How to Become Photogenic

Do you find that you are never as beautiful in pictures as in real life and therefore, taking pictures is a torture for you? In fact, quite a few people also encounter this problem and fixing it is not difficult. Photogenicity is not a natural gift, but a skill that can be acquired through study and practice. Try out the poses and photography tips below, and in no time, you’ll be as photogenic as a professional model and wow everyone.

Table of Contents

Focus on your face

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Facial cleansing. The most noticeable detail in a photo is the face, so you need to make sure your face is in top condition. Modern cameras can capture even the smallest contours and changes in the face, which can sometimes be an advantage but can also be a hindrance. Please maintain a clean and smooth skin by washing, whitening and moisturizing the skin, especially before the photo shoot. You should make this a regular morning/night routine.

If you wear makeup, make sure your concealer and foundation are still smooth and harmonize exactly with your skin tone. Apply the cream gently below the neck and near the earlobes for the most natural look.
Oily skin can reflect too much light and ruin the photo. You need to use absorbent paper or tissue to absorb the oil on the T-zone of the face.
Use an exfoliating blend to remove dead skin cells that make your face look dull and don’t look as bright in photos.

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Focus on what makes you unique. One of the qualities of photogenic people is that they are confident in their own appearance. Many times we wonder about a certain detail that is not beautiful on the face; freckles, crevices between teeth or eyes that cross when you smile. Instead of trying to hide them, accept them! As a result, you will be more photogenic.

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You just keep expressing your feelings. Photogenic people don’t fake their emotions, so it’s easy to distinguish them from people who just pose. While being photographed can be horrible for you, don’t let that turn into your true feelings. Don’t try to create a smile that you think is necessary, smile as usual. The same goes for the shape of the eyes and the curve of the cheekbones. The more natural emotions you show on your face, the better your photos will be.

We almost never laugh at a funny thing with our lips pursed, so always grin. You should not purse your lips tightly, because a smile with open teeth is a real smile. The natural look on the face will be expressed by a relaxed smile. ^{[1] X Research Source}
When we express emotions, the whole face will also be affected. Although many people still associate a happy appearance with a smile, it is not enough because eyebrows, eyes, cheekbones, and forehead are equally influential. You need to make sure that all the muscles in your face are relaxed.

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Do not look directly into the lens. There is a saying “the camera adds ten pounds”. Actually that’s not the case! Because the camera uses reflected light to convert a three-dimensional subject into a two-dimensional image, the shape of everything is compressed and flattened. Looking directly into the lens will show the entire face and remove/reduce natural shadows. Instead, you should lean slightly to the side to create natural light/dark spots and help the face look slimmer.

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You need to adjust the angle of the face. Face angle is closely related to the direction in which you look at the camera. Because you should not look directly into the lens, so do not hold your head high when taking pictures. This will make your face look bigger and see the inside of your nostrils clearly. You should lower your head slightly and tilt to one side to look photogenic.

Body shaping

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Use your existing capital. Photogenic people have an impressive ability to know what they have and make the most of it. This goes hand in hand with being aware of one’s own body flaws. What part of your body is the most attractive and which part is a bit unattractive? Do everything you can to make the features you are proud of stand out, and at the same time, keep the bad things out of view of the lens.

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Lean in front of the camera. Just like your face, you shouldn’t be standing straight in front of the camera. Your body becomes two-dimensional when photographed, so shooting from the front brings the widest angle of your body into the lens and makes you look twice as round. Lean ¾ to show an angle of your body and create shadow and depth in your pose.

To slim your arms, rest one hand on your hip and bend your elbow back, away from your body. While you might feel a bit goofy doing this, there’s a reason so many celebs love this pose – it’s super flattering!
If you’re sitting, rotate your body to let the camera shoot from the side instead of from the front. Bend your knees and slightly cross your legs. When crossing your legs, you should place the foot closest to the camera on top of the other leg.

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Bend the joints. Have you ever found yourself standing or sitting with your whole body in a straight line with your joints aligned? May be very rare or never. Therefore, move and pose naturally by allowing the joints to slightly flex when taking photos. That means your elbows, wrists, knees and ankles should be comfortably bent!

