So, you’ve decided to pimp out your dating profile with a dog photo. Smart move! Dogs can seriously boost your match rate on dating apps. In fact, research shows that 63% of singles are more likely to swipe right on a profile with a dog photo. If you want to read more about why dog photos are effective, check out my handy dandy blog about it here.  Let’s talk about how to get a photo with Captain Jack Barkness that will make her swoon.  The Magic of Dog Photos A picture with a dog on your dating profile isn’t just a cute addition—it’s a window into your personality. It screams, “I’m ..read more

Picture this: you're strolling through your day when suddenly, the sky bursts open, and a unicorn flies across a rainbow, showering the world below with a magical mix of money, gourmet desserts, beach vacation tickets, unbeatable insurance plans, and—why not—a sprinkle of crack cocaine. The crowd goes wild, right? Now, toss in a few signed copies of TTPD and you've got a glimpse of how women react to dog photos on dating apps. *TTPD: The Tortured Poets Department, aka the album Taylor Swift dropped in the middle of her Eras Tour, which also explains the recent flood of dating profile photos f ..read more

I have several clients on the autism spectrum who frequently express frustration in their search for a partner. It’s something that hits quite close to home for me, because my boyfriend, who I deeply love and share a home with, has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).  Many people on the spectrum spend their lives being scolded by well meaning parents, teachers, friends, and partners for simply being themselves- for not emoting “correctly”, using the “correct” word choice in conversation, “incorrect” cadence or tone when speaking, or being teased for their special interests and routines.  ..read more

Have you ever found a spare $500 in your pocket and thought to yourself, “man, I wish I could use this to make online dating vaguely more interesting?” Yeah, me neither. Lucky for us, Tinder is now offering the solution to a problem we didn’t even know we had in the form of Tinder Select.  You’re probably asking yourself, what is it, exactly? Will it help me get more dates? Is it worth the money? Let’s figure it out together and see if it lives up to all the hype.  What is it, exactly? Tinder Select is being marketed as an application-only premium service. Its features include: T ..read more

How to Look Taller on Dating Apps Dating apps are pretty brutal. The competition is fierce and if you’re a heterosexual man, it can be especially difficult. Unsurprisingly, height is the most common lie straight men tell on their profile.  In fact, a survey by the clothing brand Ash and Eerie showed that 80% of their shoppers lie about their height on dating apps. There’s a multitude of research on the topic from academic studies to GQ articles. While the exact percentage varies, it’s so well established that it’s become a meme. Should You Lie About Your Height on Dating Apps? Here’s th ..read more

The Beard Dilemma  To beard or not to beard: that is the question.  Fortunately, I just so happen to have the answer and a bunch of data to back it up. If you’ve been wondering if your prospective partner would prefer you with or without facial hair, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most commonly asked questions I receive as a dating consultant. In fact, I found several studies regarding facial hair and attraction from a simple search on Google Scholar, which means that it’s been a source of curiosity for quite some time. Let’s get into it! Warning Label The contents of this blog ..read more

What is Cuffing Season Have you ever sat in a sea of blankets while eating a toasted bagel with blueberry cream cheese in upstate NY, right smack dab in the middle of November when the temperature is somewhere around 40°F, and right as you’re reaching for the remote to turn on Netflix, BOOM you’re overwhelmed by a wave of loneliness? Well, friend, that was your serotonin dropping to the lowest level of the year, and it'll stay like that until mid February. Simply put, cuffing season takes place from mid October through the end of February. During this time, lots of singles are scrambling to p ..read more

I’m about to voice a very unpopular opinion: ghosting on dating apps is often unintentional, unmalicious, and unworthy of the hate it receives. It can also be reduced with a bit of strategy.  Before you come at me with pitchforks, give me a minute to make a few clarifications.   This blog focuses on ghosting: On dating apps During the early stages of conversation Before plans to meet up have been established This blog is not referencing ghosting: Once plans have been established After a date During a relationship I’ll write a blog later about ghosting in relationshi ..read more

You know that feeling of introspective stillness that happens when you’re able to look at a traumatic event with a bit of distance and clarity? I woke up this morning feeling ready to talk, so let’s talk.  Dating Consultants are People Too Being a dating consultant is weird, because I have this unreasonable expectation of myself that I should look like the perfect relationship partner… but, like… that’s not super realistic. Have I always been a great partner? Of course not. Has my heart been shattered into a million trillion pieces? Ohhh yeah. Does that disqualify me from being effective ..read more

Bread crumbs. They’re delicious crunchy bits of carby goodness. They enhance basically any recipe, they can be used to manipulate small winged creatures into being your friend, and they’re superb for abandoning small German children in witch-infested forests. Recently though, the term has been used to describe crumby behavior on dating apps. What is Breadcrumbing? Breadcrumbing is the act of giving someone just enough attention to maintain interest without any real intent to follow through. Sound familiar? Let me give you a few examples: They ignore your advances until you start to move on ..read more