Photogenic 101

You’re pretty cute. Your friends say you’re hot, and you feel confident, so that’s good. But even super-supreme selfie queens need to learn a little about how to handle themselves when striking a pose for still photos, walking red carpets or streaming on Periscope. Plus, few people are naturally photogenic — ya gotta werk it.

You can learn to enhance what you’ve got and feel more comfortable in front of the camera. The first thing the pros will tell you: Practice, practice, practice!

That’s right — take lots of selfies, do photos in different types of light, watch yourself move in a mirror… Check out those shadows, bumps and bulges. This will help you learn which angles are best for you, as well as reveal any issues you may want to conceal.

You don’t have to be Zoolander, but here are a few tips:

• Look at the camera from a side angle, not square on. A Wake Forest University study showed that to test subjects, the left side of the face looks more photogenic than the right side.

• To avoid a double chin, elongate your neck and accentuate your jawline by sticking out your forehead and tilting your chin down slightly — not too much or you’ll create a double chin even if you don’t have one.

• When you’re sitting, take the shot with the camera tilted down toward the table, while you angle your face up for the shot. Again, you’ll eliminate any double chin.

• Press your tongue behind your upper teeth when you smile. This will soften your smile so you don’t look forced and, at the same time, enhance your jaw and cheek lines.

• When taking a full-length shot, place the camera at a lower angle. This will give you a longer look.

• If have a normal body with a few fleshy parts and are concerned about problem areas, remember to pose so your upper arms are not pressed flat against your body (hand on the hip works good) and, again, angle your body toward the camera.

• Don’t be afraid to use props and wardrobe or body makeup to minimize areas that make you feel uncomfortable.

We all know that moving on-cam is a lot different from posing for pretty-girl pics. When it comes to shooting live action, pros will tell you “it’s all about lighting.”

There are some YouTube tutorials on lighting specifically for webcam, and they’re pretty helpful. On Daily Candy, photographer/director Matthew Rolston gives some awesome tips. The most important, according him, is you don’t want to be backlit (have the lighting behind you). Light yourself with a diffused glow from the front to avoid harsh shadows. Rolston says lights can be as inexpensive as a desk lamp or a lamp with a shade.

Videographer Caleb Wojcik gives 10 quick must-follow tips that will instantly improve the quality of your cam feed. Podcaster Daniel J. Lewis gives a solid tutorial about lighting for webcam, with specs for equipment and Amazon links for the hardware he uses. In this tutorial, professional model Cassandra Bankson offers great tips for simple make-up and poses for photos.

Study yourself, do your research and get comfortable on camera, in photos and onscreen. If you’re self-conscious at all, that will change as you feel more in control. Fans respond to your total awesomeness (even if you’re a shy girl). Remember that lots of fans will love your differences, so when you get positive feedback, rock on!

Everyone’s different, and there are many flavors of  beauty. It’s great to live in a time when you can choose your own look, isn’t it?