Online Dating Photography

Have your current dating photos been letting you down due to poor quality, bad lighting or you simply find it impossible to create a smile that feels genuie?

I creates natural, editorial-style online dating portraits designed to help you stand out with confidence, warmth and authenticity. With more than 25 years of experience photographing actors, models and public figures across Sydney, LA and New York, I combine fashion magazine aesthetics with relaxed, personalised direction to create dating profile photos that feel genuine, sophisticated and engaging.

Authentic Dating Portraits — Hand crafted with experience, not templates

A great dating profile photograph doesn’t shout. It doesn’t feel forced or overly polished. Instead, it feels quietly confident, natural, and unmistakably you. That is the philosophy behind my approach to photographing people for online dating.

I work with individuals — not one-size-fits-all formulas. Every person who steps in front of my camera brings a different energy, story, and intention. My role is to observe that, guide it, and translate it into images that feel genuine and compelling.

A personal, individual process

Most people aren’t professional models. Feeling awkward in front of a camera is completely normal, especially when the photographs carry personal stakes, as dating profiles do.

That’s why my sessions are conversational, relaxed, and collaborative. I take time to understand who you are, how you want to be perceived, and what kind of connection you’re hoping to attract. From there, I offer professional direction—subtle adjustments in posture, expression, and movement that help you look like the best version of yourself.

Expertise proven at the highest level

Having worked as a professional portrait and fashion photographer in Sydney and New York for over 25 years, one of the skills that I think is imperative is the ability to create flattering images of your subjects. To do this well requires mastering a combination of skills - including the ability to put your subject at ease, provide intuitive direction, along with good camera work and lighting. I work every week with people who have had little to no experience in front of the camera. Building their confidence, then watching them transform throughout the shoot is one of the things I still enjoy most about portrait photography. 

Kiren’s client’s

I’m grateful for the trust provided to me by previous clients, having been commissioned by local and international brands along with some of the world’s top model agencies in Paris and New York.

Kiren’s portrait list

Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Hugo Weaving, Baz Luhrmann, Billy Connolly, Julie Delpy, Olivia Newton John, Isla Fisher, Ita Buttrose, Kieran Perkins, Ellyse Perry, Dick Smith, George Negus, Erine Dingo, Sandra Sully, John Laws, Julie Bishop, Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Former Prime Minister John Howard

A new you in 48 hours

Your online dating photos are usually ready within 48 hours. Simply upload them to your favourite dating app and you’re all set to go.

Are you ready to boost your online presence in the dating world? Take a look at the popular options below…

Premium Dating Profile Portraits

A session designed to capture a range of natural looks and flattering expressions. It involves a variety of close up to full length set-ups at selected locations with up to 3 outfit changes. Allow up to 1 hour for your session. Included is a set of individually graded image files which you can upload to any social media platform.

Session plus a set of 45 image files $695 + gst

Premium Dating Portfolio

A more comprehensive shoot that provides for a wider range of lifestyle set-ups or customised projects. You can include classic black & white looks in your repertoire along with a style consolation to help select your wardrobe. The Portfolio is also great for people who are camera shy and would like more warm up time.

Session plus set of 75 image files - $1,195 + gst

Custom Shoot

Do you have ideas of your own or would like to request a specific location? Let me know and I’ll put together a quote for you.

Professional direction

My guidance is grounded in observation: how you naturally hold yourself, the kinds of expressions that work for you and how to show confidence without effort. These factors can dramatically change how a photograph feels. They are details learned through years of working with people who depend on images to communicate credibility, allure, and authenticity. The good news is you don’t need to know any of this. Just simply turn up on the day and I’ll guide you through everything step by step.

Book your dating photo shoot today

To book a time for your session or to answer and queries - simply drop me a line via my contact page. I can usually get back to you within the next few hours.

What to wear

Having worked as a professional photographer in fashion and advertising, I’ve spent a lot of time casting people for various commercials and magazine stories. It’s given me a professional insight into the psychology behind peoples preferences when they look at images of other people.

When deciding on what to wear, my advice is to choose clothing that is flattering to your physique and colours that compliment your complexion. If you wish to look slimmer, wear darker colours, avoid white as well as horizontal stripes. Colours like blue are often good as they convey trust - which is why they are often used in advertising.

If you're planning 3 outfit choices, aim to show diversity by styling them from casual to semi formal. Add more dimension to your outfit choices by layering your clothing. Consider including everyday props such as hats, scarves and bags. Remember, on-line dating is not meant to be like a job interview, so avoid anything too formal. Feeling more comfortable in your clothing choices will help you to feel more confident and relaxed in front of the camera. At the end of the day authenticity is key. You want to be the best version of you.

Hair and make up

For women, you’ll want your skin to look fresh and vibrant. A common mistake is for women to over compensate and wear too much make up. While wearing make up may make you feel more confident, wearing too much will make your photos appear too staged and formal. Try to avoid powder and foundation as it will make you look older and flatten out your features. Issues like skin blemishes can be retouched afterwards.

With hair, relaxed always photographs best. Long hair generally works best worn down or loosely styled. If you prefer it tied back, a low ponytail or soft tie feels natural and effortless. Hair worn up or tightly styled tends to read as more formal, which isn’t ideal for dating photos.

Ultimately, your hair and make-up should reflect your personal style. A good rule of thumb: wear what you would if you were meeting a friend for lunch or going on a casual first date.

The goal isn’t transformation—it’s recognition. When someone sees your photos, they should feel like they already know you.

For men who don’t already have a good personal grooming routine, consider exfoliating and moisturising your skin. This will help deliver a fresh healthy glow to your appearance. Drinking plenty of water in the lead up to your shoot - this will help your eyes and skin look fresh. Apply lip balm and hair product if required. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before the day of your shoot.

