How a person looks isn't that important to me, it's more about avoiding scammers and showing sincerity and openness.

It's more important what they are and do!

I look at those with photos first. Then if I'm in the mood read the profile of those without but if they then wont give a photo if asked - nah forget it. Whilst the inner beauty is far more important the chemistry has to be there too and you really can tell something about the person by their photo, so it needs to be one where you can see them properly rather than an artisitc rendition of a mugshot or tiny picture of them in a huge backdrop. No photo seems like you are hiding something.

Of course it is important and everyone without exception should provide a minimum of 3 photos. In my case I do not like talking to the invisible man, it makes me think that he hides something.

It could be that they, like me, don't have a photo deemed appropriate. It's me with my two best friends (dogs)! It's not about hiding anything. No husbands lurking in the wardrobe. Surely you can meet up and take it from there? Henrietta x

Remember to post your best photograph and please one that is less than 10 years old. Can you really tell ''a great deal'' about someone from their photograph? Maybe sometimes you can but mostly it makes people feel more comfortable communicating. It's very compassionate to say ''I don't care what someone looks like it's what's inside that's important''. Of course that's true and what they say is definitely more important... but unfortunately looks do matter to almost everyone.

A face is important for certain people. For me, it is their inner core, that their individualistic mind creates, that matters to me.

I only bother with the photo if I like their profile or if they've made the 1st move and have contacted me. Most people don't look the same in person as they do on their pics but I feel if they haven't posted any pics that they're hiding for some reason. A well worded and intriguing profile can mean they're serious, or just very good at serial/online dating. I generally need several pieces to the puzzle before deciding if I should meet the person off-line.

There is a need for physical attraction as well as mental or intellectual attraction.

Of course photos are incredibly important, whether you believe it or not (see various books that study such issues like "Blink" where you can test yourselves online even to see what your unconscious predjudices & preferences are. At 50 yards 1/10th of a second reveals the gender, and it goes on from there. What I hate are aphoristic sayings like, "Beauty is only skin deep" yeah, sometimes "but ugly can go clear to the bone, too." "You can't judge a book by its cover." You can tell a few things, generally how well the cover was treated, the size of the volume, and type of artistry & suggested content. Why would you want a beautiful Encyclopedic or National Geographic scene cover on a volume of actuarial tables or better yet porn, except to hide the contents? Once you get into reincarnational medicine studies, you'll find a whole lot is revealed not only about your current incarnation...but I digress. Vocal qualities reveal at least 7 octaves of energetic signatures for at least 7 systems ranging from structural to emotional health (see "The Sonic Apothecary" by Sharry Edwards & your "signature sound". And these affect ourselves & anyone in earshot immediately (see her tonal frequency distribution effect chart on our brainwaves!) So why wouldn't light & images (see Dr.Diamond & Dr.David R.Hawkins & their kinesiology testing for images and statements.) That's why the medical intuitive my mom uses, tests the paintings she buys from her to see if they are particularly healing or not. Just because you have a beautiful Monet lily pond print on your wall doesn't mean it's not sucking positive energy out of the room, because a print is a mechanical-entitied processed product for one thing. (Another aspect is a bit like organic vs standard veggies--an organic that has been stored & shipped long distances may have less vitality than a local non-organic--you'd have to weigh the pesticide factor's intrinsic-ness, etc. too.) 'Nuff said!

I wouldn't at all be happy contacting/or being contacted by someone who didn't show themselves in a picture.

I do not like to communicate with ANYONE who will not show his face...what if I had no photo?
HE would not be writing to me.. Who is being unfair? It is NOT about caring how one looks ..it about having an idea of whom you are writing to... Everyone has likes and dislikes.

Photos can be fake or really old. It's nice but not 100% needed because when you speak to someone, your perception of their appearance can be altered either up or down based on what they have to say.

There's some physical attraction with a photo but getting to know a soul could open up a whole new world of beauty. I try and look beyond appearance but looking into someone's eyes can take you into their world. That's my heart speaking. ..i have met beautiful looking people only to discover their soul is empty and cruel. ..and i have met people who i had no attraction to but once i got to know them and listen. .. i saw them in a different light.

Photos/form is v-important as I could be talking to an 80yr old man weighing 300lbs, makes sense to verify initial contact then live skype or video chat to confirm both ways .... this site is not a job interview or Wallmart purchase.

No photo suggests a married person.

Without a photo that can later also be seen on other social media like Facebook, with friends and family on it. How do you know if it is even a real person.

Not just any photo...post recent photos please.

Of course

When you view a photo, you can get a better idea of the person.

photos are important,yes its good to see the eyes,if afraid to post a pic.could mean your married,live-in,low self-worth,not serious.

I mean with photo you are little prepare. I think it's actually first you look a person, than eventually the nature and softness of person describe your friendship level or any relationship levels.

How and what someone say matters too.

As much as the photo itself can speak volumes about someone and who they really are, the lack of one can as well. What are they hiding if they won't post one, or will only show with a photo pass? Married?Let's be honest, too.Looks do matter whether we want to admit that freely or not. Each person is drawn to a certain type--eye color, hair, thin or fat, etc.It does not make someone a bad person if the special "spark" of chemistry is not there.Gentlemen may prefer blondes but I am most likely to notice dark hair and dark eyes. Am I the only one who has noticed that, so far, half of the people making comments here about how a photo is important have not posted their own? What a hoot!

It seems proper to me that the "I" in the question should be "you." And yes, what someone says matters very much to me, but looks are also important.

I don't reply to messages from a man who has not posted a photo.

Looks can be good but there will be clowns who place fictitious photos, n not theirs .