# becoming photogenic (and working with problem areas) **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [March 29, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801 "2007-03-29T04:18:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chirimoya](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/chirimoya/32/1538_2.png) [@chirimoya](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/chirimoya)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/1 "2007-03-29T04:18:59Z")
I find myself on the other end of a camera lens more often than I’d like sometimes. In person, I think I’m not a mirror-breaker, but I just can’t seem to get photos right. I have heard all the advice: chin down, eyes up, find your best side and stick to it, be natural, find a good pose and stick to it (contradictory, hah!), etc. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to maximize photogeneity? My eyes are shaped slightly differently and one always ends up looking a bit “dead” on camera. I don’t know how to deal with this. It’s like one eye is either set back a bit than the other or something, and the lids have slightly different shapes. Often I will get red eye in only one eye, while the other one looks almost hooded. Anyway, if anyone has any tips, would be appreciated thanks. ---
**Author:** ![smn1234](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/smn1234/32/2430_2.png) [@smn1234](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/smn1234)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/2 "2007-03-29T05:09:21Z")
There was one actor, and I’m sure countless people, who refused to have people take pictures of the right/left side of his/her/their face… but ya… take ur cam… and keep taking pics of urself and find a pose that looks good 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![saraunne](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/saraunne/32/193_2.png) [@saraunne](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/saraunne)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/3 "2007-03-29T05:25:08Z")
I know EXACTLY what you are talking about, and deal with the same problem. We are of the group who are better in motion. 😉 My face is asymmetrical (my lips are lopsided, one side of my nose is pointy while the other is round, one eyebrow is higher than the other) so every angle and every picture is different for me. It is literally just BIZARRE how different I look every time. One thing I’ve done is take a tripod and a camera, and take tons and tons and tons of pictures of myself, trying different things. I’ve found all the tricks you mentioned and used them, and have come to somewhat of a happy place. Personally, though, when other people are taking snapshots, it becomes a crap shoot. I just try to remember everything and hope for the best! Ilsa is a photographer, she may have some great pointers for you. ---
**Author:** ![Nunya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac8455/32.png) [@Nunya](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Nunya)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 11:03am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/4 "2007-03-29T11:03:13Z")
haha - this is reminding me of the book I’m currently reading. It’s about this Venetian COurtesan (yay historical fiction). In any case there’s a flashback she has, in which her mother is training her in her err..trade. And her Mom gives her a mirror, and says, look at yourself everyday, not for vanity, but to learn your face, and how it looks from every angle. I think this translates into what Saraunne and SMN1234 are saying - grab that camera and go for it, girlie! ---
**Author:** ![ilsa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/ilsa/32/1552_2.png) [@ilsa](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/ilsa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/5 "2007-03-29T12:50:08Z")
> [@chirimoya](#): > > chin down, eyes up, find your best side and stick to it, I am not sure that I necessarily agree with all of the traditional suggestions. For example; If a person with a less than firm neck keeps there chin down, it can be very unflattering. It will look like multiple chins with lots of ugly folds. Honestly, I really don’t think that keeping your chin down is flattering for anyone. Holding your chin up exudes more confidence. And heck eyes down, eyes up, to the side, closed, who cares? It is fun to break the rules, and I am a rule breaker. > [@chirimoya](#): > > be natural, find a good pose and stick to it (contradictory, hah!), etc. That is great advice, and not contradictory at all. Let your personality shine. > [@chirimoya](#): > > Does anyone have any tips or tricks to maximize photogeneity? My eyes are shaped slightly differently and one always ends up looking a bit “dead” on camera. I don’t know how to deal with this. It’s like one eye is either set back a bit than the other or something, and the lids have slightly different shapes. Often I will get red eye in only one eye, while the other one looks almost hooded. One thing that the average person does not understand, is that they need to wear their make-up a bit heavier for photographs. Your make-up can become a bit washed-out, or even disappear on film. Start from the source even before you ever step in front of the camera. Learn how to enhance your features with cosmetics and correct any inbalances. Even if you do not like to wear make-up normally, I would suggest that you at least wear foundation, and if nothing else, powder. If you don’t wear lipstick, make sure your lips are moisturized. Dry, cracked, chapped lips are just not attractive. This is a detail that most guys miss out on when they are having their pics taken, and it would improve their appearrance tremendously. With that being said. I will have to say that lighting is probably going to be one of the single most important determining factors as to whether or not you are going to look good in a photograph. On camera flash is one of the most harsh and unflattering types of lighting that you can use. So forget it if you want a good picture. Okay, so I realize that not everyone is really psycho, like me, and happens to have an entire photography lighting set-up in their home. So what do you do? Use natural lighting. Go outside or use any light shining through a window. Do not shoot photos of yourself out in the open sunlight, this will cause harsh shadows on your face. Take your photos in the shade. ---
**Author:** ![ilsa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/ilsa/32/1552_2.png) [@ilsa](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/ilsa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/6 "2007-03-29T12:52:15Z")
> [@smn1234](#): > > There was one actor, and I’m sure countless people, who refused to have people take pictures of the right/left side of his/her/their face… but ya… take ur cam… and keep taking pics of urself and find a pose that looks good 🙂 John Barrymore. Ha what a trip. Do a Google image search and you will see that most of his photos were taken of his left side. He even had to be photographed from the left while kissing Greta Garbo. ---
**Author:** ![ilsa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/ilsa/32/1552_2.png) [@ilsa](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/ilsa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/7 "2007-03-29T12:57:08Z")
> [@saraunne](#): > > I know EXACTLY what you are talking about, and deal with the same problem. We are of the group who are better in motion. 😉 Saraunne, you are not even allowed to talk about how you do not photograph well. You are gorgeous! > [@saraunne](#): > > My face is asymmetrical (my lips are lopsided, one side of my nose is pointy while the other is round, one eyebrow is higher than the other) so every angle and every picture is different for me. It is literally just BIZARRE how different I look every time. Once again, this is probably just bad lighting. > [@saraunne](#): > > One thing I’ve done is take a tripod and a camera, and take tons and tons and tons of pictures of myself, trying different things. I’ve found all the tricks you mentioned and used them, and have come to somewhat of a happy place. This is a great idea. It is what I do. Study yourself in the mirror first, just as Nunya suggested. Some people certainly do look better a certain angles. Shadows can conceal flaws, and light can accent your best features. Good photographers know this, and the papparazzi use this to get the worst possible pictures that they can of famous people. ---
**Author:** ![smn1234](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/smn1234/32/2430_2.png) [@smn1234](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/smn1234)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/8 "2007-03-29T18:47:49Z")
The actor I was thinking was Steven Sigal maybe or some action movie star.. not sure really… ---
**Author:** ![SteveO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@SteveO](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/SteveO)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/becoming-photogenic-and-working-with-problem-areas/2801/9 "2007-03-30T01:35:48Z")
One good thing that has helped me and was suggested by a famous actress I am close with. She knew of my distaste for photographs and told me it makes me look angry in the picture. She said the key to a great picture is to always be smiling in them. A genuine smile draws massive value to the happiness and overshadows all imperfections. I believed her and it has made all the difference.