In a world of smartphones, Instagram, and Facebook – it seems like photos are being snapped all day every day of everything! Nothing is worse than going out for brunch with your girlfriends, taking some photos, only to realize your eyes were closed, your skin looks washed out, or you were the only one looking to the left for some reason.
Pro photographers, models, and influencers have all shared their best tips and tricks on how to take the perfect photo every single time. And since they’ve taken billions of photos? They know what they’re talking about.
Here are 55 ways to make sure each photo you’re in looks flawless.
No need to panic when someone breaks out the camera!
Unless you’re 100% symmetrical, which no one is, you probably have a ‘good side’ and a ‘bad side’ when it comes to a more photogenic side of your face. Also, taking a face shot from slightly above can give the angles in your face more definition.
2. Be aware of the lighting
“Always turn your face toward the light, especially if it’s natural sunlight. This brightens your face and makes you glow, which kind of results in your blemishes being blurred away!” (And let’s be real—if there’s one thing we’d like to achieve with our closeup, it’s to look blemish-free.)” explains model Isabella Carr.
Our bodies and faces are way more expressive than you probably realize. If you’re feeling stressed and uptight, it will show in your photo in your eyes and body language. Try your best to relax your eyes and shoulders for a happy, comfortable appearance.
As we all know, just the slightest bit of movement in your body or face can make or break a photo. That’s why you should always take your photos in bursts. You’ll have 10-25 photos taken in just a couple seconds that capture all the minute different subtleties. Also great for jump photos or action shots!
One thing that social media, especially sites like Pinterest, are great for is finding inspiration. If you notice someone’s photos seem to always be killin’ it, follow them online to see which angles they choose or what they’re doing for poses.
6. Be aware of your posture
Do your best and try not to ever slouch in photos – both standing and sitting. It will make you look frumpy and unsure of yourself. By maintaining good posture, it makes you look confident and even a bit more slim!
7. Think about your outfit
If there is ever a time where you know there will be a photo session, give your outfit some serious thought. Not all outfits translate on camera so you want to be sure what you choose is flattering in fit, color, and even fabric.
To determine how to take the best photos in the future, take a look at your past photos to make any changes or confirm which looks work best for you. Is there certain lighting that works great for you? Maybe that bright pink lipstick wasn’t the best choice? That one pair of jeans looks great on you!
9. Avoid restaurants and bars
Restaurants and bars are the go-to places to meet up with our friends and family to connect and socialize. Sadly, though, the lighting in these establishments is usually terrible for taking photos. The overhead lights will cast shadows on faces in all the wrong places.
10. Sunset is your best bet
“The lighting [at dusk] is really flattering,”
photographer Jack Guy told InStyle. “The sun casts less shadow downward, so you don’t end up with bags under your eyes in the photo. Instead, it lights up the area under the eyes and you look younger,” reports
Reader’s Digest.
Some of the best photos are taken when people are in mid-movement. Here’s another time that burst photos come in handy. Try doing a burst and turning your body at different angles. You might be surprised how much you like the ones that are in transition.
Are you notorious for having closed eyes in photos because of a poorly-timed blink? Try closing your eyes for a couple seconds before the photo is taken, open them slowly as the photo is shot.
Posing for photos can feel super awkward sometimes, but if you knew your go-to pose beforehand, you can pull it out whenever you need to! Practice posing at home in front of your mirror, then find which poses look natural and flattering for you.
This trick might sound a little strange but it really does work. To avoid having a double chin in photos, try elongating your jaw and neck forward. It might feel a bit unnatural but it will make your face and jaw look defined in the photo.
In photos, there is an obvious difference between a natural and a forced smile. To give a true smile, there needs to be real emotion. If you’re not naturally happy already, try thinking of a special person or moment that brings back a happy emotion for you.
16. Experiment with makeup
Just like no two humans are the same, the same goes for makeup styles. When it comes to photos, there are certain tricks you can use to make your look pop. Try mascara or eyeliner to make your eyes stand out, use a little blush to make those cheekbones appear more defined, and watch out for heavy concealers because they can wash out your skin tone.
