How to Pose for a Great Photo from Ford Model, Shelley GoodStein

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Let's face it, we'd all love to have a killer profile photo to use for anything from professional networking to online dating or maybe even a beauty contest! And we all want to know the tricks to taking the best photo - so here are a few secrets to help you get that picture-perfect shot!

Everyone does have a better side. To find it, look through old pictures and pick your favorites to decide which one it is for you! For portraits, you'll want your head facing straight on, but it's important to know which side is your best so you can play to it ever so slightly.

Youthfulness correlates to a fuller face but as we age our faces thin. If you play too much to "a side" by angling your head, the light will highlight the hollows of your cheekbones or a jutting chin. So for a rounder, fuller face go straight on!

Little changes in your posing can make a huge difference in your photos. If you are standing or even sitting for a beauty shot, instead of keeping ALL of you square to the lens, turn your hips sideways and then twist your shoulders the opposite way toward the camera with your face in a 10 and 2 o'clock position. Besides a beautiful face, this will give you a smaller waistline and a longer neck.

If you hold your arm tightly against your body, your arm will flatten out and look larger than you'd like, but if you pull it back or place your hand on your hip, your arm will look thinner.

Be sure that you are showcasing your very best features, but avoid a super close-up. Have at least a part of your body showing, such as your arms or shoulders .... or people will wonder what you're trying to hide. If you do happen to have some body issues, a photo taken from above will add some distortion and be more flattering to everything below your chin!

Don't overlook the importance of lighting in your photos! When indoors, it's best to use natural lighting like a setting near a large window. Overhead lighting can be harsh and create shadows underneath your eyes so stay away from canned lights in the ceiling. No one looks good when the sun is directly overhead like at 12 o'clock noon, so for outdoor shots get under some even shade like a canopy of trees or a porch. For your best lighting outdoors, try the "magic" hour after the sun rises and again before the sun sets.

By following these tips you'll be ready to strike the right pose for your next photo!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

Fall Fashion 2012 Trends & Cheat Sheet!

The PEPLUM is probably the biggest trend of the YEAR! It's a look that appeared last Spring and it will not be disappearing anytime soon! 

The peplum is more flattering than you might think because it cinches in your waist and accentuates a woman's curves, even if you don't have any! Plus it will hide any signs of a soft belly - BONUS!

The House of Dior first introduced us to this trend in 1947 when it was part of the new look spotlighting women's waistlines. Obviously it has evolved since then, but the hips still have it! You'll see peplums showing up on leather coats, jackets, tops and dresses.

When you wear a peplum you want to think "balance." Because you are adding alot of volume on top this is best paired with something sleek on the lower portion of your body like skinny jeans or a pencil skirt.

Celebs like Katy Perry and Jennifer Hudson are often spotted wearing this trend to show off their curves and even the Hunger Games were "hip" to this trend!

The book on everyone's mind might be 50 Shades of Gray, but it's hard to resist a lady in any shade of RED! 

The breakout colors this season are rich berry stains with wine names like Bordeaux, Merlot, Chianti with the darkest red of all being Oxblood Red.

Designers are disagreeing with the old rule, "Don't wear white after Labor Day" by showcasing head to toe Winter White on the Fall runways. Monochromatic dressing is a great way to look taller and thinner - in any color not just black!

Leather is going to be a MEGA trend for Fall 2012! It plays into the Goth edgy vibe and is perfectly paired with the brights you probably have hanging in your closet from last season and it's not just for jackets, boots and bags anymore. You'll see these skins (faux included) on all sorts of details to full on dresses and outfits in an array of colors, cuts and styles. 

Denim has been in fashion since the day it was invented which is why we all own more than a few pair of jeans! Skinny and flares have been the rage for awhile, but this season we will see our ankles once again. 

Cropped jeans are the newest and greatest trend for Fall. Keep it slim, flared just a bit, cut just above the ankle and pair it with a heel to lengthen your leg.

Colored denim has been on trend for a few seasons but for Fall you'll want darker, earthy tones. If I were to pick one it would be a burgundy, in the red-grape spectrum. It's perfectly paired with navy, chocolate and green! Patterned, floral, brocade and animal prints will be showing up on colored denim for Fall as well.

Hilary Clinton will be happy to hear that menswear is trending strong this year since she lives in the pantsuit and for good reason - it's practical, professional and again, dressing in all one color makes us look taller and thinner. 

