Secrets for Looking Great in Photographs

When I get ready in the morning and look in the mirror, I see a fairly good looking girl staring back at me. However, as soon as a camera appears, I am magically trasformed into a chubby troll with flat hair and uneven skin. Looking at pictures of myself, I think, "Is this really what people see when they look at me"!?

Unfortunately, not everyone is naturally photogenic, including myself. Luckily, there are some things I have discovered that can help bridge the gap between chubby troll and the cute girl I see in the mirror.

The most important secret for looking great in photographs is to know yourself. Know what angles best compliment your features and hide your flaws and know what colors look best on you (Tip: Complimentary colors make your eyes pop. Ex: If you have green eyes, try pinkish toned shadow).

Posture and confidence is huge! Think Heidi Klum rockin' the catwalk. Relax your shoulders and stand up straight. This will instantly make you look thinner and more confident.

Also, flash those pearly whites, but don't let your smile become too stiff. You can always tell when someone is truly smiling in a photo or when they are faking it. This is why some of the best photographs happen by accident - when the subject is caught off guard.

If all else fails, there are a number of things that can be done AFTER a photo has been developed. Red eye can be eliminated and blemishes camoflauged with just a few clicks of a mouse using photo editing programs such as Photoshop. The possibilities for more experienced Photoshoppers are limitless - take off pounds, plump up lips, remove wrinkles, tame frizzy hair, etc.

Remember that pics of models and celebrities that you see in magazines have been altered considerably. Realize this and don't be hard on yourself if you take a less-than-perfect pic! Just keep trying!