17. Get on those tip-toes!
“Carr reminds us that one of the keys to looking fab in photos is to make yourself appear elongated. “You can do this by standing on your tiptoes or by sticking a leg out when taking your full-body picture,” she suggests.” Isabella Carr told
Style Caster.
To prevent a smile that is too wide or gummy, try this trick that celebs use on the red carpet. Put your tongue on the back of your front teeth while you grin.
19. Give life to your hair
If you’ve been wearing longer hair down all day, flip your head over and shake it out. It will help volumize your hair in case it’s gotten a bit flat throughout the day. Or run your fingers through it to fluff it up a bit.
Right before the photo is taken, take a nice deep breath in and then release it. This will give your face the appearance of “yes! I’m loving this!” instead of looking like you were forced to take the photo at all.
21. Be careful with beauty products
Before a night on the town, be aware of which beauty products you’re using if there are going to be photos taken. If you’re wearing a heavy moisturizer, the flash of the camera is going to bounce off your forehead for an unflattering photo. If you plan on taking photos with flash, think about what you put on your skin.
Our eyebrows are one of the most expressive features of our face. The same goes for in photos. They convey character, emotion, and make you look awake. If your eyebrows are too light, they can make your face looked washed out. Opt for a shade darker than your natural color for a nice pop!
” A good pomade or dry oil will help, but use lightly,”
says Serge Normant, a celebrity stylist. “If you are afraid to use too much, spray on your hands and then lightly try to control frizz.”
24. Get lipstick off your teeth
Make sure you don’t end up with an embarrassing photo of you with lipstick on your teeth. Nip that possibility in the bud by simply sticking your finger in your mouth, closing your lips around it lightly, then pulling the finger out. Excess lipstick ends up on your hand instead of your teeth.
Having those terrible red pupils in flash photos is just the worst. Prevent this by looking toward a light right before the photo is taken. It will shrink your pupils and prevent that red pupil look in photos.
You weren’t exactly planning on taking photos at work today but you also forgot that it was Lynn’s 20th work anniversary party. Here’s a great way to prep for photos: blot your face with single ply tissue to remove shine, then pinch your cheeks for a little bit of a rosy glow.
27. Replace cheese with money
Instead of having people say “cheese” when you take their photo, have them say “money” instead. The “ey” sounds at the end of money will force the muscles under your eyes to contract more, forcing you to squint, mimicking a natural smile.
Whether it’s allergies or just a cold, windy day, having bloodshot eyes is not very flattering in photos. Keep some eye drops in your purse or pocket and give yourself a couple refreshing drops before photo time.
29. Do something with your hands
“If you’re standing, place the hand closest to the camera on your hip; this adds definition to your upper arm. If you’re sitting, clasp your hands in front of you (gently—no white knuckles) so your arms form a soft arc,” says
Real Simple.
If you know you’ll be at an event where there will be photos taken, try and avoid wearing too much glitter or sparkly makeup on your face. Aim for matte or semi-matte makeup instead to avoid a shiny face in photos.
31. Shiny collarbones look great, though!
Shimmery makeup on your face might not be the best idea, but a little bit of shimmer or highlighter on the collarbone can really add some sexy definition the collarbone and cleavage.
32. Aim for white backgrounds
When taking photos, try and aim for a light or white wall or backdrop for the background. The light background will make whatever you’re wearing look amazing as well as keep your face looking bright.
33. Watch out for dark lipstick
The fear of having lipstick on your teeth is scary enough! But the look of having super dark lipstick on in photos? That’s even scarier! Try your best to avoid dark cherry or purple colors for photos, it has a minimizing effect on lips.
34. Stay away from shots from below
Shooting photos at an angle slightly above you is always going to be your best bet. Shooting from a lower angle can lead to photos with some not-so-flattering angles that you won’t exactly love.
