I’ve been a professional party and event photographer in New York for the better part of 10 years, and the thing I hear most is, “OHMYGOSH, I’m soooo unphotogenic.” Let’s get this straight, people. You’re all a bunch of babes, you just haven’t met a photographer who is willing to show you how to take a better picture. Here are four simple rules that will make you love the lens.
Sit up straight. ?When taking a group picture, do not lean toward each other in a huddle. Your arms will look disproportionate and you will all come out like hunchbacks.
Lose the duck face. Pouty lips and vapid wide eyes are not sexy. Relax your face. Listen to Tyra and SMIZE (seriously, smiling with your eyes looks amazing when you nail it). Laugh, giggle, show some genuine emotion.
Don’t forget your arms?. We all need to avoid the dead arm look. Cross your arms or put your hands (at least one!) on your hips. If crossing them makes you feel “bunchy” and the hand on hip is too super hero (and what’s wrong with that?), try pretending to cross them behind you without sticking your chest out too much. ?
Lean in?. For whatever reason, most people tend to lean backward, away from the camera. There is nothing less flattering, unless you want to look like a pinhead on top of a giant body. Stand up straight (see a pattern?), shoulders down, neck nice and tall, and lean toward the camera from your forehead and your waist. That’s right, LEAN IN toward the camera. This will feel weird and unnatural, but you will look AH-mazing. Trust me. BONUS POINTS: An advanced move here is creating a jaunty angle with your chin. Don’t jut it out like Jay Leno, keep it tucked and turn in semi-profile. Now, go out and snap a bangin’ new profile pic!
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By Gabi Porter
Illustrations by Laura Weiszer
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2016 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
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