contact with the camera creates connection and approachability. Genuine smiles perform better than serious or sultry looks. Clean, uncluttered backgrounds keep focus on you. Recent photos from the last 6 months ensure accuracy. Photos that show your face clearly without sunglasses, hats, or obstructions. Images that represent your everyday appearance rather than special occasions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Certain main photo choices consistently underperform and should be avoided. Group photos where it's unclear which person is you create confusion. Heavy filters or face-altering effects damage trust. Sunglasses obscuring your eyes remove connection. Bathroom mirror selfies suggest low effort. Photos from years ago create false expectations. Extreme close-ups or distant shots that don't show you clearly. Overly sexualized images that focus on body parts rather than your face.

Photo 2: Full Body Shot

Why Full Body Photos Matter

After your main headshot establishes attraction, people want to see your complete physical presence. This isn't about meeting arbitrary beauty standards - it's about honesty and setting appropriate expectations. Full body photos show your build and body type authentically, demonstrate your fashion sense and personal style, provide context about height and proportions, and show how you carry yourself and move through space. In the queer community where diverse body types are celebrated, authentic representation matters more than conventional attractiveness.

Effective Full Body Photo Approaches

The best full-body shots don't look staged or forced. Natural standing poses in good lighting work better than awkward forced poses. Photos taken by others typically look more natural than selfies. Activity-based full-body shots (walking, hiking, dancing) show authentic movement. Mirror selfies can work if the setting is interesting and the photo is well-lit. Outdoor settings provide better lighting and more interesting contexts than indoor spaces.

Styling Your Full Body Photo

Your outfit choice in this photo communicates significant information about your identity and style. Wear something that represents your authentic daily style rather than costume-like special occasion wear. Show your aesthetic - whether that's athleisure, professional, alternative, femme, masc, or anything else. Consider wearing colors and patterns that photograph well and represent your personality. Ensure your clothing fits well and makes you feel confident. If your style signals your identity within the queer community (butch, femme, futch, etc.), this photo is an opportunity to communicate that clearly.

Photo 3: Hobby or Interest Photo

The Conversation Starter Function

This photo's job is to give potential matches something specific to talk about beyond "hey" or "you're cute." Interest-based photos create natural conversation entry points, demonstrate you have a life and passions beyond dating, show skills or dedication to activities, attract people who share similar interests, and reveal aspects of your personality that static portraits can't capture.

Best Hobby Photo Categories

Effective interest photos fall into several proven categories. Sports and fitness photos show you playing soccer, climbing, doing yoga, cycling, or any physical activity. Creative pursuits include you painting, playing instruments, photography, writing, or crafting. Outdoor activities capture hiking, kayaking, camping, gardening, or nature photography. Cultural interests show you at museums, theaters, bookstores, or art galleries. Pet interactions demonstrate you with your dog, cat, or other beloved animals. Travel experiences capture you genuinely engaged with interesting locations.

Authenticity Over Performance

The key to effective hobby photos is genuine engagement rather than staged performance. Action shots where you're actually doing the activity perform better than posed shots. Candid moments captured mid-activity look more authentic than set-up poses. Photos that show process or effort alongside results demonstrate real engagement. Images where you look naturally absorbed in the activity rather than posing for the camera. Including context (your art studio, climbing gym, favorite trail) adds authenticity.

Photo 4: Community or Social Photo

Signaling Your Social World

Humans are social creatures, and potential partners want to know you can maintain relationships and have a support network. One group photo demonstrates you have friends and social connections, shows you can be part of a community, provides social proof that others enjoy your company, and signals what kind of social environments you're comfortable in. For LGBTQ+ individuals, this photo also shows your connection to queer community.

Effective Group Photo Selection

Not all group photos work equally well on dating profiles. Choose photos where you're clearly identifiable without needing a caption explanation. Limit group size to 3-5 people maximum - larger groups make you hard to find. Ensure you're prominently featured, not hidden in the background or edge. Select photos where everyone looks happy and natural, not drunk or messy. Choose contexts that reflect your actual social life - Pride events, dinner parties, outdoor gatherings, concerts.

LGBTQ+ Community Signaling

For queer women and non-binary individuals, group photos at LGBTQ+ events serve dual purposes. They show social connection while also signaling community membership. Pride parade or festival photos demonstrate comfort with public queerness. Photos at lesbian bars or queer venues show knowledge of community spaces. Images from LGBTQ+ activism or volunteering demonstrate values. Group shots with other visibly queer people signal your community.

Photo 5: Values or Lifestyle Photo

Communicating What Matters

This photo slot is for communicating your values, priorities, and lifestyle beyond surface-level interests. These photos help compatible matches recognize alignment while incompatible people self-select out. Values-based photos might show activism or protest participation demonstrating political engagement, volunteer work showing compassion and community service, environmental activities reflecting sustainability values, or reading or education showcasing intellectual priorities.

