Good feedback. We've heard this before as well. I'm just stubborn and like looking at the photos. When we roll out the redesign, we'll add a silhouette and not make it required.
I do think you should have email reminders that nudge people who haven't yet added a photo to do so. Maybe once every 2 or 3 weeks or something.
Definitely, we're thinking about small nudges to help people through the process, both in completing the profile and in setting your first request or remembering us the next time you do need help.