At the time, I'm sure there was probably some more glorified, artistic, and intellectual justification given as the purpose for this photoshoot, but ultimately, I'm pretty certain these were just for ASHLEY'S DATING PROFILE. And I have no problem with that! I believe that a guy can learn a lot of other, more implicit things about a gal, waaaay beyond whatever is happening in the ACTUAL PHOTO, just by the very fact that her dating pics are professionally shot, and not just selfies taken in a filthy bathroom mirror.

If you had the time and means to have your dating photos professionally shot and edited, with every aspect from lighting to wardrobe meticulously controlled, then you don't have to waste any of your limited word count, telling potential suitors that you are a fancy (possibly difficult) lady; they will have already picked up on that.

I added the filthy-mirror part because back when I was still in the dating scene, this was one of my biggest pet peeves. Listen. Guys. (And yes, it’s usually guys that are guilty of this, but not always!) Clean your f*cking mirror before taking your sexy photos. It takes two seconds! Are you really going to make me look at you through soap scum and toothpaste splatter? Talk about learning some implicit information about someone, right off the bat... Geez!

And it's not even that it makes me think you are a dirty, sloppy person, it's worse than that. It's that I know I could never be with someone who is so oblivious to details. Because think about it: you'd have to ignore the filthy mirror thrice!

Once when you took the photo, then a second time when you decided it was acceptable to upload it to the dating site, then usually again before you reviewed and finally posted it! That's three opportunities that you had to confirm, "Yes, this is the best I can do, this is the face I want to present to the world." Can you even see it behind this filthy mirror?

I actually came to love the filthy mirror photos, they were a great filter and time saver. They allowed me to immediately know that this person probably wouldn’t be a good match for me, that we probably wouldn't even get along as friends. Come back to your place? Why? So we can clean it together? No, thank you. I'll pass.

And okay. Sorry, I lied. Yes, it does also make me think you are a dirty, sloppy, person.

*************************************

Read about me getting dirty HERE.

Or, HERE is a dirty ram, politely clarifying that he asked for a little bath. Not a little bell.