Dating profile photos should be picked by a stranger

When it comes to your profile picture, a total stranger knows what's best for you, according to new research. Images selected by strangers convey a much more favourable first impression than images people select for themselves, according to the study. The findings contradict evidence which suggests that we portray ourselves in a good light in our profile pictures - instead it seems we're doing it all wrong. This participant selected the top, second from left photo for her professional profile picture but strangers thought she looked better in the bottom, second from left one. Researchers took 102 students and asked them to select two out of 12 photos of their face that they were most likely to use as profile pictures in three contexts - on social networks, dating sites and professional networks.