Something to Smile About
First, a few tips on how to smile. Never have your teeth actually
touching each other, even when your mouth is closed because it will make your
neck muscles tense in an unflattering way.
Also, don’t force a smile by showing all your teeth in a joker
grin. We know you have beautiful
teeth but why would anyone want to see your molars?
Another way to achieve a genuine, natural looking smile is by lifting
your tongue up behind your front teeth. This also results in lowering your chin
slightly and helping to relax your face.
Always try to give a genuine smile. Models know that real smiles are
produced with the eyes. Top model Tyra Banks even invented a word for it
“smizing.” When you genuinely smile it causes natural wrinkles around your
eyes, regardless of age.
The eyes are the first thing to capture someone’s attention in a photo
so when you’re taking your picture look into the lens of the camera. Anyone
viewing the photo will feel like you are looking directly at them—making you
look more open, interesting and real.
If you wear glasses make sure the photographer can see your
eyes and that the top of the frame is not cutting into the eyes. To prevent a
camera flash from reflecting shine or glare, tilt your glasses up or down so
that the light is not rebounding off the lens. Glare can also occur when you’re
photographing next to a mirror, TV, or window. Angle yourself so that the
camera is not shooting directly into the reflective surface.
To avoid the double chin look, never pull back when someone is about to
take your picture. No matter how skinny you are you will have double or even
triple chins. Fix it by thinking
swan ballerina, Natalie Portman.
Chin up and out and then bring the chin down ever so slightly.
Also, avoid short cameramen. If the lens is below your eye level you’ll
gain an extra chin. The lens should be either at eye level or slightly above.
Generally, natural looking hair is the best way to go. Keep
it off your features so it’s not creating shadows on your face. If your hair is
a solid color, add highlights for dimension and to prevent looking like you
have a helmet on your head. Frizzy hair tends to be dryer so to tame it, moisturize
your hands with lotion and quickly run them through your hair. If you notice your
hair is sticking up in places, lightly rub a dryer sheet over it to
eliminate static. It’s the only tip I know that works to get rid of the
problem.
I hope you found these tips help you to look your best in your next
photo!
