I have been dabbling in the hobby for a while but don't have too much experience overall. I've noticed that a lot of the providers require a selfie of me prior to meeting.  

I definitely understand the rational, but at the same time worry about having my picture out there with providers. What if LE  got a hold of their phone or whatever.  

What does everything think?  Am I overly paranoid?

In all my years of seeing providers, I've only had one require or even ask for a selfie, and in that case neck down was fine--she only wanted to see guys with a certain type of physique.  

I wouldn't send a selfie that included a clear face shot to any provider, even those I've already met. You just never know where they'll end up. I'd pass on a provider with that requirement - there's lots of providers who don't require a photo.  

P.S. I also don't expect any provider to send a photo that has a clear face shot to me.

I'm not sure where you're looking, but I browse hundreds of provider profiles, ads, and websites regularly, and I would guess I have run into the picture requirement maybe 4 or 5 times. No, I don't think it's a lot of providers. I think it's really rare. In any case, personally, I will not send my picture. If you are comfortable sending a photo, that's your prerogative, but I think most guys would just move on and find a lady who does not have that requirement.

uses info sent to them to cross referance to humiliate their targets.  Hobby phone, Hobby email, Hobby Picture.   If that group cross referances with your facebook pictures...  and threatens to expose you to friends, family & employers...

Some reasons why she might want a pic.  

- She wants to know what to see thru the peephole before she opens the door. But you can just tell her info: height, clothing, glasses or not, hat or not, ...  If you tell her 5'7" slender black male in a tweed jacket and she sees a 6'3" white guy in leather and chains, she should not open the door.

- A selfie is no protection against LE. LE will send a pic, if that's what she wants! Maybe a fake pic or look-a-like pic, but that won't stop them.

- Your look - just like providers who use fake pics, you can tell her your celebrity look-a-like, if you have one or even send her a link to specific pic that is a fair resemblance.  "I look like Tom Cruise but I'm bald, fatter face and I have a wart." ""Oh. Do you mean Telly Savalas?"" "Yeah, I guess that is a better match."

- Your "physique" - same deal.  

- Your digital photo is FOREVER. Be careful what it is and its digital signature: who you sent it to and so on.

- Location: many cameras today (smartphones, etc) will encode your GPS coordinates on the pic. If you take a pic in your bedroom at home, she now knows what your bedroom looks like and where it is, too.

- All kinds of other reasons NOT to send a pic. Don't send your pic. Move on

But I had 2 providers in a row ask for a selfie. I thought about and almost did it but like what you all are saying didn't do it. Sucks too because both providers have really good reviews and I was really interested in seeing them.

When being screened by a provider, I'll send links to pictures of me that already exist on public websites.  If the provider also asked for a particular selfie and gave a decent reason why, I'd do it and not think too much about it.  To each their own..

Is your pic in a company or church newsletter? Facebook? Linkedin? A wanted poster by any chance?  With internet image search engine a selfie might out your identify, job, friends, relatives........

When a guy is a newbie, providers usually ask for a pic of his license along with employment verification. Once a guy has several references this isn't necessary.

Most providers do not give two hot damns about what you look like. Not to mention, a selfie doesn't prove anything. It's not an LE check (there is no such thing),  and it doesn't confirm your identity. You could send them any "selfie" that you find on the internet, and then show up to the date anyway. Nope. Nope. Nope.  

On occasion, i've had clients send me selfies, which i think is pretty silly.  I don't care one iota about those photos and just delete.  seems fairly indiscreet.

But, back to the LE part. it's not illegal for a hooker to have photos on her phone. LE can't do anything with the photo since you didn't actually commit a crime. That part of your post is paranoid. Everything else is valid. You shouldn't be sending any kind of photo to a hooker.

-- Modified on 11/8/2015 7:51:33 PM

Cops and serial killers have faces too. Doesn't really tell me much other than an assurance that he hasn't been decapitated.  

But hey, if that's what she requires, that's her prerogative. You just gotta decide if you're cool with it.

....Even if she promises me she would keep it nicely framed next to hers I wouldn't send one!

anyone who has been busted with that site?

seems fishy to me.

The most theads are on the Legal Board.