Having your photo taken can sometimes seem a little frightening, especially when it seems that you never look quite as good in portraits as you do in reality. This is a problem faced by many people but is quite easy to overcome.
Being photogenic is a skill that you learn, not which you’re born with. That’s why we are here to help you. We’ve come up with some of the best tips to start looking better in photos instantly.
Nowadays, there is a lot of advice you can come across over the internet, but many people don’t practice them quite correctly. You know that hand-on-hip pose celebrities do to make their hand look slimmer right?
We’ve seen many girls trying to do the same thing, but it doesn’t come as natural for them – they make more like a chicken-arms-pose. Well, to avoid these little mistakes, take a look at our tips for being more photogenic.
1. Lighting Is The Key
Standing directly under a light casts weird shadows on your face, so stand facing a natural light source, such as a window, which is more flattering to your features. You can also position yourself in a spot where soft light hits your face from the side.
2. Angles
A lower angle visually stretches your figure, making you look taller and leaner, but a photo shot from just above you is way more flattering when seated.
3. Sparkly Eyes
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To make your eyes sparkle, look at a light source such as a lamp, which will create a flattering gleam in your pupils. Plus, it helps minimize the dreaded red-eye.
4. Find Your Best Pose By Looking At Your Photos
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Take a look at your favorite pictures of yourself and try to spot a pattern. Next time you have your photo taken, make an effort to imitate your best poses.
5. Get Rid Of Flyaways
Photos usually highlight flyaways, giving you a gawky, messy look. Dry oil or a good pomade will help, but make sure you use it lightly. If you are afraid to use too much, spray on your hands and then lightly try to control fizz.
6. Tilt Your Head
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Facing the camera straight on can rarely be flattering, so instead, turn your head slightly to one side or the other. This way, you give your features a greater depth and highlight your cheekbones. Try to do the same with your body and cross one of your legs or bend it to break the shape.
7. Use The Body-shrinking Technique
Lean into the camera, stick your head out forward, and tilt your chin down just a little bit. This will make your head will look bigger, giving you the optical illusion of a smaller body.
8. Know Your Good Side
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Try to find out which side of your face looks better on camera. This differs from person to person, but studies say that most people’s more photogenic side is the left.
9. Smile
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Putting your tongue behind your teeth when smiling is an old trick, but it does work. It helps you avoid a too-wide grin and look goofy. But remember to always ‘smile with your eyes,’ to look more natural. To do this, squint slightly to create small pillows beneath your eyes, giving them a half-moon shape.
10. Group Photos
When taking group photos, never stand the closest to the camera – it makes you look disproportionately larger. You should instead place yourself on an even plane with the other people in the photo.