If you intend to get a hair cut, try to book an appointment at least 5 days before your shoot. This will allow your hair time to settle back into it’s natural shape.

What to bring to your photo shoot

Accessories

• Aside from bringing your clothing, consider including hats, scarves, jewellery, watches or belts to enhance your various looks.

• Shoes: Choose footwear that will compliment your outfits - at least 2 pairs for full length shots. There’s no need to go overboard though as the images that will create the most impact in your online dating profile will be from the waist up.

Personal Items

• Makeup and touch-up kit: Bring makeup for any last-minute touch-ups and any products you may need.

• Hair products: Consider packing hair ties, brushes, or hairspray to maintain your hairstyle.

Logistics and locations

While I offer customised shoots, the current options listed on my Price Guide are designed to provide you with the best choices in terms of quality and value for money. The idea is to produce a set of images that give the impression that they were taken under casual circumstances. They also need to show diversity in terms of mood and expression and portray you across a variety of settings. The idea is to create a feeling that your photos could have been taken across multiple locations. As you can appreciate there is a lot of logistical work involved in order to make this happen in the most seamless and efficient way. For this reason I specifically select locations that can achieve this based on both technical and aesthetic merits.

Online dating advice for men

For men, the biggest mistake in online dating is often the opposite of women’s: trying too hard to impress instead of trying to discover whether someone is a good fit. Good dating is less about convincing someone to like you and more about finding mutual compatibility. Here's what I’d recommend:

• Approach dating with the kind of mindset where your happiness does n’t depend on a particular person or finding a relationship. Maintaining your own purpose, friendships, and interests makes dating healthier and more attractive.

• Use recent, authentic photos. Avoid sunglasses in every photo, group shots where people can’t tell who you are, or heavily edited images.

• Ask good questions. Be curious rather than trying to impress. People enjoy conversations where they feel understood. It shows you’ve paid attention.

• Move toward meeting in person. Don’t become a texting companion. After establishing some rapport, suggest a casual coffee or drink.

• Be confident without putting on a performance. Confidence isn’t being the loudest or funniest. It’s being comfortable with who you are and not needing constant validation.

• Don’t chase inconsistent interest. If someone rarely replies, continually cancels, or gives mixed signals, politely move on. Interest should be mutual.

• Keep first dates simple. A coffee or a walk is enough. The goal is to see whether you enjoy each other’s company.

• Accept rejection gracefully. Attraction is personal. A rejection usually reflects compatibility rather than your worth. The men who date successfully tend to recover quickly and continue meeting new people.

• Dating apps require marketing. Online dating is highly competitive for men, so professional-quality photos, good presentation, and a well-written profile matter much more than many men realise.  

Online dating advice for women

Dating isn’t about finding the perfect person—it’s about discovering whether two imperfect people can build something together. Some practical principles I’d recommend for women are:

• Let go of expectation. Focusing too much on the end result removes you from being in the present moment. This is where you’ll be your best self. From there you will start to attract the right energy into your life.

• Replace the checklist with a “deal-breakers and nice-to-haves” approach. Know your genuine non-negotiables. A person who doesn’t tick every box may still be an excellent long-term partner.

• Make sure your the first photo on your dating profile is a single shot of you, not a group. Avoid using too many group photos in general.

• Avoid using AI photos. Most people can pick these and as a result it can come across as being deceptive.

• Don’t mistake chemistry for compatibility. Intense attraction on the first date can simply mean someone feels familiar or exciting—not necessarily that they’ll make a good partner. Compatibility is revealed over weeks and months.

• Meet sooner rather than later. Endless texting creates fantasy. If someone seems respectful and interesting, a coffee date within a week or two often tells you more than hundreds of messages.

• Pay attention to character more than charisma. Ask yourself:

• Do they keep their word?

• Are they curious about me?

• Are they kind and respectful to other people?

• Do they regulate their emotions?

• Don’t reject someone because they don’t create instant fireworks. Many strong marriages begin with moderate attraction that grows as trust and admiration develop.

• Judge consistency, not isolated moments. Anyone can plan one great date. Look for reliability over several weeks.

• Don’t overanalyse texts. People communicate differently. If you’re constantly decoding messages, simply ask for clarification or observe their actions instead.

• Recognise avoidant or inconsistent behaviour early. If someone repeatedly disappears, is emotionally unavailable, or keeps you guessing, believe the pattern rather than the excuses.

• Give people room to surprise you. Some of the happiest couples say their partner wasn’t who they imagined they’d end up with.

• Appreciate differences between men and women. Many relationship conflicts arise because each sex misunderstands what the other values. It’s important to learn how the opposite sex typically experiences attraction and commitment.

What people are saying

“Hey Kiren,

I've gone through the pictures and am really happy with them. I uploaded them to a dating profile a couple of hours ago and have had to turn off notifications I am getting so many. My family also all loved them and said you really captured my personality in them.

Thanks again!”

- DM, Sydney AU

“Hey Kiren – just letting you know I have uploaded some of the pictures to my online profile and they look AMAZING! 102 matches in 4 hours – OMG! Thanks mate – you made me look so good, I think the ladies will be super disappointed when they meet me (LOL).”

Dan, Sydney Australia

Hi Kiren, Awesome work. Many thanks, you did such a great job. You ought to charge twice as much! I hope you do wedding photos as well, because I'm bound to wife someone up really quick with these photos! Hahah thanks again mate, and stay in touch!

J.N. Sydney, Australia

“I want to say I’m very impressed with your work! You made me feel completely confident at every stage of the photo shoot. I will continue to recommend you to my family, friends and colleagues.

H.M. Sydney

Hi Kiren,

Thanks so much, you did a really great job with these photos! Couldn’t be happier with how they all turned out.

Really appreciate your help with this project, thanks again!

Mark, Sydney