35. Don’t stand directly under a light
Step over a couple of feet if it means getting out from underneath a direct light. Just like with most restaurant and bar settings, you’ll want to steer clear of overhead lighting. It can cast strange shadows on your face.
Not knowing what to do with our hands and arms during photos is one the most common photo-taking fears. Sometimes it helps to have a prop, like a flower, beverage, or even a pet, to help relax you and put you into a more natural pose.
There are some amazing phone photography apps out there. They let you control shutter speed, exposure, white balance, and more. Basically, with a little practice, you can shoot professional-quality photos right from your phone.
VSCO and
ProCamera are popular.
38. Hide flaws and blemishes
” If someone has bad skin, great light can sometimes blow that out. If someone has large features, ears or something, pull the camera back a bit to de-emphasize or use a wider angle lens,”
explains Ysa Perez, a professional photographer.
Try and take pictures early in the night if you’re planning a night out. No matter what, after 3 (or 4 or 5) glasses of wine, the photos will not be the most flattering. Eyes tend to look droopy after a few drinks.
40. Depending on the event – wear waterproof mascara
Whether it’s a wedding or a baby shower, there is bound to be some happy tears flowing. Prevent that not-so-lovely ‘raccoon-eyed look’ by wearing waterproof mascara that day.
Dry skin will come off looking dull and flat in photographs and the best way to prevent that is by staying hydrated. By drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day (minimum), you can keep your skin looking supple and fresh.
Often times, in pictures, we have this idea of what we
want ourselves to look like, which can lead to awkward and unnatural poses that aren’t really you at all. Forget about all that and just act normal. If you feel like being goofy, go for it! If that’s not you, don’t force it.
43. Don’t stare at the lens
As humans, it’s natural to make eye contact with someone you’re speaking to or are looking at. But with photos, it looks weird. Instead, look directly above the lens, or directly below it.
Much like not looking directly at the lens, try not to square up directly at the lens with your body either. Just shift your body at a slight angle in either direction and you’ll be just fine.
45. Soothe professional photography fears
“There’s nothing you can really do to combat nerves, but a simple trick is to stop making a run for the exit right after the picture is taken. Instead of scattering after the shutter is released, idle a bit and let the photographer capture a more candid photo after the “real” one was taken,” says
Life Hacker.
46. Push shoulders slightly forward
Here’s another great tip for showing off a defined collarbone in photos. While maintaining good posture, bring your shoulders just slightly forward a bit. It will really make that collarbone stand out.
47. Get in the middle of group photos
If you can, try and finagle your way into being in the center of group photos. By not being on the ends, you’ll look slimmer thanks to the people blocking a couple of inches on either side.
48. Have fun with filters
Love the photo but hate the lighting? Have fun playing around with different filters on your phone or in apps like Snapchat or Instagram. They could take a mediocre picture to the next level.
49. Remember the ‘Rule of Thirds’
“Photographers swear by the rule of thirds. This is a simple way to improve balance and composition in your photos. Most smartphones have the option to use a grid on your camera, but if you don’t have one, imagine splitting your photo into nine equal boxes of three rows and three columns. The goal is to place yourself on one of the meeting points. This subject location tends to be more pleasing to the eye than being right in the middle of the frame,” explains
Best Life.
50. Practice poses with a tripod
If you’ve mastered your poses in the bathroom, take it to the photos! But first, get some additional practice by setting up a tripod and using a self timer feature to snap photos from afar to see your full body pose.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
What other photo tips do you have? We’d love to know!
In a world of smartphones, Instagram, and Facebook – it seems like photos are being snapped all day every day of everything! Nothing is worse than going out for brunch with your girlfriends, taking some photos, only to realize your eyes were closed, your skin looks washed out, or you were the only one looking to the left for some reason.
Pro photographers, models, and influencers have all shared their best tips and tricks on how to take the perfect photo every single time. And since they’ve taken billions of photos? They know what they’re talking about.
Here are 55 ways to make sure each photo you’re in looks flawless.
No need to panic when someone breaks out the camera!