6 Photos Not To Put On Your Tinder Profile

Oh Tinder! What would we do without it and how have we managed to survive before it? It really has been a revolution for the Lonely Hearts Club, but also for the Oh-so-shy and for the very very busy businesswomen and men.

We can now look for our soul mate while sitting on the couch in our pijamas watching Gilmore Girls or, why not, if we do it discretely enough, during the weekly office meeting. We can forget our shyness, and the etiquette, and go straight to sexting without bothering about having blushed revolutionary red. We can meet up with people who are very much outside our usual circle and therefore, experience what's it like to have sex with a bodybuilder when you are used to hanging out with fragile-looking poets.

Like all good things though Tinder should be used properly, and by using it properly we mostly mean (having a profile that does the job properly for you instead of having one that just looks embarrassing). Using good Tinder pictures is essential, as too many awkward profiles can make Tinder feel as depressing as Facebook—and we certainly can’t let that happen.

So here are a few useful tips on what not to put on your Tinder profile to avoid massive turn-offs.

1. The selfie at the gym.

Please no. Ok, you have a six-pack, a body that defies gravity and, quite rightly, you are proud of it. But really, there are other ways of showing it. The gym isn't a cool place, nor is it romantic, or adventurous, or in any way interesting. It's the kind of place where you go either because you have been a bit overindulgent with yourself at lunchtime or because it belongs to your daily routine. Pretty much like the toilet. There just isn't anything exciting, let alone classy, about seeing someone posing covered in sweat and with exercise bikes in the background, it actually makes most people want to kill themselves. If you do have the cream body, why not go for a nice picture at the beach instead, or an artsy yoga asana? (watch out though, even in this case less is more). And if workout really is a big part of your life and you really would like your right swipe to share it with you (really??!) better state it in the 'something about yourself, it's the kind of thing other people should probably know before meeting you.

2. Picture with kids.

No. Just no. Never mind if they your kids, your bf's kids or the offsprings of some distant relative a third cousin twice removed. Never mind how cute they are and how incredibly good you look in that pic. Children! they are so small, and sweet, and innocent, shouldn't we keep them out of the mayhem of the hook-up scene for as long as possible? At least until they have wish (and the age) to create their own Tinder profile?

3. Picture(s) with a bunch of friends.

Well ok, if you must. But no more than one and, especially not as first pic! Please forgive our shallow minds but it's just annoying! You see a group of bros (or a girl squad) and you think 'Wow, this one is hot' but then you move one to the next pic and you find out that Marc, 25 (or Jessie,28) was not the hot one but the nerdy looking one with a Superman t-shirt ad grey loafers! Even more annoying it's when all of pictures feature a large number of friends and going through them is pretty much like going through a Where's Wally book! Ok, you, have friends, and an incredible social life, good for you. But, unless you're somehow suggesting a gang bang (and if you are perhaps it would be best to discuss it with the whole team before hinting it out to strangers) one pic, possibly the last one, with a couple of friends, possibly not more attractive than you are, is more than enough.

4. Picture with Mummy and/or Daddy

Why? Like, seriously, why? Isn't it best to go through at the very least a couple (better a few couples) of dates before introducing him/her to your parents? Plus what would Mum and Dad say if they knew you were using them to hook up??

Images which have nothing to do with you specifically but that you think will make you look interesting.

We've noticed a few favorites here: Klimt's 'Kiss', Schiele's Seated Woman With Bent Knee, various forms of wildlife (such as rhinoceroses or giraffes), foggy mountain landscapes, and New York's skyline.

Uh. First of all the average Tinder user is looking for someone to go out on a date with, and not for ideas for his or her next holiday nor for suggestive Discovery Channel stuff (time and place for those). He or she is probably familiar with Klimt and Schiele (and probably also with Picasso and Munch, other favorites) and doesn't need reminding of how beautiful their paintings are. If you are an artist feature your paintings, if you live somewhere particularly exotic, like a treehouse or an igloo, feature that, but in both cases, please, include yourself in the pic! Tinder is, after all, very basic: I think you look good, I think that too, it's a match, of we go. So you need to show yourself, not Schiele's long-gone muse. You can discuss art nouveau in person and in front of a nice glass of wine, we promise it will be much more effective.

5. Stills from Fifty Shades of why are we still discussing this Grey

So you're a dom looking for a slave or a slave looking for a dom. Lovely. But per-lease, go for something more original (and exciting)!

6. The Pose (also known as Pouty Pic or The Blue Steel)

You've got it carefully arranged: The light is suggestive, your hair falls in just the perfect way framing your face and creating suggestive waves, your eyes are hypnotic, your lips artfully pouted, only one of your chins is showing, and you've preselected the flattering Instagram filter and your phone points precisely to that one and only God-given angle from which you look amazing. And the result is: No! Don't! Refrain! Listen we've all done that, we've all boosted our egos with The Pose an outstanding number of times since we got our first smartphone and so we all know that it's, well, not real! Fake. And the more you need to 'fake' your appearance the more everyone is going to think there is an actual need for it! It just doesn't work! It screams lose!

Ask a nice friend who likes you to take a good picture of you. Smile, if possible. Look relaxed, and come what may. Much better.

Next up, what your Tinder profile's favorite movie really says about you.