Looking good in pictures...

[blueerica]

OK, so I'm not a super model. Or even a model. But I know I'm not ugly, maybe pretty, and I wanna look good in pictures...

Looking back on the pictures I have of myself, even the ones on myspace, I've come to realize that I just don't know how to do it... or I'm missing some element. I pretty much gave up trying to look good for photos until I met a friend's roommate. That night, he called me and said "Yeah, she was surprised to meet you, and actually more surprised at how pretty you are. Your myspace pictures don't show that." Then he said something about I need to have better pictures taken of myself, but to be honest, those are about the best I've had taken of me, which is probably pretty sad. I've never considered myself to be photogenic.

Now, I know some of you have to have some tips and suggestions on taking good pictures. I shouldn't have to settle for taking bad pictures, right?

Please help me!

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've recently found that I look better in photos if I make sure that my head is tilted forward. Not chin-on-chest forward, but just forward of vertical, as opposed to straight or tipped back.

[Gemini Cricket]

A photographer that photographed me called that turtle-ing. It helps make your chin and jawline look more defined. Models, stars do it all the time.

No matter what I do, my photographs make me look chubby or like my father. Can't help it. And no matter how I place my head, my AP pictures always make me look like Ernie with Bert's hair. Can't help it.

Heck, I'm sensing a lot of sensitivity about the way one looks on the boards. If I can go to a photo heavy wedding and DL meet with a British Smile and be alright with me, then anyone can. I'm pretty hard on myself. I hate to see others be that way, too...

:)

[blueerica]

I just read some internet article on taking better pictures and they suggest just taking a bunch of pictures with a digital camera, just to test out which angles are better... Maybe I'll have to try that...

[Scrooge McSam]

I've recently found that I look better in photos if I make sure that my head is tilted forward. Not chin-on-chest forward, but just forward of vertical, as opposed to straight or tipped back.

I found that to be true as well.

Erica, you're a lovely young lady

[Gemini Cricket]

I just read some internet article on taking better pictures and they suggest just taking a bunch of pictures with a digital camera, just to test out which angles are better... Maybe I'll have to try that...
But only if you post them here so we can scrutinize them. :D J/K.

We missed you, Erica at the aquarium. I hope it didn't turn out to be a full blown migraine... Ugh.

[blueerica]

Perhaps I should clarify by stating that I think I look fine in reality, for the most part. Just my pictures suck.

I gotta try that neck thing... haha

[Gemini Cricket]

You av pic looks good... :)

[blueerica]

But only if you post them here so we can scrutinize them. :D J/K.

We missed you, Erica at the aquarium. I hope it didn't turn out to be a full blown migraine... Ugh.

Oh, god... it did. I realize now that it was all stress-induced. It was horrible... I even felt the onset of shingles afterward (something I have a slight problem with), so I just laid on the calm and didn't have any issues.

And you know what, I'll take pictures and post them here. It would probably be good to get honest feedback. I want to learn how to do this right. I'm not a sluggish slob in real life - why should my pictures look that way!?

:)

[Not Afraid]

I'm not very photogenic either. My cheekbones get in the way and cast shadows on my face and the flash always bounces off my pale skin. The biggest thing I try and remember to do is to not smile super big. A super big smile makes my eyes disappear and my cheekbones do wierd shadowy things. But, I've gotten to the point where I don't care as much. However, I do still cringe when I see an awful pic of me.

[Gemini Cricket]

Actually, I was joking about posting them here. Don't feel pressured to do so...

I hate migraines.

BTD's friend Dolores was talking to me about cutting caffeine from my diet to stop them. She said it helped her. Just a suggestion as I sip my Subway cup filled with Diet Coke...
:D


One of my bestest friends took me on a photo shoot one day in college. I told her I was having hang ups about my looks and she shot some pics of me. There were about 50 or so. It helped my esteem a little.

In fact, getting your photos taken by a professional photographer helps, too. I had some done for a play I was in. It was fun. Looking at the shots made me more comfortable about seeing myself in pic form...
:)

[Not Afraid]

Just PLEASE don't get a "glamour shot" done. K?

[blueerica]

Glamour shots, HERE I COME!!! j/k, of course...

UGH - my dark under eyes... That's always been an issue. It's hereditary. On the best sleep for a week, no caffeine and plenty of hydration.... I'll still have those dark undercircles. Given my weightloss (and previous times I've lost weight) the biggest thing I get from the "other side" of my family are the questions about whether I've been doing drugs, but that's another issue... hehe

[Not Afraid]

I have the dark circle/bags thing too. They add more shadows to my already shadowy face. :rolleyes: I've been using a Benefit product called "EyeCon" (http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBF540/ref=dp_collection-list_2/103-0298737-3259045?ie=UTF8&bcBrand=core) that I got as a sample. It seems to help enough that I may just buy a bottle.

Benefit has a lot of little "fake it" products that work really well. I don't wear more than lipstick very often, but I have been doing more to make my skin look better in it's "raw" state.

[blueerica]

Hmmm... we shall have to discuss said beauty products. I need to revamp my regimen soon, I think.

[Not Afraid]

come over. ;)

[Alex]

Show good posture. If possible get the camera a little above your face (this will lengthen the neck and pull the skin tighter). Use fill lighting so your whole face is visible and if possible use indirect lighting rather than a straight on flash.

Bug eye a little bit. Not open as wide as possible but generally a little bit more open than normal.

