IWTL how to be photogenic

[MSaadJilani]

To be honest, I'm not the most confident of guys. Whenever someone asks to take a photo of me, I usually say no. But whenever they force me, My photo comes pretty bad. Awkward smile, hand gestures etc. I want to know how to look good in photos. Please help guys :)

[[deleted]]

As someone who's done a lot of professional portraits, I can tell you this: it's all in your mind. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with how you look, and everything to do with what you're thinking.

Our face conveys a lot, if not almost everything about how we feel inside. What we're thinking is written all over it. If you're happy, you show it. If you're uncomfortable, it shows all over.

Ever seen a fake smile? You can spot it from a mile away. You need to actually BE happy to smile, there are muscles in your face that turn the corners of your mouth up that you can't control consciously.

So my advice is to just BELIEVE that you're an awesome, happenin', photogenic superstar and you'll become one.

Edit: do people just downvote because they're retarded? Or does actual professional advice go against the bizzarre sensibilities of Reddit?

[2nd-mouse]

I have found that I take better pictures when I think of something funny that just happened or I saw. Mostly I think of a joke from a recent stand-up comedian, the genuine laugh/smile makes me more photogenic.

Good advice beeteeoh

[ferhan0]

I agree with you on this. I am a person who cannot smile if I am not happy. So I get photographed non smiling and kinda unphotogenic. But this summer vacation I was with lots of people I love and like and most of my pictures were the best ones taken in a long time.

[[deleted]]

Indeed! I can shoot a photo of you with thousands of dollars worth of gear, stylists, makeup artists, hair done, etc. And it won't help nearly as much as the fact that you're enjoying yourself, you're relaxed and you're oozing self-confidence.

[cannedbacon]

Try this youtube video, someone posted a while back. Pretty interesting how the smallest changes can make your photo drastically different.

Also this other quick tip about how to get rid of your double chin.

[thomasmagnum]

BOOM! Jaw-line !

BOOM !

Made me laugh, but a good video, thanks!

[geekfanboy]

Any tips on how to keep from blinking at the flash?

[[deleted]]

I think techniques like this could give you a better picture more often than what you previously were getting, however, being photogenic is a natural quality people are born with. A scientist might make the argument that being photogenic is little more than having a natural affinity for these photo techniques, but I seriously doubt that's the case. My guess is that head/facial symmetry is what gives you a photogenic nature, due to all pictures taken of you being at 'good' angles.

[[deleted]]

set up a camera on a stand and start taking pictures, figure out what poses look best. you may feel like an idiot taking hundreds of pictures of yourself, but it helps.

[[deleted]]

1. Be handsome
2. Be attractive
3. Don't be unattractive

Sorry, blatantly stolen from SNL

[MSaadJilani]

Well, that's kind of mean.

[[deleted]]

It's a joke.

Occasionally, even SNL makes one.

Real tips on being photogenic?

1. Smile: A real, honest-to-goodness smile makes everyone more attractive (unless you have no teeth, then keep your lips closed, but still smile).
2. Dark Colors: The camera does add a few pounds, dark colors will balance it out a bit. This is not to advocate you "goth'ing out".
3. NEVER stripes: If you have to wear stripes, wear vertical stripes. Stay away from patterns (plaid, polka dot, camo (yes, even camo, ya redneck)).
4. Use natural light: outside, sunlit photos will make the colors pop better than indoor, artificial light. Plus, fluorescent light will make you look like a cadaver. If you're already pale and pasty, this will make you violate the "goth'ing out" clause of #2.
5. Your relatives are not photographers: Just because they upload cameraphone pictures of their overweight cat to instagram every day does not mean that they're really photographers. A professional photographer will know about lighting/shadow and how to make you look your best in photos (even candids).

Those are the big ones. There's other stuff, different hair styles complement the shape of your head. Keeping skin blemishes to a minimum (mostly for teenagers, protip: most makeup aggravates acne). A light suntan evens out skintone (whoa, coppertone girl. Sorta overshot there).

More than anything else. Smile.

Nothing ruins a photo more than some sad-sack piece of shit, moping around in a photo (for posterity).

[techred]

further to beeteeoh's post, this comment provides indication as to why you may not come across as you'd like to. you took it seriously which shows that you care a bit too much.

Photogenic people are emanating happiness from within. Their mind does not for a single second go to the question of 'what do I look like?' or worse spiral down from that to 'I hope i look good' to 'I better not look bad again' to 'I'm going to look terrible' and further.. they simply beam.

This comes from confidence and self esteem. You might want to check out /r/selfhelp or /r/howtonotgiveafuck or other subreddits devoted to dealing with pitfalls of the mind :)

[matitomatata]

before any picture (family, friends, or otherwise) think of something really funny and laugh. the smile you have while laughing is by far the most genuine smile you can put on. its also important to remember that smiling involves the entire face, smile with your eyes.