Choosing the right photos for your online dating profile can be a real chore, but not with our support :)

Below are five of the most common mistakes people make when choosing online dating profile pictures. Are you guilty of any of these?

• Group shots
  

You want to make life as easy as possible for people looking at your profile, so keep things simple and only have pictures of yourself. Specific photos to avoid are ones of you with your ex, ones featuring attractive friends of the same sex or photos of you with children or pets. Photos where the other person has been blatantly cut out are also to be avoided at all cost. They just look wrong.

• Hidden face shots
  

The whole point of putting up a picture on a dating site is to show people what you look like. Pictures where youre half hidden behind something may be artistic and flattering, but in the online dating world they are annoying and even slightly suspicious what is this person hiding? Photos that show you wearing sunglasses, big hats or other coverings that prevent your face from being seen fall under this category.

• Silly face shots
  

You may well want to show your fun and playful side to potential partners, but remember that your main objective is to look appealing (this is true for both men and women!). Funny expressions or photos where you are blatantly drunk are in no way attractive and they can and will cost you some dates.

• Posed makeover shots
  

Having a good photo in your profile is important and if you have to pay someone to take that photo, then its far preferable than having a bad webcam shot on there. On the other hand, posing or looking blatantly overly made up can make people think youre A. desperate or B. unattractive and in need of help to look good. Opt instead for casual and natural looking photos no special lighting, makeup, backgrounds or poses.

• Sexy shots
  

If youre serious about finding love (and not just sex), youll want to keep the seductive shots out of your profile. Apart from sometimes having the opposite effect, they also send the wrong message about what you want. Both men and women are often guilty of trying too hard to show off their bodies. Obviously, on respectable dating sites, nudity is not allowed. But even the subtler six-pack shots, leaning-into-the-camera cleavage shots or booty shots are likely to do more harm than good.