Have you ever wondered what makes what makes someone photogenic?
Some people seem to look great in every photo: they’re always effortless, natural, relaxed.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are sitting there like: Why do I always look awkward in photos?
It’s easy to assume that being photogenic is something you’re either born with or you’re not; but in reality, being photogenic has very little to do with natural beauty.
Most of the time, it comes down to a few key factors that have more to do with comfort, expression, and how the photo is taken. Let’s break that down:
Expression is key
The biggest difference between someone who looks natural in photos and someone who looks uncomfortable usually comes down to expression. People who photograph well tend to look relaxed and engaged rather than stiff or overly posed.
That doesn’t mean they have perfect smiles or flawless features, it just means their expression looks genuine.
When someone feels comfortable, their eyes soften, their posture changes, and their face naturally reflects their personality. Those small cues make a huge difference in how a photo feels.
In fact, probably 90% of my clients tell me before the shoot that they feel super uncomfortable being photographed. How I help them feel before the shoot day goes a long way to helping them feel relaxed, comfortable during their brand session, so we get the most genuine images of them.
Comfort in front of the camera
Many people who appear photogenic simply have more experience being photographed.
Actors, models, and public figures spend years learning how to relax in front of a camera. They understand how small movements and shifts in posture affect how they appear.
Most of us don’t have that level of experience with being photographed, so getting in front of a camera can feel unfamiliar and a little vulnerable. But we can start to feel more comfortable by just getting in front of more cameras.
This doesn’t mean you have to book a professional brand session every quarter, but if you spend more time photographing yourself, or even posting video of yourself on social media, it can help with relieving that camera anxiety.
Lighting changes everything
Lighting plays a major role in how someone looks in a photograph.
Soft, directional light can highlight facial features and create natural dimension. Harsh overhead light, on the other hand, can create shadows that emphasize things we’d normally never notice.
As a professional, I spend a lot of time thinking about where light is coming from and how it falls across someone’s face…because good lighting can make a person look refreshed and natural, while poor lighting can make even the most confident person look tired or uncomfortable.
Camera angles and positioning makes all the difference
Small changes in angle or how a photographer positions the camera can dramatically change the proportions of a face or body.
It takes experience and a good eye to understand how and why one person looks good being shot straight on, while another person is more flattered by a slight angle. Why this person looks most engaging with a slight smirky smile and their chin tilted up, while another draws you in with a head tilt and a genuine laughing smile.
Angles aren’t about hiding someone’s features. It’s about photographing them in a way that reflects how they appear to others.
Importantly, at any brand shoot, I take photos that simply aren’t flattering. It’s part of the internal, quiet process of me figuring out how my client looks their best and most natural. And it’s why delivering my clients a curated selection of the best, most engaging, on-brand photos of them is so important to me.
The photographer’s direction
One of the biggest factors in whether someone looks photogenic is the person behind the camera.
A good photographer doesn’t just take photos. They help guide the entire experience. That includes:
- giving prompts instead of stiff poses
- seeing how people move naturally, and guiding them in that direction
- creating conversation and a fun environment so expressions feel real
- adjusting posture and angles in subtle ways
- supporting clients during the entire process (this includes before the photo shoot!)
I’ve found over and over again that when my clients are comfortable, the camera tends to capture a much more authentic version of them.
If you feel like you’re “not photogenic”
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not photogenic, you’re far from alone. Many people feel that way, especially if most of their photos come from quick phone snapshots or awkward group pictures. But the experience of being photographed can be very different when the environment is relaxed and the process is collaborative.
If you’re a creative, coach, or therapist, who knows you need photos but feels unsure about how to show up naturally on camera, you’re in the right place.
Before any camera comes out, I work alongside my clients to understand how they want to show up, and what will help them feel comfortable during the shoot. This includes planning out the story their photos should tell well beforehand.
That planning process is what makes the photos feel natural. You can read more about that process HERE.
READ MORE…
If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with appearing in photos, you might also find these other blog posts helpful:
