Cameras are everywhere! In today’s image-obsessed society it is pretty difficult to avoid them.
Occasionally, someone will still pull out an old school point & shoot & snap away but it’s more likely to be the camera on your phone. In a culture infatuated with sharing images online, it’s pretty hard to escape being photographed.
Despite the informal photo being a near-daily occurrence, many people still fear the snap of a camera, especially in a formal setting.
Knowing that first impressions count, the biggest worry is often about having confidence in front of the camera & how to look good in photographs.
For many people, the concern is more of an uncertainty about what to do when the camera is pointing at them. How do you stand? Where do you look? Smile or no smile?
Looking good in photographs is mostly about feeling comfortable & there are a number of things you can do to increase your confidence in front of a camera. Here are my top tips on how to look good in photographs.
1. Wear the right clothes
We all have that favourite outfit that when we put it on it makes us feel badass & like we can take on the world. When you are being photographed, wear clothes that you know look good on you & that you feel confident in.
It’s important to choose colours that work with your skin tone, complexion & hair colour. Wearing the wrong colours can age & drain you.
Many people know the colours that work for them already but if you don’t I highly recommend having your colours done by a professional stylist. You want your styling to work for you, not against you.
Solid colours look better than patterns in photos. Patterns can distort your shape & size whilst confusing & distracting the eye.
Choose shapes & cuts that suit your body type.
It’s important to dress in a style that flatters your figure. Fitted clothing looks better in photographs than shapeless baggy clothing.
Tailored & structured items create a well-defined shape. Sleeves will keep the focus on your face, not your arms.
2. Hair & Makeup
In the words of Lizzo; “I do my hair toss, check my nails…”
For women, well-applied makeup can give a massive confidence boost & really help you to look good on camera.
The makeup & hairstyle you choose can directly impact how well your photographs turn out. Like with your clothing, you want your styling to work with your skin tones & body shape.
A makeup artist & hairstylist will help you bring all these elements together so that your photos portray you in the best possible light.
Wearing the right makeup & applying it well will go a long way to achieving great photographs.
If you choose not to have your hair & makeup done professionally ahead of your photoshoot, here are a few tips for doing your own styling;
Avoid make-up with a gloss or shimmer to it, especially foundation. Use a matt base to keep your skin looking smooth, even & shine-free & finish with a translucent powder to remove the shine on your forehead, nose & chin. Makeup doesn’t just apply to women. Men can often have very shiny faces & foreheads, a little makeup or powder on the face can eliminate this problem.
Using makeup is a great way to emphasise your features. Define your bone structure by contouring with blush or bronzer to make your cheeks look less flat.
Make eyes appear larger & brighter with eyeliner. Add a little mascara & they will pop!
Choose bright colours for gorgeous luscious lips as darker shades can make lips look smaller than they are whilst nudes can make your lips disappear.
If your hands are likely to be in the shot, don’t forget to trim & paint your nails.
Remember to bring your hairbrush & makeup to your shoot in case you need to retouch during the session – if you only bring one thing make sure it is your translucent powder to get rid of that shine!
I partner with Victoria Chainey a makeup artist & hairstylist who will help you look & feel at your very best in front of my camera.
3. Pose like you’re on the red carpet
Anyone can look good in photos by knowing how best to pose in front of a camera. Celebrities on the red carpet have mastered the art.
Copying a few of their simple tricks can help give you that confident wow factor in front of the camera.
Good posture is paramount when you are being photographed.
The aim is to slim & elongate the body. Start by standing straight, breathing in, relaxing your shoulders & straightening your back.
Rather than standing facing the camera head-on, which tends to make your body look wider, angle your body slightly away from it so one shoulder is closer to the photographer.
With one foot in front of the other, bend your front leg & place your weight on your rear leg.
This moves what is often the largest part of the body, the mid-section, away from the camera, slimming the figure. Whatever you put towards the camera looks the biggest.
Bend your arms at the elbow or put one hand on your hip, (the classic celeb pose!).
Hold your arms slightly away from your body to make them appear slimmer & give some shape to your figure. Keep your hands relaxed & somewhat bent.
To minimise a double chin in photos, (the bain of most people’s life when they hit their mid-40s), elongate your neck & push your face slightly forward.
Looking very slightly up opens the eyes & makes them appear wider.
Try to avoid being shot from below as it is never ever a flattering angle.
