How To Look Good In Pictures

Imagine snapping a picture and looking at the result only to realize that thing the picture captured is you. Okay, so maybe some people exaggerate how bad they look in pictures. The reality is, that ugly picture is most likely not an accurate depiction of you. The good news is you are probably way better looking than the way you look in pictures.

This is the case for many unsuspecting victims of photography. If you have a love-hate relationship with your pictures (or if you just have a hate relationship with them) then maybe you can try some strategies to look better.

The camera might not always be flattering, but there are things you can do to help make your pictures much better looking.

Ways to look better in picture

Here are some ways to look better in pictures.

1. Use a proper camera

This one is not always a choice. I mean it doesn’t make much sense to go buy a $2000 camera just to take a mirror selfie. If you don’t have the resources to acquire a high quality camera you can carry on with some of the other tips here. Something as simple as a good phone camera should be fine. If taking pictures is a big deal and you are in the market for a new phone as well you might want to do some research as to which phones offer the best quality.

2. Use the right settings

Different cameras have different options, but even many phones allow you to adjust settings for good quality pictures. The way the lighting looks, the quality and crispness of the image and even the profile of your face can all be affected by certain settings. Feel free to research some of these online.

A great way to learn is to just play around with the settings and see what works for you and your environment. A setting that affects the image’s brightness should be adjusted based on the lighting of where you are and your skin tone, for example.

3. Angle the camera correctly

The camera angle can make a major difference in the way your face and body look in terms of size and proportion. The way your face and body shape are naturally should be considered, but again experimentation with what works for you could be helpful here. Some angles may make your face look better than others. Maybe you want to appear smaller or bigger – the camera angle might help. Generally, positioning the camera slightly above eye level is recommended, but this may not be the aesthetic you are going for.

Something that’s often overlooked in the area of camera positioning is lighting. The sun or whatever other source of light should be taken into consideration when doing a photo shoot. Where you want the light coming from is up to preference. There are some general recommendations for this but I personally find that some situations require light from one direction while others are better from another. Experimentation is a good idea for this, as well.

4. Pick a flattering posture

Ideally, you would look natural in photos. Try to make it look like your body was caught off guard (not your face, just the body). Your goal should be having a relaxed pose and avoiding a tense look. If you struggle with this, try relaxing your body slowly; think progressive muscle relaxation. Shoulders, arms, hands and chest tend to be the most noticeable when tensed so focus on these.

5. Make the right face

A relaxed face with an overall chill but happy look often looks best when it comes to photos. Lightly squint your eyes to look like your smiling (not too much). Position your tongue on the roof of your mouth and suck your cheeks in slightly. This tends to give the appearance of a thinner face.

Feel free to smile but remember to be natural about it. Try genuinely laughing because this usually looks best. Think of a joke to make yourself smile. A forced smile can sometimes show so be careful not to go overboard. You can also try stretching your nose downward like something is pulling on it to make it look smaller. Sometimes pictures can make the nose appear more bulged but this can offset that.

6. Take many pictures

Basically doing this increases the chances that you’ll get a good one. Even some of the most photogenic people can be caught at a bad time and look weird in pictures. This can also offer the benefit of catching you at a more relaxed time with more easygoing body language and a natural face.

7. Edit the picture

This one is kind of cheating and technically it’s not a way to take good pictures per se. But if you’ve tried everything and just can’t seem to get that stunning photo maybe you should try this. Even if your photo looks good you might be able to touch up some flaws (if there are any) with a good edit. Careful not to go overboard – some edited pictures get noticed because of indicators that make it obvious.