The holiday season is a time of snap-happy mother-in-laws and photo-ops by the Christmas tree. However, in the age of Facebook, these photos are no longer destined to rot away in some dusty photo album. Instead of having to untag yourself from every awful picture this year, here are a few easy tips for looking fabulous in photographs.
Extend Your Neck
As Tyra always shrieked on America’s Next Top Model, extend that neck! Dropping your shoulders and extending your neck will prevent the dreaded double-chin and keep you from looking like a turtle hiding in its shell. However, don’t overdo it. You don’t want it to look like a giraffe either.
Tilt Your Chin Down
Remember that Australian study that said women who tilted their heads downward appeared hotter? The same goes for photos! Tilting your chin slightly downward and looking up at the camera is not only feminine and sexy, but much more flattering than looking straight on at the camera. And whatever you do, do not tilt your chin up! Unless you want to look like Jay Leno.
Find Your Good Side
You know how overly-outgoing people have a habit of exclaiming Be sure to get my good side! every time they are being photographed? Well, like it or not, they’re right. Unless your face is perfectly symmetrical, there is probably one side of your face that is more aesthetically appealing than the other. Take a look in the mirror and you’ll probably find pretty quickly that angling your face to either the right or the left actually makes you look prettier!
Strike a Pose
For a red carpet-worthy pose, place one foot slightly in front of the other and then put most of your weight on your back foot. Angle your body three-quarters toward the camera. This positioning will make you appear taller and slimmer. Don’t think you can pull of this much posing for a quick picture? You’re right. Save this tip for those group shots by the fireplace. You know, the ones that take half an hour to set up.
Get the Perfect Smile
If practicing your smile in front of the mirror feels silly, that’s because it is. Having your friend’s Nikon in your face is much different than being alone in your bathroom, so don’t bother perfecting the perfect grin. Instead, part your teeth ever-so-slightly, take a deep breath out, relax your face muscles and just smile. If your grin is forced, it will show on camera.
Soften Your Gaze
If you find yourself glaring into that pinpoint in the camera lens, stop. Instead, let you eyes rest just above the lens. Also, as corny as it sounds, think happy thoughts. This will give you perfect smeyes. (See: Tyra Banks’ lesson on smiling with your eyes.) Thinking about something other than the photo being taken will also lessen your chances of blinking as the flash goes off.
Comments