How do they do it? How do models manage to look so great in magazines and even in candid shots? If you hate how you look in pictures, don’t be too hard on yourself. Models need hours of photogenic makeup, years of training, and hundreds of photos to look picture-perfect. They’ve mastered their best angles and have learned how to minimize their facial and body “defects”. With our tips and lots of practice, you’ll get the hang of looking your best, whether you’re having a professional portrait taken or are just hamming it up for travel snapshots.
Makeup Magic
Everybody looks better with some makeup. Even the most flawless complexion can look sallow or shiny (especially the forehead and nose) without some form of corrective coverage.
Daylight photos. Keep makeup natural so it doesn’t look like a mask. Natural light can be unforgiving, showing the littlest flaws. Use concealer (in your skin shade) to even out redness and spots. And off with that mustache—believe us, it will show!
Flash photography washes out your skin. It is kinder to your flaws but intensifies the pink and white tones in your face. Familiar with that too-white-under-the-eyes look on celebrities in paparazzi shots? The culprit: too-light translucent powder that looks mask-like. It does reflect light off your eyebags, making them disappear, but it’s still best to stick to warm, yellow-based powder. Don’t forget the underside of your chin and neck to avoid “The Great Divide”. Define your brows, eyes, and lips so you don’t look invisible.
Studio shots. You’ll need a bit more coverage, but keep your makeup neat, clean and precise. Contour your face where it’s needed—cheeks, forehead, nose. Top models and makeup artists know that contouring creates illusions—round cheeks can look thinner, a broad forehead shorter, or a flat nose higher. But go easy and blend! Nothing looks scarier than severe, unblended railroad track nose shading or racing stripe blusher!
All the Right Moves
No need for contortionist posing—just relax. Try to feel comfortable with the photographer. Any form of tension will show—facial muscles tighten when you’re nervous and your body will look rigid and stiff. Notice how you look great in your photo album snapshots? With family and friends, you’re at your most natural. Don’t be too self-conscious. Be comfortable with your body—know your flaws and accept them, but don’t be afraid of them. Says Raymund, “Do something about them. Otherwise, be happy with what you have. Sometimes a flaw can be your asset. The most beautiful people I have photographed are those who are not afraid of themselves. Love yourself!”
Tricks and Techniques
· Practice in front of the mirror to determine your best angle. Most people look better facing the camera at a 45° angle. Create the illusion of an hourglass figure by using the old swimsuit calendar (and beauty contest) trick: face your hip to the camera, stomach in, chest out and twist shoulders forward.· Pull up! Slouching gives you a weak, unattractive look. A straight body gives you instant confidence.
· A real smile comes from the eyes, not from the mouth. Think happy thoughts. Instead of saying “Cheese!”, saying a soft “A!” will give you a perfect smile, minimizing crow’s feet, eyebags, too-squinty-eyes and crooked, gummy or toothy smiles. Practice!
· Feeling tense? Can’t stop blinking or looking “gulat”? Close your eyes, move your head around, take a deep breath, and count to three. On the third count, have the photographer click the shutter. Your eyes will look softer.
· Don’t wear a white bra under a black shirt—the camera’s flash will make you flash! Also beware of bra straps peeping out of sleeveless tops or panty lines.
· Never point limbs to the camera—they’ll shorten your body.
To camouflage…
Round cheeks. Practice biting the insides of your cheeks with your molars to create a more angular jaw, then slightly push the chin forward.
Eyebags. Lift the chin slightly to minimize casting shadows.
A flat nose. Contour subtly (blend!), turn your face at a 45° angle, tilt chin slightly, and look at the camera.
A double chin. Chin up, push it forward. Lengthen your neck.
A big stomach. Black can make you look slimmer, but tight black clothes will accentuate that bilbil. Be sure your clothes fit will. Or try angling a bit sideways or use your arms to cover them.
Big nostrils. Make sure the camera isn’t positioned to low.
Big legs, broad shoulders, and big hips. Find a comfortable stance while placing one foot in front of the other at a 45° angle.
Big arms. Don’t press your arms too close to your body or point them to the camera—that’ll enlarge them.
44 Comments
Add Commentdidnt realized that there are tricks ... gotta find my beatiful angle then
August 17, 2006 at 5:38 pmthats the trick
August 17, 2006 at 5:39 pmnow i know how to make a picture perfect -)
August 17, 2006 at 6:44 pmnow i know that this technique will help me a lot...i'll practice this
August 18, 2006 at 4:14 pmill try 8 myself next time that i face d cam.tnx 4 d wonderful advise..ur really a big help..
August 18, 2006 at 9:07 pmthis really help..
August 19, 2006 at 10:32 pmyeah, this article says it all! I am a picture-lover myself and these tips would really help
August 20, 2006 at 8:12 pmthese are great tips! thanks!
August 20, 2006 at 10:28 pmgreat tips! thank u
August 21, 2006 at 1:14 pmthanks for the tips i have big arms ;)
August 23, 2006 at 11:30 pmwow! great tips! more please....thanks.
