why do some people take a better photo than others?

[DeepFatFriar]

Just got some pictures back and I look nothing like myself! My DP was like "its insane how badly you photograph".

I think its because my face is normally animated and expressive and i even find it hard to stay perfectly still for a posed shot, so the camera always catches me mid gurn or mid expression change.

But even on some of the posed shots i look really flattened and weird compared to DP who looks totally normal. Videos are fine.

Can any photographers on here explain how this works - why do some people take a better photo than others?

Don’t know - pics of me are dire.
I can sympathise.

People wearing make up take a better photograph I find. Otherwise you can look a bit washed out.

I always photograph much better with make up on even though I look perfectly nice without!

Did anyone ever watch America’s next top model / Britain’s next top model / etc?

Often the plainest funny looking women looked AMAZING in the photographs but also looked very different in different shots. Sort of a strong, blank canvas.

I think it's smiles. I am not photogenic, but my mum is - incredibly so - and always has been.

She has a fantastic big, effortless smile, whereas mine is quite small and awkward-looking.

People with great smiles look fabulous in photos.

A colleague saw my security badge with photo and actually told me I look much better in person. Alrighty then!

I disagree about smiling.

I am a very smiley person, but when I smile in photos my eyes wrinkle up and vanish and my teeth look as though they are coming at you out of the lens. I don't look better, just a friendlier doorknocker.

I met someone who was a scout for a modelling agency. She said they key to being photogenic was having big features. She said Kate Moss has a very big nose!

I think there is a part of photographing well which you can learn. Eg, stand in front of the mirror for a while and try out your best fake smiles, different angles, posture, chin forward, that sort of thing. Just turning correctly in a photo will take twenty pounds of weight off you.

Knowing your angles is key! I got he piss ripped out of my for always tilting my head in a certain way.... I have a preferred side too!

I have very strong cheek bones and from straight on I look very good and modelly in photos. I also have a very long, thin nose though and look like a complete witch from any other angle.

OP if you really want to take a better photo you can learn this through selfies. I take much better photos now. My insta is on point. I know it sounds narcissistic but I learned to do this to get past hating photos of me.

My chin disappears in photos. I always look like a chinless pink thing with wonky eyes.

One exception was when a friend who's a really good pro photographer did some pictures with me. She uses a really fast, multi-shot camera and likes to shoot people moving about - she says that trying to hold a pose is really hard for most people and you don't get them at their best.

She also told me that most wedding/official portrait photographers are not good photographers, which explains why I look weird on a lot of "official" pictures.

Another in photogenic person here - I have a round face shape and just look like a big moonhead in photos

YANBU!

I look at myself in the mirror and I think I look pretty ok, I actually think facially I'm reasonably good looking - wtaf happens in photos though I will never know!!!! My bone structure vanishes and I look 2 stone heavier with 5 chins.

I know two women who are not exactly anything startling in real life (don't get me wrong I'm not saying they're ugly or anything just "average" iyswim) and both are overweight yet in photographs they turn into these beautiful ethereal beings who look 2 dress sizes smaller

Yes, I am very bloody envious

Thought I was alone in this.

I seem to attract male attention but when I see photos of me I have NO idea why.

I am very animated and expressive when I talk. Not sure if that is a particularly attractive trait or not.

i am like chandler bing anytime a camera comes out. I literally have no idea what to do with my face and a result i look hideous all the time.
To be fair, I look pretty hideous in real life too.

It’s just geometry.
Some people’s faces flatten better.

My sister and I look pretty similar in terms of colouring etc. We’re evenly matched in terms of looks too.

But she takes a really wonderful photograph and always has done.

I look fine.

It’s to do with knowing your best angles for the camera lense. Makeup shouldn’t not be “heavier” but stronger colours used ...depending on the location the photograph is taken 😊

Wow! Double negative there lol, should not ^