The Photo Advice Category
What is the "Photo Advice" category?
The Photo Advice category is a dedicated space for users seeking constructive feedback, critiques, and evaluations of their images. Whether you want to improve your photography technique or are looking for honest input on your personal aesthetic, this is the place to post.
- Seek technical advice on lighting, composition, editing, and camera skills.
- Ask for constructive opinions on your style, hair, or overall look.
- Request community ratings based on the photos you provide.
To Our Teen Users
Your safety and privacy are our top priorities. If you are between the ages of 16 and 19, we strongly advise exercising caution when sharing images of yourself. We highly discourage posting images that put the primary focus on your body. For young men, please refrain from posting shirtless photos or revealing fitness shots. For young women, please refrain from posting bikini, swimsuit, or lingerie pictures.
To Our Underage Users
You must be at least 16 years old to use this platform. We’ve made this rule clear on the signup page (in red text), in our Terms of Service, and within the Bulletin category. Because minors are not permitted on the site, we work to delete all of their photo posts upon issuing a ban. If you are a banned user and notice your photos are still on the site, please report the posts directly so our team can remove them.
Scrub Your Meta Data
EXIF data, also known as "meta data", is a type of data that is attached to your images. It can include exact GPS coordinates, the camera serial number, and even the software used to edit it, etc. So for that reason it's best to remove (or "scrub") it before uploading images to the site.
Windows 11
macOS
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Android & Cross-Platform Options
- Scrambled EXIF (Android): An open-source app available on F-Droid that strips metadata the moment you hit the "share" button.
- ExifTool (Advanced): For those comfortable with a command line, this is the most powerful tool available for reading and writing meta information.
The Screenshot Method:
- Take a screenshot of the image on your device and upload that instead. Screenshots typically contain much less metadata than the original camera file, though manually scrubbing remains the standard for actual privacy.
The Discord Method:
- Doesn't need to be Discord, but it's commonly Discord: Try uploading the image to Discord and then re-downloading the image. Discord will scrub meta data by default, but you can do this with any platform that scrubs the meta data.
Be Selective What You Share
Try not to overshare if you're not wanting people to connect you to your real life identity.
- Avoid professional specifics: Don't name/show the place that employees you, or the actual names/photos of your coworkers.
- Avoid specific locations: Avoid naming/showing your gym, your specific apartment complex building, etc.
- Avoid photo unique specifics: Customized cars/plates, pill bottles in the background can leak your name/doctor's name, or even the view from your balcony can be used to geolocate you. Check the background of your images: Is there a letter on the counter with your name or address visible? Check windows, mirrors, or even the screen of your switched-off TV. They can reveal your face, if that's a concern you have.
Hunting down a user’s real-life identity, leaking their private social media links, or exposing their personal information (doxxing) is a violation of our community standards.
Reporting Content
We want The Appearance Guide to be a safe environment for everyone. We strictly prohibit the exposure of private information.
Please report any posts or comments that contain:
- Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as full names, phone numbers, email addresses, or social media handles.
- Any location data, such as home addresses, schools, workplaces, or specific geo-locations.
- Photos or details of your real-life family members, friends, or acquaintances posted without consent.
To request a removal, simply click the "Report" button located underneath the post.
Post Unique Content
It is perfectly fine to upload existing photos from your dating profiles or social media (it's encouraged), but if being identified online is a major concern for you, only upload unique photos. Reusing photos from your public social media makes it easier for others to find your private social media accounts. Using brand-new photos that don't exist anywhere else prevents reverse-image searches and protects your privacy.
Uploading Images of Others
When uploading images of anyone other than yourself (including family, friends, or celebrities), you are required to use the "Photos of Others" prefix. We will remove any imagery that appears to be taken without the subject's consent or resembles candid photos of strangers in public. The Appearance Guide is not a venue for tracking or rating unsuspecting people; please keep all content consensual and properly tagged.
Be Civil
The Photo Advice category is designed for constructive, honest, and helpful evaluations. It is absolutely not a space for toxicity, abuse, or bullying. We have a zero-tolerance policy for rude comments, personal attacks, or malicious insults directed at other users. Feedback should always focus on the aesthetic or photographic elements, not tearing someone down. You are not allowed to ask for degrading, humiliating, or brutally insulting replies, even if they are directed at yourself (e.g., "roast me," "tell me how ugly I am").
Authenticity Standards
To get accurate advice, photos must be clear and realistic. Avoid uploading images with heavy beauty filters, extreme angles, aggressive lighting, or obvious photoshop/facetune editing.
Deepfakes, AI-generated faces, and heavily AI-enhanced portraits are strictly banned in the Photo Advice section. This forum is for real people seeking real feedback.