6 Secrets to Look Good in Photos

 Despite cringing over ageing face or extra pounds, invariably everyone wants to look beautiful particularly in photos. Nevertheless photos are memories in print and stay with us forever. Being picture-perfect all the time is Mission Impossible including the photogenic ones and even well advanced photoshop cannot stop you from appearing as an ugly duckling. Have you ever said this seeing your photo? "Oops I am awful, I look much older?" or "Is that really me with those puffy eyes?". Phew, a bad photo is always depressing! 

Striking a good pose calls for incredible patience to retain the posture till one hears the final click sound. After all the efforts you put and if the picture still ends up unsatisfactory, you are struck with such an unfathomable grief that a Shakespearean tragedy is relatively less burdensome. But don't give up to test the waters. It is well-known that photography is a celebrated- highly-glorified art form, but  posing for photos is an art by itself.

It's a Lens, not Mirror:
You stand in front of a mirror, What do you get? your reflection. Now you stand in front of the camera. And what do you get? same reflection. But the lens can do magic which the mirror cannot. It captures your emotion, surroundings and the cherishable moments of life. You don't want to repeat the same style you take every year. It's boring right?

Get your focus diverted to show you more interesting. Try new things, give poses like looking away, observing the background, doing an activity or performing some stunts. If you notice, some people face the lens with much seriousness and stiffness, they seem better to get recruited in military than be photographed.

The Ramp Walk Visage:

We know how professionals spend all their energy to fashion their cover portraits, finally to resemble near dolliness. It is indeed captivating and stunning. That said, you don't have to be a super-hot-red-carpet-walking-model to dazzle in photos! You just need a little touch of smartness and imagination. Even an artist has to follow several tactics to get it right in the first place. So why don't we? Let's dig up a few secrets for that chic look;)

For Slimmer Image:

• Look forward, pull back shoulders and face up to steer clear of a double-chin.
• Go for sideways. Don't stand straight as it adds more pounds than what you really are.
• Cross your legs at the front or shift weight to one of the legs for a trimmed waist.

For Unique Feel:

• Use props and hand actions to get the spotlight.
• Shoot under natural light and scenic backgrounds.
• Dress up and wear a natural makeup.

Angles and Demos:
Be creative. You can use various angles to draw more attention. This increments the depth of the image and gives a dynamic touch. Look into the lens and refrain from going below the eye-level.

In other words (perhaps non-geeky terms), just tilt your body or the camera if you want to hide your flabs or flaws and put your best sides to focus.

Demonstrate your poses at home. Get some feedback on your trials. With good practice, you come to be self-assured, looking more relaxed and composed on the print.

Let the Spirits Out:

I clarify it is not spooks or alcohol but your own vibrant moods you have to bring out. Spread the energy to the face and allow the body some freedom of movement. So how do you usually pose? Standing straight, hands-crossed or at sides and staring at the lens. And now you are a qualified 'walker' in the next season of The Walking Dead. Come on, Get some life!

Go casual, funny and livelier unless it is for your office ID card. Even then a little beam is appreciable. Capture occasions like chit-chatting with your best friends, giggling over bygone days, sharing funny jokes or spending a quiet time with your beloved ones. Later in your grey hair years, these shots may turn out as a treasury of nostalgia.

The Selfie Mania:

We are all obsessed with selfies to the point that our profile pics change faster than the stock prices in a day. The Oscar selfie has reached many million shares, explains why the popular 'sellfie' is declared Oxford Dictionaries word of the year 2013. Go down this checklist if you want your selfie to come out nice and elegant.

• Check your outfits and smoothen it wrinkle free.
• Fix your hair style, you don't want them sticking out of nowhere.
• Choose your background wisely. Any place other than bathroom or gym is pretty decent.
• Use good lighting not letting it glare above your heads.
• Feel confident and express it.

The best secret of all is to flash a cheerful and contagious smile. Nothing can equate it nor replace it. Sometimes you have to fake a smile or get too tired to keep smiling (much an ordeal for any newly wed couple). Even then it is the most glamorous gratifying piece of decor that anybody can do. Keep smiling. Say Cheese!