How is it that everyone else seems so naturally photogenic?
‘Cause here’s the thing… they’re not.
But, like so much else in life, it seems to come down to confidence. Not the kind of confidence that might encourage you to, say, publish a 352-page book containing 1,200 never-before-seen selfies (oh, Kim), but definitely enough that will allow your coolness to translate easily to the lens.
So if you’re ready to be camera-ready, here are a few tips to help you bring out your inner Gisele or George the next time a memorable photo opp comes along…
1. Show the Left Side of Your Face
Most people know their “good side,” but according to a scientific study by Sam Kean, usually the left side of the face is more attractive. The left side of the face is more expressive than the right because it is controlled by the part of the brain that’s responsible for emotions.
2. Bye-Bye Blinking
If you tend to blink in photos, close your eyes just before the picture is taken and open them slowly before the camera clicks. This eliminates the anxiety of waiting for the flash and eliminates any chance of you blinking simultaneously with the flash. No more ‘sleeping’ or ‘drunk’ jokes for you.
3. Avoid a Double Chin
We know, a previously non-existent double chin can somehow appear out of nowhere. And that troubling turkey-neck usually turns up just in time for social functions such as Thanksgiving dinner and holiday get-togethers. To avoid the dreaded double chin, elongate your neck and push your face outwards. Don’t stick your chin up in the air. Just think about pushing your forehead forward and tipping your chin down slightly. Even if it feels unnatural, trust us, you’ve gobbled up that turkey-neck for good.
4. Don’t Stand Closest to the Camera in a Group Shot
Never be the one standing closest to the camera. This is the ultimate set up to looking disproportionately larger than everyone else. Ensure that you are on an even plane with everyone in the photo. You’ll thank us for this one.
5. Shoot Full-Length Shots at a Lower Angle
A lower angle stretches your figure and makes you look taller and leaner. Shooting your full-length shots from below also makes you look strong and powerful, and who doesn’t want that?
6. Slightly Tilt Your Face Towards the Camera
Think about your angles. Facing the camera straight on is not the most flattering for your face. Turning your head slightly gives your features more depth. Say hello to your cheekbones.
7. Take a Photo From a High Angle When Seated
When sitting down, make sure to ask the photographer to take the picture from above while tilting your face up to meet the camera. This will help define your jaw and make your body appear thinner.
8. Lighting is Everything
Standing directly under light can cast shadows on your face but facing a natural light source like a window or a soft spotlight erases everything, from your wrinkles to the bags under your eyes. No need for touch ups when you have natural light.
9. Crop Your Entire Body in the Frame
There are simple guidelines when it comes to cropping photos of yourself. For the most part, it is best to crop your photo so that your entire body fills the frame to create the illusion of length, or crop it as a portrait. This illustration shows places to crop when shooting portraits. Cropping at green lines is complimentary, while cropping at red lines tends to leave you looking awkward.
10. Smile Naturally
One of the oldest red carpet tricks is to put your tongue behind your teeth when you smile. This helps to avoid a goofy grin. For a natural looking beam, you can also try closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, and then opening your eyes and smiling right before the shutter clicks.
11. Minimize Red Eye
Look at a light right before a photo is taken. This helps to shrink your pupils, which minimizes that unwanted red eye. Forget the red eye feature on your camera or you’ll just end up with a couple of black blobs for eyes.
12. Speaking of Eyes, Don’t Forget to Smize
We all remember when Tyra Banks told her models on America’s Next Top Model to ‘smize’. By ‘smizing’, Tyra meant smiling not only with your mouth, but also with your eyes to give warmth to your face and reveal a more genuine expression.
13. Red Carpet Ready
We’ve seen it hundreds of times – hand on the hip, the angled body, and the head turned to the camera. This is one of the most common “red carpet” poses. It’s a cliché, but really does work wonders to help you look slim. This ‘cheerleader’ pose makes your arms look toned, but be sure to angle your elbow back – not straight out – so that it’s facing behind you. (Gentlemen, best to leave this pose for the ladies.)
14. Practice Makes Perfect
Whether you rehearse in front of the mirror, use your camera’s self-timer, or force a family member or friend to take an excessive number of photos of you for practice, a big part of looking good in photos comes from feeling comfortable. Study your favourite shots of yourself and try to identify your best angles, your favourite expressions, or your most flattering poses.
Trust us, follow these simple steps and for your next photo op you’ll be reposting rather than untagging.
#NOTABLE
Images from: cosmopolitan.com, tomandlorenzo.com, neilvn.com, petapixel.com beautystylewatch.com, thefithousewife.com, i.huffpost.com
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