So what are the most common problems online daters have with their photos? Why don't more people have photo posted?

The first hurdle is that most adults do not have flattering portraits of themselves, so you'll need to find a way to get one. There are professionals out there who can help you, and there are sites that can take an existing photo, scan it, enhance it (i.e., correct the coloring, get rid of red-eye and crop it) and then send you a digital photo, ready for you to upload to your dating site.

Another option would be to set up an appointment with a professional photographer that specializes in dating portraits. A good photographer will use the right poses and lighting to make you look your best. Some of these specialty photographers also have the ability to send your photos to you in the format accepted by your online dating site, making sure that you'll look your best.

Another major problem for those who are dating online is that the photo requirements on most online dating sites seem to be written in another language, making it difficult for many of us to understand. Most people don't really know about pixels, resolution and file size. Of course, regular Connected Photographer readers have a better understanding of these terms than most online daters.

Failure to upload a photo that meets the given specifications will result in poor results for your online dating ad. If you don't upload an image that meets a dating site's specifications, you may end up looking like a clown in a Fun House mirror. The online dating sites now recognize how difficult it is for most people; therefore, many sites will let you send a photo to them and they will scan and upload your photo for you.

I've mentioned some of the most important aspects of dating photo management. Here are some helpful don'ts and dos:

Online dating photo don'ts
Much of what you shouldn't do is really obvious. Desperation may get in the way of common sense, but use common sense anyway. Here's what not to do:

• Do not upload a picture where your friend, boyfriend, mother, etc., is cropped out and you can see their amputated limb wrapped around your waist or shoulder.
• Do not upload a photo that has been severely altered. If you work for 20 hours to get rid of your crow's feet, laugh lines and double chin, everyone will know.
• Don't post any drunken party photos. Seriously, just don't. You know who you are!

Online dating photo dos:
Once you've avoided the pitfalls mentioned above, here are two tactics that are sure to help you find that new love.

Upload a photo that is no more that two years old and make sure that you still look like you do in the picture. Take a constructive look at yourself in the mirror. If your picture shows long blond hair and you're now a brunette with short hair, get a new, updated picture.

Most sites let you post 4 to 6 photos, with one of the photos designated as your "main" photo. Your main photo should be more of a headshot. It should be in color, rather than black and white, and it should be well lit with minimal shadow on a light background. This is the photo your potential dates will see first, so it needs to be good and prospective dates should be able to tell what you look like.