Day 67: 6 Tips To Looking Better In Photos, Even If You Have A Face For Radio

Do you avoid the camera like some celebrities dodge the paparazzi?

Are you about as photogenic as a plate full of Brussels Sprouts? Is the thought of sending out a Holiday Greeting Photo Card about as appealing as burying yourself naked in a pile full of dirty snow?

If so, don’t despair. While this post might not turn you into the next super model, it will help you make the most of what you have and hopefully shift your focus to capturing as many magical moments as you can.

Remember – only wine and cheese get better with age, so what you hate in your 30’s, might actually look good to you when you are in your 80’s.

 

1.  Avoid The Dreaded Double Chin

Camera position is key.  The lens must be at your eye level or higher. Bend your knees if you are taller than the photographer. Or try sitting in a chair and look up towards the camera.  Make sure you stick your chin out at least 1” farther than you normally would to give yourself a longer neck and more defined chin.

2.  Turn Your Head

Turned slightly away from the camera drawing the viewers eyes up and down instead of ear to ear. This also helps if you have big ears.  By posing at a 3/4 angle to lens you will make your ears appear smaller.

3. Don’t Smile – Laugh!

Forcing a fake chuckle will transform your cheesy smile into the genuine you inside. Think of a funny joke, pretend the photographer is naked, or just think of someone who makes you happy – your natural smile will emerge and make you look a lot better. Laughter really is the best medicine, especially for “sick” photos.

4.  Stop Giving The Camera The Stink Eye.

Stare into the light…no really. Right before the picture is taken, fixate your eyes on a light source (no, not the sun!). This will cause your pupils to shrink, reducing the random cases of red eye.  Having a wide-eye look always makes your photo look better. One way to do this is have your eyes closed and when you hear the count of three, you open them as wide as you can as the shutter clicks. (Many models use this technique.)

5.  Make Up Tips To Enhance Your Photos

The flash on a camera can wash you out, which means you need to “cake on” the make-up. To give the illusion of whiter teeth, choose a lipstick that’s brighter than you would normally wear. And to define your cheekbones, use a concealer or foundation that is one shade darker than your base and use it to define your cheekbones.  You can also use this to minimize the size of your nose.  Using a bronzing powder – lightly – will really make your face warm up and keep you from having a lackluster pallor.

 

6.  Be Madonna:  Strike a Pose

If you want to look thinner, ask the photographer to shoot from a higher angle above your head to focus less attention on your body.  Also, try putting one foot behind the other, shifting your shoulders to be at a different angle that your head.

Remember, action is your friend.  Place your hands on your hip, and laugh. Smile at another person in the photo and engage in a short joke. Let your personality shine through your activity and you’ll be surprised at how much more photogenic you really can be.

Don’t look directly into the camera, look a little bit to the side, and you will add a bit of personality to the moment.

If you’ve tried all of this before and still use your photos as the bulls-eye on your dartboard, then take it in a different direction by trying one of these fun, free photo tools to enhance your photo the old-fashioned way – after the fact!  (Thanks to http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/freebies/28-online-photo-editing-websites-to-have-fun-with/ for such a great list to choose from!)

1. BeFunky

BeFunky Photo Effects allow everyday people to easily create photographically rich and artistic results from their digital images without the need for any technical knowledge. These “one-click” photo effect options produce desired results effortlessly and each effect comes with the option to make simple adjustments.

2.FunPhotoBox

The FunPhotoBox site is a place where you can create funny pictures from your photos. FunPhotoBox is a free photo editing online service. FunPhotoBox allows you to add special effects to your photos.

3.FaceInHole

With FACEinHOLE.com, you can easily and in a matter of seconds create a totally “new look” for you and your friends. You just have to select a scenario, upload and adjust a photo (or use your webcam) and there you have it; a great FACEinHOLE that you can send to your friends, post in your blog or make available to the world.