Lifestyle Context Photos

Photos that show how you live day-to-day help potential matches envision life with you. Urban exploration shots show city appreciation and adventurousness. Cozy home photos demonstrate domestic comfort and personal space aesthetics. Food or cooking images suggest culinary interests and domestic partnership potential. Work or professional photos indicate career importance and professional identity. Family photos can work if your family accepts your queerness and you're close to them.

Avoiding Performative Values Signaling

Authenticity is key - don't include values photos for activities you don't genuinely prioritize. One-time volunteer photos from years ago feel inauthentic if service isn't ongoing. Political protest photos should reflect sustained commitment, not one-off attendance. Environmental activities should be part of your lifestyle, not performative. Cultural activities should be genuine interests, not attempts to seem sophisticated. Choose photos that represent actual priorities you'd share with a partner.

Photo 6: Personality Showcase or Wild Card

The Intrigue Slot

Your sixth photo is an opportunity to show something unique, surprising, or conversation-generating that doesn't fit the other categories. This slot creates intrigue and gives matches a reason to message you with questions. Effective sixth photo options include travel photos from unique or meaningful locations, creative self-expression like drag, performance, or art, photos that show humor or playfulness, images from memorable experiences or achievements, or creative photography that showcases artistic vision.

The Conversation Generator Test

A good sixth photo should prompt questions or comments. Ask yourself if someone viewing this photo would naturally have questions to ask you about it, whether it shows something unexpected that adds dimension to your profile, if it creates opportunities for storytelling when people ask about it, and whether it represents something genuinely important or meaningful to you. If your sixth photo doesn't generate curiosity or conversation, reconsider it.

Photo Quality and Technical Standards

Resolution and Clarity Requirements

HER doesn't have strict technical requirements, but photo quality impacts performance. Use photos with minimum 800x600 resolution, though higher is better. Ensure images are in focus - blurry photos suggest carelessness. Avoid heavily compressed or pixelated images. Use good file formats like JPG or PNG. Ensure proper exposure - not too dark or blown out. Check that colors look natural and true to life.

Lighting Best Practices

Lighting dramatically impacts how attractive photos appear. Natural outdoor light is almost always most flattering. Golden hour (early morning or late afternoon) provides the best natural light. Avoid harsh overhead lighting that creates unflattering shadows. If indoors, position yourself near windows for soft natural light. Avoid direct flash which creates harsh, unflattering results. Cloudy days provide excellent diffused natural light.

Composition and Framing

How your photos are framed impacts their effectiveness. Leave some space around you rather than cramped edges. Use the rule of thirds for visually interesting composition. Ensure important elements aren't cut off awkwardly. Maintain consistent quality across all six photos. Avoid tilted horizons or askew framing unless intentionally artistic. Consider variety in camera angles across your six photos.

What Photos Absolutely Don't Belong on HER

Photos That Damage Trust

Certain photo choices actively harm your profile's effectiveness. Photos with visible ex-partners, even cropped out, create immediate discomfort. Heavily filtered images that don't resemble your actual appearance damage trust. Old photos from 5+ years ago set false expectations. Photos that include children who aren't yours raise questions. Wedding photos where you're clearly a bride/groom in a different context. Pictures that show you visibly coupled with someone else. Screenshots of other dating app profiles or matches.

Low-Effort Red Flags

Some photos signal lack of effort or care in ways that repel matches. Blurry, out-of-focus images suggest you don't care about presentation. Photos with messy, cluttered backgrounds distract and appear slovenly. Bathroom mirror selfies, especially with toilet visible, read as lazy. Car selfies with seatbelt across you look desperate. Photos with visible dirty mirrors or messy rooms. Sideways or incorrectly oriented images. Screenshots of photos rather than original images.

Inappropriate or Unprofessional Choices

While HER is more relaxed than professional networks, some photos cross lines. Overly sexual or explicit images violate community guidelines. Photos focused primarily on body parts rather than you as a person. Images that show illegal activity or substance abuse. Photos with weapons or aggressive imagery. Memes or screenshots instead of actual photos of you. Images that include other people's faces without their consent. Photos that appropriate cultures or identities not your own.

The Photo Selection Process

Step 1: Gather Candidate Photos

Before selecting your six photos, gather 15-20 candidates. Go through your camera roll from the past year. Ask friends to send photos they've taken of you. Look through social media for posts with good photos. Include screenshots from video calls where you looked good. Consider recent photos from events, trips, or gatherings. Don't limit yourself - gather more than you need.

