5 Tips To Become More Photogenic
Having your photo taken can seem like a frightening endeavor,
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 can be
easy to remedy. Being photogenic is not an inborn talent, but an
acquired skill that can be learned through practice.
Try these methods of posing and tips for becoming photogenic
and in no time be the model-esque friend all your buddies brag about.
1. Clarify your skin.
The focus of most portraits is the face, so make sure that yours is in
tip-top condition. Modern cameras are able to capture the smallest of
changes and textures of skin, which is both a blessing and a curse. Keep
your skin clean and smooth by washing, toning, and moisturizing your
face before having your photo taken. Doing this should be a daily
morning/evening ritual but is especially important before a photoshoot.
If you wear makeup, make sure that your concealer and foundation are
smoothly applied and match your skin tone correctly. Blend them slightly
down your neck and near your ear lobes to create the most natural look.
Oily skin can ruin a photo by reflecting too much light. Use oil
blotting sheets or tissue paper (actual tissue paper, not kleenex) to
dab off excess oil on the T-zone of your face.
Use an exfoliator on your face to slough off any dead skin cells which
make your skin appear dull and lackluster in photos. Use a sugar scrub
or a rough facial soap the morning of your photos.
2. Focus on what makes you unique.
One of the characteristics of photogenic people is their
confidence in their appearance. Many times we are overly concerned with
something we perceive as ‘wrong’ with our face; your freckles, the gap
in your teeth, how squinty your eyes get when you smile. Instead of
trying to hide those things, embrace them! You will look much more
photogenic in your photos that way.
3. Show your emotion.
It is easy to spot someone who is photogenic from someone who is posing,
the former doesn’t have to fake their emotions. Although getting your
photo taken can be nerve-wracking, don’t let it get in the way of your
true feelings. Don’t create the smile you think you need, use your
regular smile. The same goes with the shape of your eyes and the curve
of your cheeks. The more you allow your natural emotions to show on your
face, the better your pictures will look.
Always smile with your teeth, because you would never laugh at a funny
joke with your lips together. True smiles show off a toothy grin, not
tightly pressed lips. Keep your face natural by allowing a real smile to
peak through.
When you are showing emotions your entire face is affected. Although
many people associate a look of happiness with just a smile, your
eyebrows, eyes, cheeks, and forehead are all affected equally as much.
Make sure that you are allowing freedom of movement in your entire face.
4. Don’t look the camera straight on.
As the old saying goes, “the camera adds ten pounds.” But it doesn’t
have to! Because the camera is using reflected light to convert a 3D
object into a 2D image, the shapes of things are flattened and
compressed. Looking straight ahead at the camera will show the fullness
of your face and remove/reduce any natural shadows. Instead, turn your
face slightly to the side to create natural highlights and shadows and
slim the shape of your face.
5. Bend your joints.
How often do you find yourself standing or sitting perfectly straight,
with all your joints in line? Probably very rarely or never. Add both
movement and a sense of natural poise to your photos by allowing your
joints to bend slightly. This means that your elbows, wrists, knees, and
ankles should all be comfortably bent. If it can bend, bend it!
Credit to http://positivemed.com/
