In a world where 23,019,003 pictures are taken each every smiling second and just over 600,000 pictures are uploaded on Facebook every two seconds, it’s just common sense to arm oneself with a few pointers on how to emphasize your most photogenic traits.

Like so many things in life, posing for pictures is a talent that can be nurtured and perfected. So without further adieu, for your viewing pleasure, we have listed a few tips on How To Make Yourself More Photogenic to help you look your best when the shutter snaps.

Skin Care

In a sometimes shallow world where beauty is skin deep, your first defense against bad photos is vibrant, clean and clear looking skin. Wash and moisturize your face, and tend to any facial hair, making sure it’s trimmed and even.

Your first defense against bad photos is vibrant, clean and clear looking skin.

The Right Clothes

They say it’s the clothes that make the man. Put some time into your outfit before you step out into a world where pictures are inevitable. Be attuned to which colors or patterns mesh well on camera, keeping in mind that big, bold patterns tend to wash out the person wearing them.

No, this doesn’t mean it’s mandatory to wear your Sunday best wherever you may go, but the goal is to incorporate picture friendly clothing into your overall style.

Start to wear colors that suit you your skin tone, wear solids/neutrals, and avoid horizontal striped garments that widen the appearance of your body.

The key is to improve your poise, and overall confidence in what your wearing. Not only will the clothing look good, knowing this will make you more confident in your photos.

Start to wear colors that suit you your skin tone, wear solids/neutrals, and avoid horizontal striped garments that widen the appearance of your body.

Find Your Best Looking Photo

Here’s your chance to play to your vanity. Zip through all your pictures in hopes to find the ‘best looking’ one.

If you don’t know which picture makes you look most handsome, ask someone else as an impartial judge. Once you’ve found a photo, consider the elements and your body positioning and make a mental note to emulate that.

Once you’ve found a photo, consider the elements and your body positioning and make a mental note to emulate that.

Practice your Pose

If you can’t find a picture you like, consider using the classic ‘Model’s Pose’.

The classic model’s pose is to arrange your body three quarters toward the camera with one foot in front of the other and one shoulder closer to the camera than the other. Women tend to do this naturally, but it’s harder for men, who tend to present a square angle front-on to the camera.

If you turn your head slightly to the side and look straight ahead, you will appear to be looking straight at the viewer of the photo no matter the viewing angle. And it pays to lift your chin slightly, since it will cause you to straight your posture and eliminate any double-chins, real or shadowed.

The classic model’s pose is to arrange your body three quarters toward the camera with one foot in front of the other and one shoulder closer to the camera than the other.

Smile

Remember what your high school coach told you? “Visualize yourself scoring!”

Well, believe it or not, the same advice goes well for creating a genuine photogenic smile. The main idea is to have a natural smile by visualizing pleasing thoughts. An added feature of doing this is that it translates in your eyes as so-called ‘smizing’.

The main idea is to have a natural smile by visualizing pleasing thoughts.

Summary

Fake it till you make it. Being considered ‘photogenic’ is largely a matter of being comfortable in front of the camera. Being relaxed and happy translates considerably into the final appearance of the image.

If you hate pictures, visualize the camera as an old funny friend. Or better yet, just laugh at the poor schmuck taking the photo.

• Simple Hygiene can save the day!
• Make sure to always wear clothes that flatter your skin tone and body type.
• Find the best picture of yourself and emulate it.
• Smile with your eyes!

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Sepher Cadiz

Sepher Cadiz, a creative writer with a BA in Communications, likes to think of himself as an iconoclast. He also likes to use the word, 'iconoclast' as much as possible. Sepher the iconoclast currently resides in Toronto, ON, and beyond writing here, is in search for other 'Iconoclasts' who have similar dreams of using the term extensively, and often inappropriately.

Latest posts by Sepher Cadiz (see all)

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