Personal choice not to have a picture in my profile. If a person wants to get to know me I will gladly send them one. This country is to small as well I have daughters on some of these sites. I need not know what they do, nor they know what I do.

The problem, with that, I think, is; Ok, we've exchanged emails, we're both interested, you ask for a pic. 'They' (He, or she) send it. Whhhoooooaaaaaa, That's not who I pictured while I was talking to them!!! This won't work!!
You've both put yourself 'out there', and after the pic, it's a no go. How does the shadow feel about that? Why would you do that to yourself? Why would you put someone else in the position where they feel they have to hurt your feelings?
Would they have contacted you, or answered your initial contact, if they had known what you looked like to begin with?

I did it once. The results were less than satisfying, for both of us. Being stubborn, and a hard learner to boot, I agreed to a meeting with a shadow, just recently. The results will be the same. If I had seen her pic, ahead of time, it could have saved both of us some time.

Am I being shallow? I don't think so. First impressions are very important, and whether they admit it or not, EVERY person has to see some attraction, before they decide to pursue a romantic relationship. JMHO

However, if it works for you, go for it. Everyone is unique, and we all approach these situations based on prior personal experiences. (Ours, or, if we are paying attention, others)