How to look photogenic!

“#Selfie”, “#DuckFace”, “#NoMakeUp”, “#NoFilter”... These “words” form a lexicon of their own in the self absorbed age that is the 21st century. And it’s likely you’ll be dragged into a picture whenever you step out of the house – whether you’re a photograph-enthusiast or not.

It’s the Age of Selfie, but it’s also the Age of the Internet; and unfortunately, these two aren’t always a great combination. Sure, sometimes it means that you get a hundred “likes” on Facebook and Instagram, but what if it’s because that picture with your eyelids half closed and mouth in a mortifying toothless smile goes viral?

It’s necessary to know how to look gorgeous in photos, whether you like the flash of camera or not. Here are ten quick tips which will save you from becoming the next Bad Luck Brian.

1. The most common problem people seem to face is photos with half-closed eyes. Especially when they keep retaking the photo but keep ending up with the same deranged zombie look. (Or you keep your eyes wide open and end up looking like the woman from Grudge has just popped up behind the cameraman).
   
   
   This issue can be solved with one simple trick though! Close your eyes before the picture is being taken, and open them slowly as the camera clicks. And no more jokes about being perfect for a horror movie!
   
2. To avoid that ugly double chin that make you look like a gorilla who’s just eaten a panda, try elongating your neck and pushing your face forward. It might feel like you’ll end up looking like a giraffe, but it does look great in the end. Try “sticking out” your forehead and tipping your chin down (because the end of your chin hides the double chin which gets so exemplified in photos).
   
3. Have you ever wondered how Sonam Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai always look so perfect and gorgeous in photos? How does Deepika Padukone never have a human moment? How come even Tiger Shrauf ends up being more photogenic? The secret doesn’t lie with them as much as it does with their makeup artists.
   
   Perfect makeup can really make the difference in a photo, but remember: no makeup is better than bad makeup. Artist Fiona Stiles who preps people like Halle Berry and Elizabeth Banks for the red carpet says, “When foundation is too pale for your skin tone, it becomes very obvious when the flash hits your skin. Match your skin to your chest and add a thin layer to your neck if your neck is paler.
   
   
   
4. Try looking at your favourite pictures of yourself and notice patterns. Do you look better from a certain angle? What kind of smile suits you the best? Try to replicate these poses but make sure that they’re still different. It’s not hard to end up the star of every photoshop joke is you look the exact same in every picture.
   
5. Here’s an old school red carpet trick: Put your tongue behind your teeth when you smile to avoid that goofy, wide grin.
   
6. Shiny hair is really the secret to many good photos, even if they aren’t the centre of your attention. Try looking for a shampoo that gives your hair a nice shine, or find a spray-on shine you can carry around with you.
   
7. If your friends or family surprise you with a photo-op when you’re at your lowest, you can still save yourself. Blot your face with a tissue, then pinch your cheeks to create a rosy glow. Even if you’re dark skinned, it’ll get the blood to your face and prevent you from looking pale.
   
8. If you end up with red eye in photos all the time, look towards a bright light just before the photo is snapped. This shrinks the size of your pupil, and when you turn your gaze to the camera, it isn’t likely you’ll end up with demonic red eyes.
   
9. We might have asked you to keep your hair shiny, but avoid making your skin shiny with sparkle and such. It doesn’t look good in photos and might give your skin an oily look. Instead, try sparkle below your neck. Dust your collarbone and shoulders with a shimmering powder; it makes your collarbone look sharper.
   
10. Try thinking of a funny joke or talking to the people around you just before the photo is taken. This way you might end up with a natural smile which trumps a fake one any day of the year.

That brings us to the end of the list. But most importantly, remember that other people won’t notice the flaws you do in a photo. They’re not going to notice that your eyebrows look different from each other or that your smile shows too many teeth; they won’t notice even if you’re the only person in the picture. Build up your confidence and take pictures, and don’t let the product deter your confidence.

In the end, photographs are fun, and always become immortal memories. Have fun and don’t let a camera control your mind. Strike some funny poses and goofy grins to go with the elegant ones!