Comments on: How to look real in photographs?

Question: How to look real in photographs?

russmail — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:24:21 -0800

What's the best way to react when a camera is pointing at you so that you look real/ not like an idiot in the photograph?

Whether someone else is taking the picture or you're trying to do a quick self-portrait, more often than not the outcome is awful - as MySpace/ facebook/ Match etc testify. You look at the outcome and wonder, "who is this person?" I want to have photographs of me of which I want to say, "this is me - I am this person." How?

By: Rabulah

Rabulah — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:28:02 -0800

Don't react. Forget that the camera is there. That way, you wont be modifying your behaviour.

Easier said than done, obviously.

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:29:27 -0800

Don't look at the camera.

By: caitlinb

caitlinb — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:31:30 -0800

Yes, don't react. But the reality is that most people will tend to look awkward in casual candid photos, because few of the people who take such photos have the discipline to take multiple shots, so they have alternatives to the 'transitional' expressions, or indeed to weed out the bad shots, anyway.

For self-portraits, you have to practice practice practice.

Models do "mirror work" to become intimately aware of how they look at all times. If you're compulsive, you could try that.

By: Sassyfras

Sassyfras — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:35:54 -0800

A few good ideas here.

By: WizKid

WizKid — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:39:18 -0800

This has little to do with you and has more to do with the person taking the photos.
Some people just don't know how to take natural photos at a party. Every time they wanted to take a photo they have that urge to call everyone and say "Hey, I'm taking a photo. so smile"

By: caddis

caddis — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:55:11 -0800

butt clench

By: rhizome

rhizome — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:15:53 -0800

I agree with WizKid, it's not you...it's the photographer. Nobody looks natural when forced to pose, at least not without practice.

By: Lieber Frau

Lieber Frau — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:31:44 -0800

If you're looking at the camera, try not to look at the "lens", but the eyes of the person behind the lens.

By: DaShiv

DaShiv — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:44:48 -0800

Don't look into the lens; take the rare opportunity to look through the lens, directly at the eyeballs of the photographer and straight into his or her soul. Ponder and react accordingly. You may or may not want to smile at what you see.

By: lhall

lhall — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:12:35 -0800

Hold your shoulders back, stick your chin out as far as you can, turn your face so it's at a 3/4 angle, tilt your chin down a little. That's what they do in portrait studios...it feels weird, but it works - it means you've got good posture, no double chin (or "meatbeard"), and most people photograph well at 3/4 and that angle. Hence, the "Myspace pose" or taking photos from above. Practice in a mirror first.

By: sjl7678

sjl7678 — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:44:50 -0800

In a group portrait (especially an informal one) people have a tendency to lean in toward the person in the center. Don't do that.

By: bradbane

bradbane — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:52:52 -0800

Speaking as a photographer, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with whoever is taking the photo. Most people taking snapshots are going to take one picture, not a bunch and then pick the best which is what anyone not taking a snapshot would do.

Someone once told me the only difference between good and bad photographers is that good photographers only show people their successes and hide the rest. It's true... photography is all about editing.

By: radioamy

radioamy — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:25:26 -0800

Don't look directly at the camera, always have your face turned a little bit to the left or right.

By: skryche

skryche — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:52:49 -0800

Instead of merely smiling at the camera, give the camera a big thumbs up, too. Notice the way you're smiling now? Okay, you can get rid of the thumb now.

The results are cheesy -- but 1000x better than the alternative, I've found.

By: fluffycreature

fluffycreature — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:42:37 -0800

Are you comfortable with the camera and having your picture taken?

If so, pretend you just saw a good friend who you saw recently but are glad to see again. Not the overly excited emotion because you have not seen the friend in two years - just happy to see someone close to you.

If you are not comfortable with the camera, learn to enjoy seeing pictures of a party and the good times. Most likely other people like seeing these pictures as well, with you in them. Having your picture taken is part of this process - no one likes there picture taken for the most part and you need to get over and be comfortable.

Otherwise, as mentioned above, if the photography is doof and is calling everyone to attention for "the photo" - it's staged and that is cumbersome for everyone. Slap the photographer.

Butt clenching is a new one - time for some research...