How To Be Photogenic: The Secret Revealed

If you’re reading this you’re probably thinking “I’m not photogenic… how do I fix that”? Today I’m going to share with you a simple technique on how to be photogenic (a rule, or a secret, call it whatever you want) that will make you fall in love with photos of yourself.

To be more photogenic and love photos of you, all you need is to relax. You heard it right! Relax!

If you were looking for a quick answer, you got it! Though if you would like to learn more about how to do it, read on!

How relaxing can help you be photogenic

As a photographer I hear this all the time – “I hate being photographed,” “I don’t like photos of myself,” “I’m not photogenic”, etc. However after years of taking photos of people I noticed a common thing – most clients love images of themselves when they are not ‘posing’ (for example not looking into the camera, nor holding a pose). Also, for me as a photographer, the most striking images are the ones where a face is relaxed – it’s beautiful and raw, where a person’s eyes tell you all.

Laughing, or looking into the distance shots are quite popular. The reason people like themselves in shots like these the most is because their focus is not on the camera. The problem with focusing on the camera is it’s always followed by an avalanche of thoughts such as “Does this pose look flattering? Does my hair look okay? What do I do with my hands? How do I smile? This chaos in the mind leads to tension and stiffness in the body language, and most importantly your face.

If you are not feeling comfortable, confident, or simply relaxed – your photos will show it. Always. Make sure you’re wearing comfortable, not restricting clothes (Here’s a helpful guide on What to Wear for a Photoshoot), and the poses you strike are easy enough to execute (so you’re not working hard to hold them), and relax your face.

How to relax your face

As people we carry a lot of tension in our faces – foreheads, lips, jaw, eyes. Where is your tension?

Here’s how I usually direct my clients to a more relaxed and flattering facial expression:

Close your eyes. Take big breath and relax the skin on your face. Make a conscious effort to stretch the skin on your forehead (I know, this one might take a bit more effort). Relax your jaw. You can even open your mouth ever so slightly and exhale through your teeth as you open your eyes.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Being able to relax your face is a skill like any other, so you need to practice it. Try this in front of the mirror a couple of times before your photoshoot and you will be amazed with the images of you!

That is all for this week’s post, and I hope you found it useful. If you have any questions on how to be photogenic feel free to drop them in the comment section below!