Can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic? (2024)

Can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic?What does Photogenic mean? What makes these mysterious differences? How to be photogenic? Is there any simply tricks for ordinary people, like you and me, to look photogenic? (Click HERE to check Black Friday Sales, up to 50% off)

When being asked that can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic, most people would give the “YES”answer. There aresome people around us look beautiful but not photogenic. What makes thing even more shocking is the opposite that some photogenic people do not surprise you in real life.

WHY???

What is the reason behind this strange phenomenon? Arethere any scientific explanations?

3D Person VS. 2D Picture

Firstly we should figure out what is the difference between the real-life person and the picture. The real-life person we see every day is 3D, but the picture is 2D. The reason why there are extreme photographic effects lies in thispresentation with different dimensions.

The different way the brain and the camera work causes this diverseeffect. Our brain has its own processing principles. It instructs the eyes to capture the information it needs from what we see, the facial features, the expression, and the movement. It does not have many relationships with light and shadow.

Can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic? (1)

However, a camera works in a totally different way. To make things clear, we should have a brief introduction of what photography is and what matters most in a picture. The word “photography”comes from the Latinwords “photos”(light, clarity) and “graphein”(to draw, write, paint), which means photography is an art of lighting creation. Therefore, light and shadow play a very important role in photography.

Based on the light-creation theory, it is easier to understand why some people are photogenic. Their facial features and bone structure capture light well and are more likely to create aflattering shadow under the shooting lights. That’s also why angular faces are usually photogenic. They are much less to flatten out in the transition to 2D picture.

HOW TO!!!

Although angular faces are more likely to be photogenic, it does not mean that round faces can not be photogenic. There are lots of professional models that have rounder faces and still manage to be extremely photogenic.

Genuine smiles

It is obvious that a smiling picture seems more attractive and infectious for abnormal people. But you may misunderstand what genuine smile means. When taking pictures, we are more liable to make fake smile in front the camera, which makes the picture less flattering.

Can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic? (2)

Picture from: How to FIX an AWKWARD Smile

To present a genuine smile, you should raise the corner of your mouth by contracting the zygomatic major muscle. That is what most of us do. What being neglected is that you should also contract the orbicularis oculi muscle, which raises the cheeks and forms crow’s feet wrinkles in the outer corners of the eyes. The working of both parts of muscles in the facemakes a genuine smile.

Natural and Confident Posing

Unlike professional models, being exposed to the camera lens is a little nervousandawkward. Everything seems to be stiff, how to place the hand, even how to smile.

A simple and practical way is to choose the sitting pose instead of the standing pose. Sitting in the chair not only gives you some support to lean on, but also relax your nerves with less exposure to the camera.

To make things better, you could hold something in your hand. With this tiny thing to do, the upper body turns to be more natural. And you mind will feel relax to have something to focus on rather than the picture shooting.

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Tiny but Effective Position

Another reason why people are not photogenic in picture is that cameras over-emphasize flaws. It may even distort your features when you stand close to the lens, such as your legs or arms may look stronger than they are.

Here we should keep in mind the basic principle when taking pictures, that is the closer the body to the lens, the bigger it is. If you want to have a thinner arm, you should intentionally keep your arms away from your body to get rid of the “smooshing”effect. Another way is to pose your hand on the waist and hold your elbow back to lengthen your arms.

Here is also an easy way to avoid a double chin. You can simply lift your tongue behind your front teeth with a little strength. You may be surprised to find the immediate effect in the picture. It not only helps to avoid the double chin, but also create a sleek shadowline below your jaw.

Practice

Practice makes perfect, which is also true in photography. That is also why professional models are always photogenic. With long time practising, you can not only get the right point to be photogenic, but also acquire the muscle memory to involuntary act photogenic next time when shooting.

With sufficient practice and learning, you will definitely know which expressions and angles work best for you.When THE TIME comes, you’ll know exactly how to get your most photogenic shot.

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Can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic? (2024)

FAQs

Can someone be beautiful but not photogenic? ›

When being asked that can someone be very beautiful in person, but not very photogenic, most people would give the “YES” answer. There are some people around us look beautiful but not photogenic. What makes thing even more shocking is the opposite that some photogenic people do not surprise you in real life.

