Breaking Down Katherine’s Hinge Profile

Even a non-dating coach can see that this is an absolutely killer first photo. But let me break down exactly why.

It is a super high-resolution photo, which makes your eyes naturally want to linger on it. It’s evenly lit with no obscuring shadows, and there’s nothing distracting or unflattering in the background.

Most importantly, we can see Katherine’s face super clearly so we know exactly what she looks like. And how joyful is she!! This is a genuine smile that would make anyone feel welcomed.

Katherine also gets some bonus points here, because in addition to it being a beautiful and clear photo of her, it’s a conversation starter. The bucket of cookies alone inspires a whole slew of questions, and the caption that she includes offers even more information about her and more entry points for things to talk about. You could ask about what state fairs are like, or talk about a Minnesota connection you have, or share disgusting deep fried foods you’ve tried.

Right off the bat, I’m intrigued. Let’s keep going!

This is great—we learn a lot about Katherine from just a few words.

First of all, she loves the comedian John Mulaney, so we get clear insight into what type of humor she enjoys. I can’t tell you how many profiles I’ve seen that say something along the lines of “looking for someone with a sense of humor” or “I love to laugh.” You can have puns for days, but if your date only laughs at silly animal videos, you’re not going to speak the same humor language. So using a specific comedian as an example of what Katherine finds funny helps a potential match self select in or out.

She’s also telling us that John Mulaney is her “type” romantically. She likes guys who enjoy the spotlight, are particular and verbal, and aren’t jocks. If that’s you, you know you’re in luck; if that’s not you, she’s letting you know off the bat that you might not be right for each other.

We can also really hear her voice and her sense of humor in how it’s phrased. Think about how much more personality and point of view there is in “I’m looking for John Mulaney, but single” versus “I love John Mulaney.” Always be looking for the least generic, most unique way to phrase things!

Your second photo should be another one where we see your face really clearly, because we’re still trying to cement exactly what you look like.

This one is great—Katherine has another huge, friendly smile, so we’re learning that she leads with joy and warmth. A+!

And like the first, it’s not just a pretty picture. It also acts as a great conversation starter, because we can see that Katherine is on camera for some reason. Wouldn’t you like to know what she’s filming, or if she’s an actress? It’s easy to ask all kinds of things.

We’re getting insight into Katherine’s personality and hobbies, not just what she looks like.

The caption seals the deal. I would obviously not recommend writing something this out there for everyone! But Katherine is unabashedly irreverent, and she’s letting you know. If that resonates with you, you’ve learned that you have a pretty high chance of getting along. And what a good teaser! If you’re not turned off by it, aren’t you dying to know what happened in the scene?

Love this photo for the same reason I love her first photo: it’s crystal clear, we see Katherine’s whole face with no sunglasses or hat, it’s outdoors (outdoor shots beat indoor shots 9/10 times), and her smile is warm, friendly, and inviting.

But what I especially love about this photo is the caption.

The previous photos would be conversation starters on their own, even without their captions. This one, not so much.

But Katherine understands Hinge: it’s all about helping potential matches start a conversation with you.

So she’s giving people that opportunity at every turn, and is using the photo to basically give herself a bonus Hinge prompt.

If you’re into Seinfeld or Ted Lasso, you’ve got another easy entry point to start talking to Katherine. What a clever way to use a photo caption!