If you’ve ever been on a gay dating app, you’ve probably seen and/or sent a dick pic. Probably more than one. Possibly hundreds.
While we’ve lost serious cultural institutions like Critique My Dick Pic, taking a good nude has remained one of the key skills in the online dating toolkit. Whether you’re just swapping pics or looking to hook up, a good dick pic will fire up their imagination and get the blood flowing.
So how do you get the perfect cock shot? Even if you don’t think your phallus is photogenic, there are plenty of ways to take a magnificent dick pic that demands attention — and potentially earns you a request for a private viewing.
Most importantly, get consent before you send a dick pic
While there’s nothing illegal about sending a dick pic to another adult on a dating app, asking for consent is vital. It’ll clarify that you’re on the same page as well.
Always ask him if he wants to see or swap nudes before you dick-bomb the chat. That way, if he’s not interested, you can also avoid flashing your junk to an unwilling stranger.
Framing and composition of your gay dick pic are important
The point of the dick pic isn’t just to show him your cock; you’re trying to turn him on, and that takes a little bit of planning. Generally speaking, you may want to avoid a ‘log shot’ where your dick fills the whole frame. Folks can zoom in if they need to, and it can make your shlong look like a disembodied organ that could belong to anyone. This will help make everything look proportionate and give some erotic context to the dick itself — it brings in the sex appeal of your thighs, your groin, your ass or your cum gutters.
OK, OK, gloryhole lovers, we see you (or don’t), and hyper-focusing on nothing but that D is still a vibe, too.
Light it up
There are two approaches here. For most of us, natural lighting is best: take advantage of the morning sun or ‘magic hour’ just before sunset. This will warm up your skin tone, soften any lines and blemishes, and really let your appendage shine.
The other option is a ring light or a proper lighting setup (like what you’d use if you were camming). This will give you real porn studio appeal, but it’s pricy and takes some time and effort. A more affordable option would be lamps or overhead lighting (find the right angle to avoid shadows).
You don’t have to be naked
If there’s anything we’ve learned from Robert Mapplethorpe, it’s that some of the best nudes have clothes in them. Underwear, fetish wear and leather are obvious examples, but there’s plenty you can do with just the regular clothes you wear every day. There’s a rich, erotic appeal to unzipped jeans, an open business shirt, your workout gear or a perfectly captured dick print in sweatpants. Get creative.
Some examples of good gay dick pics:
It’s not just about the D
A lot of what makes any explicit photo hot is what’s going on around the dick. He doesn’t just want to look at a cock; he wants to look at your cock, so bring something of yourself into the pic.
The location and the positioning of your body can give him little clues and tell a story about you — are you standing in the shower after the gym or lying in bed taking care of your morning wood? Maybe sitting in your home office in your underwear? Adding these contextual details to the shot elevates your dick pic from a generic nude to something sexy and intriguing.
Use your hands
Whether it’s hard or soft, your hands can bring a lot of interest and sex appeal to your dick. Hold your shaft or cup your balls. Pull your waistband down with your thumb. Rest a hand on your thigh or belly, ready to stroke. Whatever it is, use your hands to make your dick pic an active shot rather than just a ‘still life of penis’.
Hair or no hair?
Whether you clipper, wax, or leave your body hair in its natural glory make sure your look is set before you start snapping. Some people think trimming your pubes or styling them away from the base of your dick will show it off more. Embrace the bush or do a little gardening; the choice is yours.
Tidy up
There’s nothing hotter than a bedroom floor covered in dirty laundry and used condoms, amirite? Make sure you consider the foreground and background when you take a dick pic. If you’re in your bedroom, tidy up and make it presentable — he should be thinking about joining you in the sheets, not worrying he’ll get last night’s leftovers on his jeans.
If you’re using a mirror, clean off any spots and streaks. The same goes for your camera lens. These will make your whole shot look grimy, which is probably not what you’re going for.
Other dick pic considerations
• Toilets
If you’re into beats or piss play, a photo in a toilet cubicle could be the picture that paints a thousand words. If you’re not, set your background scene where you want him to picture you getting nasty in.
• Photoshop
Touching up a dick pic isn’t the best idea (unless you’re really, really good). Even then, your hookup will find out pretty quickly once they get there. See our note on ‘catfishing’.
• ‘Say cheese!’
If you notice any spots, drips, blemishes or rashes, it’s time for a sexual health check. You want to look your best and be game ready if he wants to play.
• Objects included for scale
If you’re packing the meat, why not show it off? Aerosol cans, TV remotes, and measuring devices that indicate your size will have your hookup drooling with anticipation.
Be very careful about including your face
Once you’ve sent a dick pic, you’ve really got no control over where it ends up. This is your chance to be conscientious about taking and sending nude pictures. Whether you choose to keep your face out of the frame or in it is your call — choose wisely. Also, if you’re going to keep your nudes in your camera roll, consider putting them in a passcode-protected folder so they don’t accidentally appear when you’re showing your mum a photo!
Image-based abuse can include posting or sharing your images without your consent as well as crimes like ‘sextortion’, where someone requests money to prevent your pictures from being shared. If you think you’ve been the victim of image-based abuse, contact eSafety for help.
Well, there you have it — everything you need to know to craft the perfect pole pic. If you’re Online and looking (or want to be), use a few of these tips (to enhance your tip), and your hook-up app notifications will be popping off in no time.