Men’s Guide On How To Look Good In Pictures

Look At Your Old Pictures

Studying your past photos is the first step in learning to look good in photos. 

Browse through your old pictures and see what you like and don’t like about each one. Examine the perspective of the shot as well as the position of your head to determine what looks best on you. 

Observe your body in various poses and see if there is a trend of what works well. Practice recreating these angles and positions in the future.

Here are some common issues to look out for:

• Your photograph’s lighting
• Closed or squinted eyes
• Is your face positioned awkwardly
• Does your smile look unnatural?
• Imperfections in your appearance, such as a shiny face, pimples, blackheads, or a bad haircut or outfit

Practice Makes Permanent

Start practicing in front of the mirror once you’ve determined what works best for you in pictures. 

The best place to begin is by re-creating the looks you’ve achieved in prior pictures that you like. Instead of looking straight ahead, most people look nicer with their heads somewhat cocked to the side. 

This adds dimension to the face and is more visually appealing. It’s important to gain a feel for your go-to poses so that you can replicate them in the future without the aid of a mirror.

Once you’ve nailed your pose, practice numerous variations of your smile until you discover the one that feels most natural to you. 

Consider if you appear better with your lips open or closed or whether a large smile or more of a smirk is more suitable for your face shape. Determine what looks good and use it for the rest of your snapshots.

Consider Your Posture

Do the same assessment in previous photos with your posture. What looks good when you’re standing, sitting, etc.

Here are some posture tips that may help you elevate your photogenic game.

Try to pull your shoulders back instead of slouching forward, and hold your head up. 

When sitting, don’t cross your legs. Make sure your feet are pointed toward the camera when standing. Tilt your torso away from your feet by 20 degrees if possible. Doing this will help elongate your frame.

In group shots, don’t be the one caught crouching. In the past, men crouching in photos may have been considered “cool,” but it was a trend that won’t help your photo appearance today.

Try to be the main focus in the snapshot by standing in the center of the group. Try not to appear to cinch in your body just to make room for others to be in the photo. Try to take up space in the picture with your posture. Not in an obnoxious way. Again, your goal is to be the main focus of the photo, so taking up real estate helps.

Lighting Matters

In photography, lighting is critical, and choosing the appropriate setting is vital to a photo’s overall appearance. 

Contrary to popular belief, overcast skies are ideal rather than bright, sun-shiny skies for photos. Some cloud cover is ideal because the sun can cast unflattering shadows on the face if the angle is wrong. 

The same principle applies to taking shots indoors: avoid standing directly underneath a light source. Instead, try standing in front of a natural light source like a window.

Stay Well-Dressed

What you wear for a photo can make or break the results. 

If you don’t dress in a way that accentuates your best features, you’ll look sloppy in pictures. Styles and shapes that flatter your physique and colors that complement your skin tone are important.

Fitted and structured clothing is your best bet if you’re looking for a well-defined silhouette. Most skin tones look good in shades like white, blue, gray, black, and olive. 

Also, pay attention to the patterns on your apparel. Patterns might misrepresent your size and shape; therefore, they’re not always the ideal choice for photographs. If you choose to wear something with patterns or designs, try to limit it to a single piece of clothing and avoid small, cluttered designs. 

For the most part, sticking with solid colors is a wiser choice. What matters most is that you’re comfortable in your own skin, which will come through in your photos.

Reduce Your Face’s Shine

At one point, you might have taken a picture with the best lighting and backdrop, you’re wearing your best apparel, your smile is on point, and your posture exudes confidence. 

Then, when you see the photo, you recoil at the sight that your face looks like a freshly basted baked turkey. 

You don’t want your oily face to be the photo’s focal point. 

To eliminate face shone in your photos and to keep an overall shine-free face throughout the day, use a mattifying moisturizer. 

That’s where we at d*shine can help.

Our d*shine Signature Mattifying Moisturizer is lightweight and doesn’t leave your skin looking and feeling oily or greasy. 

It gives you a matte, shine-free, clean-looking complexion – just as if you had just taken a shower. 

It also helps control your face’s natural oil (sebum) production so that you look and feel confident throughout the day. Simply rub a small amount of it on your face before you go out or whenever you feel you need it. Looking good for any occasion or off-the-cusp photo op couldn’t be any simpler. 

Fix Your Hair

If you want to look good in pictures, styled hair is also essential. Flyaways you weren’t aware of can be brought to light by the flash of a camera. 

Everyone has their different hairstyles and styling regimens. Just be sure you style your hair for your photos.

Optionally, when getting ready, use a nice pomade or gel to keep your hair from frizzing. Rub it between your palms before smoothing your hair with your hands. 

Try Looking Away From The Camera

The best pictures are often those that are captured in the moment. Candid photos enhance the authenticity and, by extension, the realism of movements. Sometimes it tells a story.

If you’re at an event and you spot a photographer snapping shots, take a step back and smile to yourself while looking away. You’re going to get a great picture. If facing the camera, be sure you’re not blinking excessively or staring blankly when the shots are being taken – photo shots, that is .

Mind Your Background

You don’t want a dreadful backdrop ruining your shot, so it’s best to keep your surroundings as simple as possible to avoid distractions. 

For instance, choose a plain wall to pose against if you’re capturing shots indoors. To keep the attention on you, make sure the background is clutter-free before snapping a photo. Standing in front of a basic background usually results in a better picture.

Use Photo Editing Apps

You can transform an ordinary snapshot into a work of art by using photo-editing apps on your smartphone. 

Nowadays, there are a plethora of mobile apps that allow you to take and edit images. The top apps on the market let you adjust aspects such as shutter speed, exposure, white balance, and ISO, allowing you to get a crisper picture than you would with the default camera. Some apps simplify editing images, retouching skin, adding effects, and producing stunning portraits.

Be Yourself

Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not in front of the camera; don’t try to make others believe you’re someone else. 

Let yourself be you and allow the camera to take a picture of you in a more natural state. 

In other words, you’re aiming to show viewers your personality. If you’re hiring a professional photographer to capture your photos, don’t be hesitant to talk to them. Do whatever you can to relax and be yourself to get better shots.

The Bottom Line

There you have it! We hope you have learned how to look great in front of the camera by following these tips on being more photogenic. 

Above all, remember that photography should be a fun experience, whether it’s planned or an off-the-cusp selfie.

Even if you don’t plan on becoming a male model after learning this, you have the understanding and skills to do well in front of a camera.

And always be ready for a photo by using a mattifying moisturizer! We’ve invested a lot of time and effort into developing a mattifying lotion that keeps you looking and feeling clean.