Looking good in pictures...
 

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!

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.

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...

:)

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...

I found that to be true as well.

Erica, you're a lovely young lady

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.

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

You av pic looks good... :)

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!?

:)

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.