Why am I attractive in person but not in photos? ›

It is important to understand that pictures are a 2-D version of real life. This simply means that photos tend to flatten your features or distort them due to certain angles. Also, since photos store everything, any awkward movement which goes unnoticed in real life is captured for everyone to see.

Why am I prettier in person than in photos? ›

Because of the proximity of your face to the camera, the lens can distort certain features, making them look larger than they are in real life. Pictures also only provide a 2-D version of ourselves.

Do you have to be attractive to be photogenic? ›

Being photogenic isn't just about attractiveness or unattractiveness. I had a friend who was super plain-looking in person but photographed like an even more handsome Chris Hemsworth and he couldn't take a bad photo of himself if he tried.

Can you be pretty but look bad in photos? ›

Distortion. Neither a mirror reflection nor a photograph is a completely accurate interpretation of the way a person looks. Both mirrors and photographs can distort our appearance depending on various factors such as lighting, angles, and distance.

When your face is not photogenic? ›

Four reasons why you're not photogenic

If you find your pics lacking, it could be due to one of these reasons: You're not prepared. It's hard to look amazing in a photo if you're not looking and feeling your best IRL. Most photogenic people begin from a place of being polished and primped.

Why do some people look bad in pictures but good in person? ›

The Lens Distortion

Another factor that can make us feel like we look worse in photos is lens distortion. Different camera lenses can distort images in various ways, sometimes making features appear slightly exaggerated or distorted.

How to check how attractive you are? ›

When considering signs you're attractive, here is what you might notice.
  1. You get compliments about your smile. ...
  2. You don't get many compliments. ...
  3. You grab people's attention and make them stare. ...
  4. A person's behavior seems strange or over-attentive. ...
  5. People gravitate toward you.
Apr 10, 2024

What do you call a person who is not photogenic? ›

Opposite of having good aesthetics in photographs. flat. ugly. unattractive. unsightly.

Why do I look so much worse on camera than in person? ›

your phone's lens is distorting the way you look. Most people don't realize this, but most smartphones use both a wide. and an ultra wide angle lens. to take both your photos and your videos. And because of this, whether you like it or not, you'll end up getting a lot of compression.

Do people look better in real life or in photos? ›

Being attractive in person doesn't automatically equal being photogenic. And being naturally photogenic doesn't automatically equal IRL attractiveness. Photographers have long been known to note the difference between the on-camera and off-camera appearances of famous models.

Why do I look better in person than pictures in psychology? ›

In 1968, a psychologist named Robert Zajonc argued people react more favorably to things they see more often — there's a familiarity bias at play. He called this the “mere exposure effect.” People see themselves mostly via mirror images, which are flipped versions of themselves that become the preferred self-image.

Do attractive people look good in photos? ›

No, some people really do look better in person. The thing about pictures is that they're static, which is a little bit of a mind bend when you think of how much motion the average human face articulates on a daily basis. There's also the interplay of lighting, position, angle, and expression. They are not photogenic.

How do you know if your face is photogenic? ›

1. Contrasting facial features. Well defined facial features translate best through the lens. If you have naturally contrasting facial features: eyebrows, lashes and lips, congratulations, you are among the 0.0003% (made up stat) of people with the photogenic gene!

How to pose if you are not photogenic? ›

The Best Photogenic Poses
  1. Try to Give Freedom to Your Hands. A lot of people make the same mistake, and their photos leave a lot to be desired. ...
  2. Lean Your Shoulders Back. Another tip on how to look good in photographs if you are tense. ...
  3. Use Props. ...
  4. Turn Your Shoulders. ...
  5. Pose Your Hair.

Is it normal to not look good in photos? ›

Perception and the Mirror Image Effect

One of the primary reasons we feel like we look worse in photos is that we're used to seeing ourselves in the mirror. We've come to recognise our appearance through this reversed image, and when we see a photograph, the differences can be jarring.

What do you call someone who doesn't like taking pictures? ›

Camera shyness is the desire to avoid being photographed or filmed. It is common for individuals who are camera-shy to fear public speaking, performing in front of an audience, and having one's picture taken by any type of camera or by video camera.

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