Eric Mull, 43
photographer
The perfect date: Involves spontaneity. I like finding good flight deals a few days in advance of the weekend, packing a bag of clothes and heading out to New York or Atlanta for a long weekend.
Something most people don't know about me: I'm actually very shy. When I'm working and I have a camera in my hand, I'm very outgoing and confident. But when you take away the camera, I'm afraid to assert myself sometimes. My camera is my confidence booster.
My passion: Photography. I picked it up when I was 18. Everything in my life — my vacations, my days — are built around it. I love going to work.
My favorite ... sports team: I follow all Cleveland teams. I'm also into OSU football. ... musician/band: Kenny Chesney or Jimmy Buffett. ... TV show: Shark Tank and The Big Bang Theory, which I just started watching a year ago. ... It's really funny. I love the characters — even though I'm nothing like them! ... place in Cleveland: Anywhere on the lake. I just like being by the water. It's very serene, very calming. ...book: I'm not a big reader of fiction. I know people read novels to take them away from their lives, but when I read I want to learn something. My favorite book that I read recently was Andre Agassi's autobiography. I'm a big tennis player, and I thought it was a really honest, open book about the game. ... vacation destination: Turks and Caicos. The last few years I've been traveling quite a bit for a series I'm doing on beaches. Turks and Caicos was one of the best beaches I went to. It's a completely underdeveloped paradise. ... way to exercise: I play tennis three or four days a week. ... month: I like the heat and sun, so I'd have to say July. ... website: I probably go to cleveland.com more than anything else. ... drink: It depends on the season. In the winter, I like bourbon. In the summer I like vodka.
My usual hangout: Tartine is where I'm at the most. [He's co-owner of the Rocky River bistro.]
In high school I was ... anxious.
And now I'm ... a lot more content.
My No. 1 dating rule: Be honest.
My deal-breaker: I'm not a big fan of dating someone without a job.
On a first date I never ... let the girl pay.
Biggest turn-on: Someone who's just happy. I've been on so many dates with people who just complain about their life and jobs. It's depressing.
Biggest turnoff: Someone who complains.
My hidden talent: I have a four handicap [in golf].
I own too many: Cameras.
My best feature: Probably my ability to be spontaneous.
My bad habit: Probably also my ability to be spontaneous. It's a fun trait, but sometimes it makes me push back work obligations.
My first kiss: was in seventh grade with my first girlfriend. She moved away right after we started dating. It was the first time I ever felt heartbroken.
My guilty pleasure: Macaroni and cheese.
How my ex would describe me: Either hilarious — or sick.
How my best friend would describe me: Loyal, funny and impatient.
Going out or staying in: Both. I like going out one night, then staying in the next.
Early, late or right on time: Perpetually five minutes early.
Morning person or night owl: Morning, definitely. I've never had a cup of coffee in my life. I don't need it. I wake up at 5:30 or 6 a.m., and I'm up and ready to go.
Dogs or cats: Dog. My dog goes to work and travels with me. I'm a dog guy through and through.
iPhone or Android: iPhone.
Dancing ... yes or no: Yes. It's not something I do very often, and I don't head out for a night looking to dance, but if I end up at a place with dancing, I'll join in.
Twitter ... yes or no: No. I have one because people told me I should, but I think I tweeted maybe twice this year.
My longest relationship: Three years.
My biggest goal right now: To be in a happy relationship.
Celebrity crush: Duji from Rover's Morning Glory.
Most unusual place I've met someone: On a plane.
My take on Cleveland's single scene: I think it's difficult. My friends are all married, and I don't date people I work with, so I'm not often in situations where I can meet lots of single women. Plus, I'm a homebody, so at the end of the day, I like to go home and hang out.
What do you find sexy about yourself? I'm easy to get along with and I'm happy.
Why do you think you are single? Career has always come first for me. I've had my business now for almost 20 years, and my focus has always been on growing it. But for the past couple years, my business has been on cruise control mode, and now I'm ready — and available — to meet someone.