This year the collections featured loud, colorful geometric prints. Feeling a little dizzy? Well, this year is definitely all about mixing prints, patterns and stripes so start practicing!

You can always count on an economic downturn to cause a little bit of a rebellion from fashion designers craving a return to luxury and opulence. 

Asian influences, baroque, brocades and prints taken from wallpaper shots reined the runway with embellishments like lace, embroideries, feathers, sequins and gilt. Just goes to show not everyone is ready to give in to minimalism!

The Military influence always seems to sneak in come fall, but unlike 2 years ago when it was all about camouflage, the forces are now armed in a dark khaki, metallic buttons and double breasted style, with of course leather accents.

Awww, YES the future looks bright!

Metallics are resurrected and will become stronger as the holidays approach. I'm on board!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

Gothic Meets Rocker Chic Jewelry Vibe

TREND ALERT: Gothic Iconic Jewels. 

The evil eye and other symbols.

ARE YOU A BELIEVER?

Ileana Makri

Kendra Scott

Kristen Farrell

Noir Dinosaur Bones

Ilena Makri

Pin-up Girl Shelley Goodstein

August Phoenix Magazine Shoot

Thrilled to have been booked to shoot for Phoenix Magazine's Water Issue at the Biltmore Hotel in Scottsdale with the talented Diana of Diana Elizabeth Photography. Styling, makeup and hair by Shauna Thibault. You can find the August Issue on Newstands now.

Uber-cool necklace by House of Harlow completely on trend and hot for Fall available {HERE} perfectly paired with a 1940's pinup inspired suit!

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $2.99 on Kindle, Also available on Nook,  iTunes and paperback from Amazon.com

 

Eat clean Diet Purrr-fection! How Anne Hathaway slid into that catsuit!

Watching another reincarnation of catwoman I can honestly say ... the catsuit is completely unforgiving so I wanted to know what went into the behind the scenes of making it look so hot! Luckily Shape magazine interviewed Anne Hathaway on the secret to rocking the skintight uniform!

With only one month to get Catwoman-ready, Anne Hathaway enlisted a little help from nutritional coach Jackie Keller and followed a vegan like anti-inflammatory diet which included whole grains to control blood sugar, avocados, almonds (she doesn't like walnuts), sesame seeds, dark chocolate, bright red and orange vegetables that are high in antioxidants (Hathaway loves yams), dark leafy greens, ginger and turmeric. Keeping her protein levels up to build muscle during intense training sessions was the main challenge Hathaway faced.

She had professional help, but if all you have is a few days to get ready for the beach (or you want to slip into a cat suit for Halloween) Keller's number one tip is to cut out red meat as your source of animal protein and, "default to fish particularly salmon, sardines and trout along with legumes to increase fiber and fatty acids. This will help you fill up and reduce saturated fat and, over all you will eat less," according to Keller.

Secondly, the nutrition coach suggests you do what Hathaway did during filming and reverse the portions on your plate. Vegetables should cover half of your dish with other half divided between protein and carbohydrates.

Some of Ann's favorite meals during filming included miso soup, a tempeh club avocado sandwich on gluten free bread, Tuscan brown rice salad, vegetarian chicken fried steak made with seitan, egg white frittatas and vegetarian egg rolls. The actress says she ate every two to three hours for a total of about 1500 to 1800 calories a day. That included six or seven meals plus a soup or sald daily because the goal was to get Hathaway fit and toned while remaining slim so continually fueling her body was a must! Keller made sure her client had a dessert every day so she wouldn't have any cravings and Hathaway admits her love of chocolate wasn't sorely missed because she indulged in gluten free chocolate chip cookies, fudge brownies, and chocolate power smoothies made with almond milk.

Lastly, Keller recommends doubling your water intake. "You need lots of water to keep flushing stuff through your system. Almost all of us, even the most conscientious drinker is probably under hydrated. Water is actually important for metabolism" which is why she encouraged Hathaway to stay hydrated.

Thanks to these three tips, her challenging Catwoman workout which was comprised of stunt training 5 days a week and an hour and a half of dance (let's talk cardio!), and Keller's anti-inflammatory meals ... the actress is in purr-fect shape to pull off that cat suit!

To read the full story on SHAPE click {HERE}