Two days ago, I sent this message to Brad, 61, on Fitness Singles:

Love your photos! Each one tells a story. Got a kick out of the picture of you facing a shimmering waterfall and casting. Next: "Look what I caught!" with an adorable grin. Priceless.

You must be a whiz at marketing. Every picture tells a story, whether intended or not. Your photos all tell a story about you. Well done.

I sent a link to your profile to a man who wants to meet me at a super-spreader location. Want him to see your great photos. "I refuse to play Russian Roulette with my health," I told him. "I'll pass." Plus he lives 360 miles away. Too far. I gave him this advice:

"You posted eight photos of your face from the chin up. As a group, your photos look like a sea of white bowling balls. You have the bad habit of severely cropping your pictures. Also your weird main photo looks like you are naked in a classroom. It's jarring.

"Instead you need to post recent photos taken outdoors, doing activities you enjoy and would enjoy doing with a woman. Ditch the sunglasses. Women want to see your eyes and smile. With online dating, your photos and profile are an advertisement to attract the kind of woman you want to date."

He thanked me for the advice. You guessed it. I was a successful marketing director. Your thoughts? Kathleen

Brad's reply:

Hi Kathleen,

I love your photos too. They are really, really good -that is, they project your outgoing and affectionate (and romantic ) personality. I love that. I am also amused that you used mine to coach another guy....

I can see that you get out on the trail a lot. Any kayaking in your outdoor routine?

I could go on and on about the dysfunction inherent in online dating. It really isn’t dating. Rather, it is online shopping, and as you said above, marketing ourselves to shoppers.

It is at least refreshing to an authentic “shopper” like you that communicates in an accurate, engaging and affectionate way. So much of this is just people screening (like an HR screening interview over the phone or online) with lots of questions but not offering much on their end. Brad

Brad sent me his phone number. We will talk this weekend. Lalala.

These are photos from Brad's profile that attracted me.