When a family opens a list of profiles, the photo is the first thing they see. Profiles with a clear photo get many more replies than profiles without one, and the reason is simple: a good photo says the family is genuine and serious. You do not need a studio. A phone, daylight and ten minutes are enough.
Light is everything
Stand facing a window in the daytime, or outside in the shade. Soft daylight shows the face as it is. Avoid strong sun from above, which makes dark shadows under the eyes, and avoid a tube light at night, which makes the skin look grey. Never stand with your back to a window; the face will come out dark.
A simple background
A plain wall, a curtain or a garden works well. Clear away clutter behind you. The photo is about the person, not the room.
Clothes that feel like you
Wear what you would wear to a family function or an office meeting: a kurta, a saree, a salwar suit, or a shirt. Solid colours look better than busy prints. Keep jewellery and make-up natural, so that the family meeting you later recognises you at once.
Take a few kinds of photos
Add one main photo and up to five more on your biodata:
- The main photo: head and shoulders, looking at the camera, a gentle smile
- One full-length photo, standing naturally
- One photo in traditional clothes, which many families like to see
- Optionally one with family, or at work or a hobby
Photos to avoid
- Sunglasses, caps or anything that hides the face
- Group photos as the main photo, where families cannot tell who the candidate is
- Heavy filters, beauty apps or edited skin colour
- Old photos: use photos from the last year, so that nobody is disappointed at the first meeting
- Selfies taken from very close or from below
Who sees your photos
On Pushkarna Match you choose who sees your photos clearly: all members, only the families you send an interest to, or only families whose interest you accept. Everyone else sees them blurred. Every photo also carries a faint mark with the viewer's member number, which discourages anyone from copying it. You can read more in our guide to writing a good biodata.