Step 2: Apply the Filtering Criteria

Narrow your candidates using strategic criteria. Eliminate anything over a year old. Remove photos that don't clearly show your current appearance. Cut anything blurry, poorly lit, or low quality. Eliminate group photos where you're not clearly identifiable. Remove photos with ex-partners or romantic contexts. Delete anything that doesn't represent your authentic current self.

Step 3: Map to the 6-Photo Framework

From your filtered candidates, assign photos to the strategic slots. Choose your absolute best headshot for Photo 1. Select your most natural full-body shot for Photo 2. Pick your most interesting hobby/interest photo for Photo 3. Choose your best group or community photo for Photo 4. Select a values or lifestyle photo for Photo 5. Pick your most unique or intriguing option for Photo 6.

Step 4: Get Feedback

Before finalizing, get objective input. Share your selection with 2-3 LGBTQ+ friends whose judgment you trust. Ask which photos feel most authentically you. Request feedback on whether the set tells a complete story. Check if any photos send unintended messages. Ensure the collection has variety in settings, outfits, and contexts. Make adjustments based on consistent feedback themes.

Updating and Maintaining Your Photo Profile

When to Refresh Your Photos

Dating profiles aren't set-and-forget. Update when your appearance changes significantly like new haircut, color, or style, major weight change, new tattoos or piercings, or style evolution. Update seasonally to keep photos current and contextual. Refresh after major life changes like moving cities, career changes, or significant life events. Replace photos when you have newer, better options available. Update at least one photo every 2-3 months to keep profile fresh.

The Rolling Update Strategy

Rather than replacing all photos at once, use a rolling update approach. Swap out your weakest-performing photo first. Replace it with a new option and monitor engagement. Keep photos that generate good match quality and conversation. Gradually rotate through your six slots over several months. This keeps your profile fresh without confusing existing matches. Track which photos generate the most likes, messages, and quality matches.

Using AI Tools to Enhance Photo Selection

AI Enhancement vs. Manipulation

AI tools like AURA can help optimize photos while maintaining authenticity. Appropriate AI use includes enhancing lighting in underexposed photos, cleaning up distracting backgrounds, improving sharpness and clarity, color correction for natural appearance, and suggesting which photos will perform best. Inappropriate AI use includes altering facial features or body shape, removing or adding significant elements, creating unrealistic skin smoothing, changing your actual appearance, or generating entirely fabricated images.

The Authenticity Test

Any photo enhancement should pass this test: would someone recognizing you from your photos feel accurately represented? If you met someone in person, would they feel your photos were honest? Do your enhanced photos still look like you on a good day rather than a different person? Can you recreate the look in your photos with reasonable effort? If you answer no to any of these, scale back your enhancements.

Special Considerations for Different Identities

For Femme-Presenting Women

Femme queer women face unique challenges in being read as queer. Include at least one photo with subtle LGBTQ+ signaling like Pride gear, lesbian flag colors, or queer cultural references. Show photos in queer spaces or at LGBTQ+ events. Consider including photos that demonstrate community connection. Don't feel pressure to present more masculine to be "visibly queer." Femmes belong in queer spaces and on HER just as they are.

For Butch and Masculine-Presenting Individuals

Butch and masculine-presenting people should lean into authentic presentation. Don't soften your presentation to appeal to a wider audience. Include photos that clearly show your gender presentation. Demonstrate comfort and confidence in your presentation. Consider including photos that show community connection. Remember that many people specifically seek masculine-presenting partners.

For Non-Binary Individuals

Non-binary people can use photos to communicate their specific identity. Include photos that reflect your authentic gender expression. Consider adding photos that signal non-binary identity if comfortable. Use captions to clarify pronouns and identity if helpful. Don't feel pressure to present androgynously if that's not your style. Show the full range of your gender expression if it varies.

For Trans Women and Trans Feminine People

Trans individuals should present authentically at their current point in transition. Use recent photos that show your current appearance. Don't feel obligated to disclose trans status in photos if you don't want to. Include photos that make you feel confident and authentic. Consider what feels safe to share given your local context. Remember you deserve love and connection just as you are.

Conclusion: Your Photo Selection Action Plan

To build an effective HER photo profile that attracts compatible matches while authentically representing yourself, follow this action plan. First, audit your current profile against the 6-photo framework. Identify which strategic slots are missing or weak. Gather 15-20 candidate photos from the past year. Apply filtering criteria to narrow to strong options. Map your best candidates to the 6 strategic slots. Get feedback from trusted LGBTQ+ friends. Make final selections and upload to HER. Monitor which photos generate engagement and quality matches. Plan rolling updates every 2-3 months with new photos. Remember, your photos should tell a complete, honest story about who you are. The goal isn't to attract everyone - it's to attract compatible people who appreciate your authentic self. When your photos honestly represent you, the matches you get will be with people interested in the real you, not a curated facade. That's when meaningful connections happen.