It adds pounds & creates double chins where there are no double chins. If your photographer is shorter than you, consider sitting down to be photographed.
But remember when you do to sit up straight & be mindful of your posture!
I started off saying that looking good in front of a camera is mostly about feeling comfortable. Try & stay natural as you pose.
These poses will flatter your body when you feel comfortable in them. Bending into uncomfortable positions will look just as awkward, if not more so, as simply standing facing the camera does.
If you do nothing else, be conscious of your posture & relax your shoulders.
Oh, and smile…
4. Sausages not cheese
People are attracted to smiles. A smile makes you look friendly & welcoming (especially important for business photos) & is more likely to result in a positive response.
I get it though, it’s difficult to smile naturally on demand & a fake, forced smile lacks genuine appeal.
A real, authentic smile extends from your mouth & meets your eyes. You know when someone is truly happy because you can see the glint in their eye.
To give your best smile, you need to feel some kind of emotion. If you aren’t happy at the moment, try to create some emotion.
Get someone not in the photo to do something to make you laugh. Tell a joke or pull a silly face. The photographer can capture your natural laughter.
If you’re lucky your photographer may have a few jokes in their repertoire! …(Or, if they’re like me, they’ll accidentally walk into something or fall over mid-shoot & you’ll naturally laugh at them!)
Jokes aside, there are a couple of little tricks that can give the impression of a smile in a photo when there is no real smile or it is looking forced.
Everybody knows the classic ‘say cheese for the camera’.
Try saying saying ‘sausages” instead. “Sausages” turns the corners of your mouth upwards forming your mouth into a more flattering position & creating a genuine-looking smile.
Also, I bet you can’t shout ‘sausages’ mid-photo shoot without laughing!
Another tip to help you smile naturally is to put the tip of your tongue on the back of your top teeth. This relaxes your face & helps avoid a wide & goofy grin.
When you’re talking about how to look good on camera, a genuine, natural-looking smile is perhaps the most important element.
5. Light it up
The word photograph means ‘drawing with light’. If you don’t have light, you won’t have a photograph. Light simply is the most important element of any photograph.
Where your light source comes from and how you use the light plays an important part in the success of your images.
You may be tempted to pose for photos in bright sunshine, however overcast & cloudy conditions are more suited to portrait photography.
Bright midday sun can create harsh & unflattering shadows on your face. It makes you squint & emphasises every wrinkle & blemish.
However, natural light is still the best light. It’s a soft light & is flattering to the skin. Try defusing the sun’s rays by posing in the shade or waiting for some cloud cover.
If shooting inside stand facing a natural light source, like a window or open door, to achieve a smooth even light for your portraits.
With the correct lighting, your photographs will instantly look better & you’ll have the confidence knowing that you look good in your photos.
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Looking good on camera is mostly about feeling comfortable & as with anything, practice makes perfect. If you are nervous or anxious about being photographed, practice until you feel comfortable.
Stand in front of the mirror, try different outfits & colour combinations to find the style that makes you sparkle with confidence.
Once you’ve nailed the outfit, try out different poses & angles. Look back at photos of yourself that you like & determine what it was you liked about them & try to replicate them.
Add a smile.
Say sausages.
Watch yourself laugh. And “boom”, there’s your relaxed, smiley, confident person. Take them to your photoshoot & watch them look great in front of the camera.
However, if your nerves are still hanging around, don’t become too fixated as your photographer will be able to help you out.
We know how to make you look great through flattering poses, correct lighting & maximising the location. We’re also experts at helping people relax in front of our cameras.
To finish…
Learning, & putting into practice, a couple of simple techniques & posing tricks can make a huge difference to the outcome of your photos.
Anyone can look good in pictures by following these few simple pieces of advice. You’ll no longer need to worry about looking good because you’ll know that you do!
When you book a shoot with me I guide you through all of the above and I can advise you on what to wear & how to approach your hair & makeup.
I control the lighting so that we are working in a light source that is the most complimentary for you & I direct you throughout the whole shoot on how to stand & what you should be doing with your hands.
My jokes may not be very good but you’ll probably laugh at me trying to tell them! I also try my best to make you laugh
I do all of this so that you feel comfortable & confident in front of my camera so that you look good in your photos!
Want to find out more?
Want to find out more about my photography sessions? Have a look at both my Personal Branding Shoots & my Headshot sessions. See how I can give you confidence in front of my camera.