Q&A for How to Look Good in Pictures

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  • Question
    What kind of photos do I need for a modeling portfolio?
    Traci Halvorson
    Modeling Agent
    Traci Halvorson is a Modeling Agent, Former Model, and the Owner of Halvorson Model Management (HMM) in San Jose, California. HMM is a full-service, licensed talent agency representing over 300 professional models and actors. With over 25 years of experience in the modeling industry, Traci specializes in scouting, managing, advising, and launching modeling careers in the Bay Area. Traci holds a BA in Public Relations & Business Management from San Jose State University and also specializes in Marketing, Image consulting, and is a certified Life-Career Coach.
    Modeling Agent
    Expert Answer
    Add at least three of your best photos. These photos should include either a body shot or a headshot. You want photos that provide a close-up, showing the color of your face, your skin, and the expression of your facial features.
  • Question
    What are some tips for selfies?
    Community Answer
    I have found using soft light and tilting my head helps. Or try angling your head upwards for more focus on the eyes. Try to highlight your best features. Take a lot of pictures, you're bound to end up with some you like.
  • Question
    How can I look as if I am having fun smiling?
    Community Answer
    Think of something that makes you happy, or ask someone to be funny and make you smile.
  • Question
    How do you not make your lips look like a zombie's?
    Alyssa
    Community Answer
    Use tinted lip balm or lip gloss to add moisture and color to your lips.
  • Question
    I look chubby in photos when I'm very thin. What should I do? These chubby cheeks make me look a little weird.
    Community Answer
    Lifting up your your chin and raising your neck a little takes weight of your face. Sometimes tilting your head to one side also helps. It really just depends on the lighting and angle of the picture.
  • Question
    I look stupid in pictures. What can I do?
    Alyssa
    Community Answer
    First off, keep in mind that a lot of people don't like the way they look in photos. There are a few psychological factors that play into this, including that photos often show you a flipped version of what you look like in a mirror, which is the way you normally see yourself. That said, you can just embrace the "stupidity" and make silly faces whenever you're featured in a photo.
  • Question
    What poses are best for someone who is short?
    Community Answer
    Angle your camera when taking a selfie, and bring it to eye level. Don't show your whole body. If this doesn't work, sit down, as it is harder to tell your height when sitting down. Sit up straight and raise your head, or don't show the whole of your face.
  • Question
    I don't know how to smile correctly.
    Community Answer
    Don't sweat it. There are some great tips in How to Smile .
  • Question
    How do I fix my eyebrows that look evil or mad when I smile?
    Community Answer
    They might be too close to each other. When you look angry, you tend to pull your brows together, so if you look naturally furious, it may be because of the way you pluck your brows. Brows are very important for showing emotions.
  • Question
    What are the right clothes to wear to look good in pictures?
    Community Answer
    Choose clothes that fit well and are not too light. Lighter fabrics may appear see-through in photographs.
  • Question
    Why is my face reversed when taking a selfie?
    Community Answer
    On some phones, the front camera is set to take pictures in mirror mode, but this can usually be reversed. On other phones, the image you see on the screen when taking the selfie is a mirror image, but the actual picture you take will face the right way. It's designed this way basically to enable people to use the front camera as a mirror.
  • Question
    My upper jaw teeth are forward. They pop and look nasty. How shall I smile to make them look good?
    Community Answer
    What I do is I look down at the camera (like tilt my head down) to where if I open my mouth you can only see my bottom teeth, and open my mouth slightly. Wear a nice lip color -- trust me, it will look a lot better -- and look up at the camera with only your eyes.
  • Question
    How can I make my face look slimmer in photographs?
    Community Answer
    Try closing your mouth in pictures and smiling less. You can also suck in your cheeks a little bit if you want to, but not too much, otherwise it will not look good.
  • Question
    Is it possible for me to be naturally beautiful without makeup in a photo?
    Community Answer
    Sure; good lighting and a flattering angle are key!
  • Question
    My eyes squint when I smile, and it looks really bad in pictures. What can I do to fix that?
    Community Answer
    Smile less strongly -- most people squint because they are smiling too hard. Just be natural and don't try to smile a certain way. If that doesn't work then let your cheeks smile, not your eyes lifting your cheeks.
  • Question
    What accessories can I wear while taking a photo or selfie?
    Community Answer
    Wear whatever makes you feel good and frames your best features. For example, if you love your hair, wear a pretty bow. If you want to draw attention to your smile, choose a necklace.
  • Question
    I look absolutely fine in the mirror, so why do my pictures come out so ugly?
    Community Answer
    You may not be the best judge of your appearance in photographs (we are all hyper-critical of ourselves in pictures). But it may in fact be the case that you're not just photogenic, meaning that, for whatever reason, pictures don't capture you at your best. Often this is because of some discomfort in front of the camera.
  • Question
    I'm naturally ugly, any tips?
    Community Answer
    You can wear makeup, style your hair, and/or dress yourself in a way that improves your appearance and confidence. Smile or make whatever expression you think works best for you.
  • Question
    My eyes always look bugged out. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    You could wear more eyeliner around your eyes and maybe use mascara.
  • Question
    How do I keep my eyes open for a picture?
    Community Answer
    You could ask the photographer to give you a countdown prior to taking the photo so you can make sure to hold your eyes open and avoid blinking right before the photo.
  • Question
    How does one diminish under eye bags for pictures?
    Community Answer
    Get plenty of sleep to prevent them, and try putting used tea bags or cucumber slices over your eyes for a few minutes. You can also just use a little concealer on the eye bags.
  • Question
    How can I look good without showing my teeth in pictures?
    Community Answer
    Smile with your mouth closed, or smile with your eyes. Don't glare or squint, unless that is what you are going for.
  • Question
    How do I stop my mouth and lips from looking really small in pictures?
    Community Answer
    Maybe try putting a little lip liner and color on your lips! Over-line them a little so they look fuller.
  • Question
    I have dark circles under my eyes, and they are more noticeable in pictures. Makeup and other treatments haven't helped. How can I make them look less noticeable in pictures?
    Community Answer
    Try patting some ice under your eyes to help them look less puffy. Then, get a lighter concealer and pat it on (don't rub). Make sure to get plenty of sleep, as that also plays a role in how dark your circles are.
  • Question
    How can I make my nose look slimmer?
    Community Answer
    Check out How to Make Your Nose Look Smaller . There are some good contouring tips there with pictures.
  • Question
    Is taking selfies a lot okay, or does it make me self-conscious or something else?
    Community Answer
    It's perfectly fine to take a lot of selfies. But if you find yourself obsessing over how you look in every picture and/or getting upset if you don't get as many "likes" or positive comments as you might want, then it might be time to take a break for a while.
  • Question
    How can I keep my lips closed In a photo? When I close my mouth in a picture it looks very bad.
    Community Answer
    Try giving just a little smirk with the side of your mouth. This is a cute and sassy look. Practice it in the mirror and see what you think.
  • Question
    How do I make my face thinner when I'm not overweight?
    Community Answer
    You could try contouring or even buy a product to slim the face.
  • Question
    My pupils are always dilated in pictures and it makes me look kind of creepy, why?
    David Gang
    Community Answer
    Try lowering the amount of light shining on your face when photo is taken, and try not to use flash too much light as this causes dilated eyes.
  • Question
    What poses can I do to look good in pictures?
    Community Answer
    Tilt your head to the side. When you smile, raise your eyebrows. When someone takes a picture of you, do not fidget.
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