How can I be more photogenic?

[ziggiestardust]

I'm 5ft 9ins, dress size 12 with a pear shape. I always look chubby in photos, and I really don't think I am in rl!

How can I look nicer in photos?

Any tips would be welcome!

Good posture? Hand on hip type pose maybe? I'm a pear and if I'm not standing nicely I look all slumped and wide with a semi baby belly.lol

I just always look a bit like a telly tubby wonder if I should have a mess about in front of a camera. I just cannot pull off posed shots!

Right. Follow these instructions exactly. Imagine the camera is at 12 on the clock and your feet are pointing at the camera. Turn your body so you're facing three o'clock. Swivel your upper body around so your legs are pointing to three but your head is facing twelve again. Drop your chin. Arrange your arms so they are forming a slight crook at tge elbow to emphasize your waist. Don't smile, laugh (more natural). Take some photos! See what you think!

This ridiculous elaborate charade is one that I have done for every photo for the last ten years. I am vain and I know I have to compensate for my terribly un photogenic face! It sounds ludicrous I know but it is perfectly possible to do this subtly and I promise you, the results are great.

Just practicing that in my kitchen (yes I know I am a massive twat, but it works!) I think though feet at three o'clock is too much. Try feet facing two o'clock first.

Hmmmm Curious Tiger advice sounds good but sorry I think it would look obviously 'staged' /try hard and must look very weird if every photo has the same pose!!
My advice is to roll your shoulders back and try to sit up straight / not give a monkeys

Actually there was a hilarious thread ages ago about someone's mother in law (I think ) who did this and insisted on looking away from the camera at an angle resulting in a very odd photo - I seem to recall the OP not wanting her wedding pics ruined by the million obsession with standing at 'a flattering angle' !!

Naah it looks great. I am too vain to let photos go through if they weren't acceptable looking! Here's a photo of Minnie driver doing it, she seems to do it a lot (her arms are more pointy at the elbows than mine, I don't go full arms akimbo... There wouldn't be space!)

link

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1719357-To-think-that-a-person-who-doesnt-like-having-a-photo-taken-is-a-PITA

Here's the link to the thread don't say you haven't been warned !!

I look like a sofa in a wig on photos.

I think a pose can be nice and Im sure Curious Tiger you have done your research but I think context is everything - Im just imagining a scenario where everyone else is just kind of being normal /holding a drink or chatting but you're there with the slightly laughing elbows crooked thing - it would look vain rather than attractive...

Oh you can vary it revolve. You can do it sitting. You can be in the middle of the photo or at the side of the group. The variations are limited almost endless!

Did you spot the bit where I said I was a massive twat? I totally am! But I do like a nice photo of me.

Ha! X post! I've got candid snaps as well. They're just taken when I'm not watching!

I would only disagree with dropping your chin as that often gives a double chin. Instead you should tile your head up and if possible get whoever is taking the picture to raise the camera (or even better, stand on a chair)

It's weird how some people look great in photos..i look horrendous and hate having my photo taken.
I would hate to be teenager today when your photo is plastered all over facebook everytime you go out.

It's the face I can't get right. I usually look pissed, with my eyes half closed, or I'm doing some sort of comedy grimace. Sometimes both at once. I am well known amongst my family and friends for looking atrocious in photos.

I'm the most unphotogenic person on the planet so I can't give you any advice - and I doubt any would help me! I look a cross between jabba-the-hutt & mick hucknalll on photos :( so at least you can't look as bad as me!!!

curioustiger I tried that a little bit at the weekend and it definitely helped a lot! I'll bear that in mind. There's nothing worse than a fat photo

Just makes you feel so crap. And I know I'm not huge.

Super cheesy, but take a tip from Tyra Banks and "smize" (I am cringing as I type that ).

It really really works. I tried it one time and the photo was amazing I still use it as my Facebook photo even though it was three years ago
Now I always do it if there's a camera pointing at me.

How to smize

Oh, and don't stand full-frontal, turn to a bit of an angle. Practise in front of a mirror if necessary.

Ziggie I'm really pleased! After a while you get so used to it that it becomes and looks pretty natural. I suppose all you're doing really is presenting somewhere between a 3/4 and full profile to camera which seems to slim me down a bit. I once forced a friend to have some photos taken of her in her preferred pose , then in mine and she was shocked by the difference (in a positive way!)

I am going to try smizing instead of laughing though. And not dropping my chin but having a photo taken from a higher level.

I'm not photogenic. When on rare occasions I have made an effort to really ham it up, to really engage with the camera if you will , I've come out better, I also come out better in harsh direct sunlight (go figure!), but basically I am resigned to not liking photos of myself!