Not photogenic (sepia, hobby, photoshop, camera)

[fallingwater]

I am been photographing for years. I have the eye, love it as a hobby and have been fortunate to have some photographs published. So it pains me that I am VERY un-photogenic. A decent photograph of me is rare. I really shy away from getting my photo taken and its causing a problem now as my husband complains that our children will never have any photos of me after Im dead and gone. I do admit its a problem. There are many holidays its everyone but me.

I am attractive but you would never know it from photographs. I have physical characteristics that simply are bad for photographing. All of these oddities add up to troll in photography.

I take photos of myself and some turn out decent but they need a little photoshop mostly. Black and white, sepia and a slight blur really help. A straight up snapshot is horrible. This of course is where the problem is, someone else will have the camera and that is where things go very badly. My mother-n-law is camera happy and a horrible photographer. She puts my pictures in photo albums and shows distant relatives. These relatives will meet me in person finally and I always get the same question. "Wow honey, did u lose weight?"

So here is a list of my troll features. Any tips on how to look like a human?

I have a round face shape. Close ups are not my friend.
I have small eyes that turn to slits if I smile which makes me look like I had a few drinks too many. If I don't smile I look mad.
I have a large bust. Frontal shots make me look obese. Side shots, depends on the shirt can look worse.
I have a short neck, if I am looking downward at all, I have a double chin.

Tips anyone?

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by fallingwater

So here is a list of my troll features. Any tips on how to look like a human?

I have a round face shape. Close ups are not my friend.

Don't turn your face straight into the camera, angle it slightly, about 45 degrees from the camera so it's not a profile but not straight on either. Like this: Danielle on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinmcnallyphotography/3751849051/in/set-72157621805966590/ - broken link)
But your eyes don't have to be looking away from the camera, they can be turned back to look into the camera - just be careful not to turn your face too far so your eyes are straining to look back.

If you're doing a self portrait where you have control of the lighting rather than someone else taking a snapshot, use short lighting, not broad. Short lighting is when the side of your face which is towards the camera is mostly in shadow - broad lighting is the opposite, lit side of your face is towards the camera.

I have small eyes that turn to slits if I smile which makes me look like I had a few drinks too many. If I don't smile I look mad.

Don't give a full smile - go for a faint but soft smile, lips closed and turned up only partially. Like this (this is my own self portrait): Self Portrait on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinmcnallyphotography/3752216577/in/set-72157621805966590/ - broken link)

I have a large bust. Frontal shots make me look obese. Side shots, depends on the shirt can look worse.

Again, position your body so it's pointing at a 45 degree angle from the camera - right inbetween a side shot and full frontal.

I have a short neck, if I am looking downward at all, I have a double chin.

Lift your chin! Again, if you have control of the lighting, use short light - butterfly lighting would be best to hide a double chin but that's not ideal for round faces.

[fallingwater]

Originally Posted by PA2UK

Don't turn your face straight into the camera, angle it slightly, about 45 degrees from the camera so it's not a profile but not straight on either. Like this: Danielle on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinmcnallyphotography/3751849051/in/set-72157621805966590/ - broken link)
But your eyes don't have to be looking away from the camera, they can be turned back to look into the camera - just be careful not to turn your face too far so your eyes are straining to look back.

If you're doing a self portrait where you have control of the lighting rather than someone else taking a snapshot, use short lighting, not broad. Short lighting is when the side of your face which is towards the camera is mostly in shadow - broad lighting is the opposite, lit side of your face is towards the camera.



Don't give a full smile - go for a faint but soft smile, lips closed and turned up only partially. Like this (this is my own self portrait): Self Portrait on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinmcnallyphotography/3752216577/in/set-72157621805966590/ - broken link)



Again, position your body so it's pointing at a 45 degree angle from the camera - right inbetween a side shot and full frontal.



Lift your chin! Again, if you have control of the lighting, use short light - butterfly lighting would be best to hide a double chin but that's not ideal for round faces.

Thanks for the tips! I like how you added the photos so I could see what you are talking about. Great shots by the way.

[photobuff42]

I also feel like I am attractive but not photogenic. I think the best pictures of me are when the photographer just takes pictures, especially wehn I'm doing something and am not posed.