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Lean towards the lens. Objects close to the lens will appear larger than objects farther away from the lens. As a rule of thumb, you should tilt your head slightly towards the lens to give the impression of a slim, attractive body. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Do what you are comfortable with. If you’re uncomfortable with change, then all the styling advice in the world won’t make you more photogenic. In short, you have to keep the poses tips in mind, and do whatever is natural for your body. In other words, you need to have a good mix of acting naturally as if there’s no camera lens pointed at you and posing the perfect centimeter of your body. The best way to achieve this harmony is to allow your body to relax into the most comfortable positions.

Check out the photos

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Dress better to impress. If you’re wearing dirty sweatpants and ripped sneakers, it’s hard to be photogenic. If you know in advance that you will be photographed, you should choose clothes that look attractive when you are photographed. Neutral tones and basic colors work best because they both bring out your natural features and don’t distract from the frame.

Avoid wearing loose clothes or ruffles on your body as this will make you look bulkier and bigger in the photo. On the other hand, don’t wear clothes that are too tight because the flash from the camera will reveal small blemishes underneath the outfit.
Don’t wear clothes that you don’t normally wear in your daily life to take pictures. Our goal is to be yourself at your best; Therefore, you cannot look natural if you wear something that is completely outside your comfort zone and style. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Identify the light source. The light source will determine the quality of the image. Light shining directly at you will create shadows under your eyes, while light coming from your side will cast shadows on the background. You should shoot in conditions where the light source is in the foreground, slightly above you. Whatever the time, try to shoot with natural light such as near a window or outdoors.

The best light for photography is about an hour after sunrise and before sunset. If possible, take pictures at these times.
While some photographers may use a metering system to add light if the subject is dark, it’s best not to take a photo with a light source behind you. Light coming from the back will darken you and ruin a good photo.

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The right location is also important. While in a car or in front of a mirror are places that are well-lit and easy to pose, it’s generally not an attractive backdrop. To be photogenic, in addition to showing off your body and face posing skills, you also have to take advantage of your surroundings. Take a photo somewhere comfortable where you are the center.

A crowded restaurant or pub will cause noise because there are too many people “sticking” in the image and that makes you blurred. If you have to take photos in a crowded place, you should remove the background to keep yourself in the center of the photo.
If taking a group photo, try to squeeze in the middle and stay away from the first and last positions. People near or far away from the lens will appear too big or too small and are often out of focus.

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Don’t be afraid to use props. While you don’t necessarily have to bounce balls or hold a tableware set, adding fun and interesting props to your photo can increase interest and bring out your own style. Hold something in your hand, lean towards the props, or incorporate objects related to your hobby or interest in your photo.

If you enjoy reading, try holding the book in your hand normally. This will add detail to your image and help you pose more naturally.
Do not use too many big props or anything too prominent when taking photos. Our aim is to make you more photogenic with the help of small and relevant items. Adding large props or brightly colored objects will backfire.

Advice

Take lots of pictures before you let go. Even if you’re satisfied with the first shot, take a few more shots and change the style after each shot. Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference.
Taking self-portraits, whether on a webcam, phone or digital camera, and so on, takes practice. You need to find out which angle is good for you to be able to move the lens in the right position.
Try to pretend you’re smiling. Often this will make it easier to achieve a natural smile. Right before you shoot, pretend you’ve just seen something funny or heard a joke!
You can try to relax your facial muscles, facing the sun for about an hour after dawn or before sunset. Sunlight will bring out the color of your eyes and you can take great portrait photos.
Practice smiling in front of the mirror. Before long, you’ll know which smiles look fake and which ones are attractive. Learning how your face moves can help keep you from getting flustered when someone suddenly asks for a photo. Often a smile with only the upper teeth will feel unnatural, while a smile with both teeth is very forced.
Have a close friend look at the photos you’ve taken to help determine which of you looks best. Sometimes, the objective view of others will help you a lot.
Don’t say “cheese” while looking into the camera as this can lead to a forced smile.
Research photos of models and other photogenic people. If they have a similarity to your personality, you can try to imitate their pose and angle.
If you’re a girl, wear light makeup (lipstick or lip gloss) to show off your personality.

Steps

Focus on your face

Body shaping

Check out the photos

Advice

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