How many times in your life have you looked at a photo and thought, "Ugh, I'm such an unphotogenic person!"? If your answer is, "Too many to count," (or anything along that general vibe), I'm about to blow your mind with one simple fact: There is no such thing as someone who is, by nature, unphotogenic. There are only people who don't know these five secrets, and people who do.
But, before we get into how to become the kind of human cameras were seemingly made for, let's take a moment to understand why this is a skill worth learning.
One could lead with, "Well, I just want to look good in pictures." And, that's totally valid. But, failing to photograph well can have more widespread ramifications. For instance, if you run your own business and can't seem to get a decent headshot, it might prevent you from garnering business you could have otherwise won. Or, say you have dreams of being an influencer. Not understanding how to appeal to a camera lens could become a roadblock for accomplishing your dream.
So, what are these five secrets to being photo-friendly? I'll list them now, and then explain each of them (and how to execute them) in detail.
1. Get your mind right
2. Master the "soft smile"
3. Learn your best angles
4. Move. Your. Body.
5. Leverage your surroundings
Now, let's dig a little deeper and see some examples!
Secret #1: Get Your Mind Right
Do you typically think that you're awkward or your body looks weird in photos? If so, you could be engaging in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Confidence, or lack thereof, can very often leave you distracted and wind up dictating the faces you make, stiffness of your limbs, and even the gleam in your eyes.
If this is a struggle of yours, know that you are in no way alone. And, there are things you can do both before and during the shoot to conquer this obstacle.
Before your photos:
- Say some positive affirmations to yourself in the mirror
- Make the choices that leave you feeling good. This goes for clothes, hair, makeup, beard trimming… when you feel like you look your best, you're naturally going to project that.
- Whether it's a few pushups or jumping in place, do something to let out some of your nervous energy.
While photos are being taken:
- Breatheeeee. Taking a couple of slow breaths during a photoshoot can help keep you out of your head, grounded, and in the moment. The outcome? Less tenseness and a much more relaxed face and body.
- Focus on the idea of "being in a moment" instead of "being photographed." The former will allow you to focus on engaging with others and the experience itself while the latter is more likely to make you self-conscious.
Secret #2: Master the Art of the "Soft Smile"
Effortless and authentic, "soft smiles" are most frequently the smiles everyone wishes they flaunted in photos. To achieve this feat, start by thinking of something you really love like silly cat videos or your favorite dessert. Notice the slight changes to your face as you think this pleasant thought: the gentle, upward pull on the outer corners of your mouth, the minimal cheek raise, the small crinkles at the edges of your eyes… this is what we mean by "soft".
Conversely, what many people do when they are uncomfortable is throw on their biggest smile, focusing only on the lips. What you wind up with is an expression that lacks the rest of your face's natural movements and, instead, comes off as disingenuous or forced.
Secret #3: Learn Your Best Angles
When identifying your best angles, it's good to start with what features you feel most insecure about. If you have no insecurities, then skip this part. However, if you can identify the things that bother you in your photos, you can use it as a starting point for researching poses that mitigate those concerns.
Each person is going to have poses they like more or less for their body. Here are a few standard posing techniques that can help you explore the wide range of options available to you:
Improve Your Posture:
- Shift your weight from side to side
- Lean from your hips either towards or away from the camera
- Lengthen your neck and keep your chin up
Create Angles:
- Pull your arms away from your body
- Bend your legs
- Cross your feet at the ankle
For Different Looks:
- Experiment with a wide range of facial expressions
- Get shots looking away from the camera
- Try turning your body slightly to the side
The key to getting this right is to practice, practice, practice. Get your phone out, put it in selfie mode, and just play around and have fun with it!
Secret #4: Move. Your. Body.
What do professional models know that you don't? The more poses they can strike, the higher the chance of getting good shots. Capturing those million-dollar shots sometimes is just a numbers game.
With this in mind, practice getting comfortable not sitting or standing still. These don't have to be huge swings in posture or positioning. We're talking micro-adjustments like changing the direction your eyes are looking, the angle of your face, or positioning of your hands.
Here are some easy movement prompts to practice:
- Walking towards the camera
- Looking back while walking away from the camera
- Posing like your favorite actress
- Looking to your side and smiling like your favorite person is there
- Playing with your hair
Secret #5: Leverage Your Surroundings
Using the things around you as props or a part of your shoot will make the whole scene feel more organic. Are there stairs nearby or is there a wall you can lean against? Try it! Interact with plant life, hang off a light post, fiddle with your jewelry. Not only does integrating these things give you a wider variety of shots and make everything seem more relaxed, but it also aids you in getting the best shots possible.
Conclusion
Well, there they are: The Five Secrets You Can Use to Look More Natural in Photos! From the proper mental preparation and learning your angles to acing that "soft smile" and learning to pose like a pro, all it takes is a little practice to take you from stiff and awkward to flawless and confident. But, never forget that the biggest key to looking great in photos is to stay in the moment and embrace your natural self.