August 25, 2006 at 11:23 amany advise so that my nose would look good eventhough its a bit flat when having pictures taken? thanks
August 26, 2006 at 12:12 pmnice tips... cant w8 to try it =)
August 26, 2006 at 4:25 pmhello
August 26, 2006 at 6:26 pmur tips help..but w/ d technology dat we have now, pictures can be edited or should i say enhanced now, so d next tym ul have ur studio shot, choose d one which enhances the pix before they print it.
August 28, 2006 at 8:00 pmano po ba ang the best na i aplly sa face b4 u go to sleep?
August 28, 2006 at 9:57 pmI've always been nervous about taking snaps of myself since I don't know how to project.Thanks for the tips, I'll certainly try it the next time I'll pose infront of the camera.
August 30, 2006 at 3:35 pmVery helpful... Although, photoshop do help a lot in editing... But still, it gave me an idea... next time i get infront of a cam, i'll try some of the tips...
September 5, 2006 at 3:35 pmdo you guys know of a studio that takes pictures that makes you look like a cover girl? Ayoko kc nung mga normal stiff poses and bad lighting from most commercial studios.
September 6, 2006 at 3:40 pmWow! its anice tips.i like to read more tips.thanks for sharing it.more power...
September 10, 2006 at 8:39 pmcan't wait to practice infront of the mirror :) thanks for the tips! more power to us!
September 17, 2006 at 8:40 pmhi! i had a very big problem about my skin. because my skin looks darker. kasi before i had white. well what natural ways do i need to use to make my skin fairer against from the sun.
September 18, 2006 at 8:43 pmnice tips I just cant keep still in front of cameras im tempted to make silly faces or I cant smile ng matagal kaya dapat shoot agad pag smile na ako LOL
September 20, 2006 at 5:57 pmgotta take my best shot!
September 22, 2006 at 5:54 pmhey.. thanks a lot.. im also had a photophobia.. and i always so self-conscious and i hated myself for that... pero ngaun... i'll try it... Thanks again and more power to ur site!!!
September 22, 2006 at 6:41 pmthanks for the tip...ok...say Cheeeeeeeze =0)
September 25, 2006 at 1:04 amit is really a great help.....!!!! wooow...!! and maybe just be your self kapag nasa harap ka na ng camera...!! it reallly help me a lot..!! thanks..!! see yah...!! see my url..!!
September 26, 2006 at 10:14 amim glad nag member ako d2, 'coz im learning a lot! thanks for the tips! now i can have my picture perfect! good job!
September 28, 2006 at 1:03 pmgreat tips u got here! :) thanks for sharing...:)
October 1, 2006 at 7:45 pmthis is so helpful, thanks for the tips!
October 4, 2006 at 10:09 pmdt is soooo true! am a true blue photophobiac!hehehe, hard to admit, but hell yeah, 90% of my pictures taken turn out to be a disaster!it's either, am too stiff nor my flaws weren't hidden and it frustrates me a lot..tsk tsk tsk..no pwob on the make up thingy(honestly, am a make up junkie fanatic, and amazingly, i can blend any color on my skin turning it to be the most amazing set..hehehe,i'v been doin that since hiskool eh!,,)thankz 4d tips,.super duper loved it! helpful tlga cya, esp to the virgin make up users and the photophobiacs!hehehe, cheerios..hope u'd feature more beauty tips..hehehe! more powers!
October 5, 2006 at 10:16 amCan someone suggest a good make-up artist that offers a competitive price?
October 5, 2006 at 4:32 pmHello GUYS! you featured a really nice metallica cuff (sept '06 issue page 94) from a boutique called 'envy' but sadly i can't find that boutique in your shopping directory... I'd love to have this cuff for an upcoming oc*ssion..please let me know where to find ENVY...thanks and more power!
October 6, 2006 at 8:41 amim a self confessed picture addict or freak!! nw i can apply all ths tricks to have a picture perfect! tnxs cosmo! ur a big help
October 7, 2006 at 8:09 pmthanks for the tips! no wonder my friend looks so pretty in her pics, it's bcoz she knows the trick..
October 13, 2006 at 7:30 pmwow, thnaks! have to find ,y best angle the..
November 19, 2006 at 1:49 amgreat tips for a camera hog like me! tnx
January 11, 2007 at 11:19 ami think everyone knows these tricks. the tricks are so obvious.... i wasnot happy with the article. i was looking for something more....
May 1, 2007 at 8:37 amwell.. i dont know..what i do when i photographed myself.. i used to think some happiness for my most natural look.. its that it..well i dont believe some of the suggestion.. it doesnt work on me.
May 2, 2007 at 7:25 amDearest Melinda
May 8, 2007 at 6:19 amyah it is cool not to be afraid picture its shows us who really are!!!!!!
May 24, 2007 at 5:34 ami dont think this helps since i have a moustache :((
May 25, 2007 at 5:39 amthese are very nice tips to people like us who are cameraholicz and photoadikz...hehehehe
September 25, 2007 at 8:02 pm