If you're not smiling in the picture, keep your mouth close but not tensely so.

But really, lighting is probably the most important thing. But in this digital age, get a friend over and just take dozens and dozens of pictures. Pick the ones you like and then start tweaking that pose and composition until you find something you really like.

[blueerica]

Yeah, the eye thing happens a lot. I look doped up or half asleep in a lot of my pictures.

[Prudence]

For non-formal shots that might be seen by anyone other than family I generally make faces. I find a little pre-emption takes the sting out of ugly photos.

[MouseWife]

Wow, what a topic.

I hate my pictures. I see them and think 'Gawd!! Is that what I look like??' so I really quit looking at them. Oh, I take them because some day I want my family to know I was here. But,geez.

I also have those dark circles. I actually prefer how I look in glasses because {I think} they help to hide them.

I agree, don't smile way too big. I try not to be laughing 'cause what a goofy look that brings on.

Posture, great idea. Suck in the gut {if you have one...}

When we did photos at the company Christmas party, yep, the photographer had us do the 'turtle-ing' as well as having me do the 'bug eye' thing. I took that rather personally, as my eyes are old and small. But I did get over it. {or, since I am mentioning, did I?}

I also agree with taking pictures to help the confidence level. My son was feeling a bit awkward. I took him in, alone, not the trio, and had them take his photo. He was bashful at first and a bit embarressed but in the end he warmed up and had some great shots.

I was actually thinking of having them go finish off a roll of film with some candid shots....

And, Not Afraid, the product is called 'Benefit'? I need help.

And gawd, I am afraid but damn curious if I posted my picture how old you guys would think I am {I don't have my birthdate up anymore....}. The hubster always gets his guessed as way younger than he is....And, I wondered recently, if this is why some women don't like to introduce their older daughters? Giving away their age???

{sorry, off topic...}

[CoasterMatt]

Photographers keep telling me to "stop making faces"...
It's kind of depressing, I just look that way

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Your MySpace pages are lovely.

I'm not particularly photogenic, but I'm pretty sure that I look like myself in photographs, for better or worse.

[Isaac]

Call me (and remind me to charge my camera's battery).

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I also think your myspace pictures look lovely. Especially the one with the really perky breasts. (I think that might describe all of them, though.)

Alex suggested fill lighting, and on this I wholeheartedly agree. More lighting-- try from different angles-- is the key to professional pictures.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm with the take a lot of pictures camp - have fun experiment and see what looks good, maybe play around with different outfits as well.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I also think your myspace pictures look lovely.In the name of constructive criticism (I too think your myspace photos are charming), take these comments from people who know you in person with a grain of salt.

More than once I've seen a photo of someone I didn't know, came away with one impression of their attractiveness, then met them in real life to find them more attractive than I thought. So I thought, "Ah, bad photo." Then I went back to look at the photo after having met them...and suddenly the photo doesn't seem to make them look as less attractive as I first thought. So I think we have a tendency unconsciously extrapolate our real-life impression from a photo of someone we know. So unless it's a gawd awful shot, those of us who know you will likely always be slightly less critical of your photos than people who haven't met you in person.

[BarTopDancer]

I don't like my smile in photos. It's too big and looks fake. So I try and smile like I was laughing. But I forget.

I took care of the main cause of disdain of my photos though. ;)

I think we should have a photo party.

[blueerica]

GD - Yeah, it is something I've considered, but I also consider how I look at pictures of people I do know. Even when they look different, I assimilate the differences into the person I know. This person saw me and was completely surprised. I could tell by the look on her face, but then hearing it from my friend the same night (obviously, she made a point of telling him), and his agreeing that I should probably get some better pictures taken of me kinda made me look at how I've viewed "getting my picture taken" for my entire life. He's known me for some time now and probably did the thing I do with my friends' pics.

Myspace photos jogged the issue... but nearly 3 decades of bad (or at least not so good) photos are what's making me seek out ways to look better in front of a camera. I don't really need to be unhappy with photos anymore, so I'm going to do a lot of the suggestions here. I may try this out over the weekend.

[blueerica]

Oh my goodness, I meant to thank everyone that's posted here! I knew I wasn't alone in this plight, so the suggestions and the relating have been really great.

[wendybeth]

I am horribly un-photogenic, and yet I married a photog. I have always hated getting pictures taken and have avoided it to the best of my ability my entire life. I am one of the whitest people I know, and I always looked washed out and ill in pictures. I really hope I look better in person.:rolleyes:

[Kevy Baby]

Please help me!Waxing helps.

[Betty]

Try taking photos outdoors, during the light of day, but in the shade. You'll get nice well lit photos with very little to no shadows.

Also, if you need a head and shoulders shot. Stand at a 45 degree angle to the camera and then slightly turn your upper body and head towards the camera. Try it from both sides.

For larger photos, don't get cut off in the wrong spot. Some people will take people off at the knees which just looks silly.

Don't underestimate your makeup. It can change colors depending on the light source making foundation not match at well as you thought.

And remember - photoshop is your friend! Get rid of blemishes, under eye darkness, red eye, stray hairs, stupid people making faces in the background! :)

[Betty]

(nothing to see here, move along)

[Tref]

I always make sure I am pointing to something unseen in my photos. That way it draws attention away from my face and over to my finger.

It adds a air of mystery to the photo, as well, because, Hey, what the hell was George looking at anyway? Whatever it was it must have been interesting.