{Thursday Tips}

Five Ways to Look Your Best in a Photograph

1. Wear solid dark toned colors. Dark colors will make you look slimmer and because photos literally flatten you out patterns are the worst thing to wear to a party when you know you will be photographed or a portrait session.

2. Get rid of that double chin. If you make sure the photographer is slightly higher than you there will be no chance of them catching even a hint of a double chin. Sometimes even the slimmest of women still get a double chin when they laugh and we all hate our double chins. If you can be seated and look up at the photographer that is even better. So remember to look up!

3. Keep your face matte. Often times at parties it can get warm at times and just from standing around you will get a bit of a glow. Carry blotters with you so you can keep from getting shinny. Even though that dewy look is so great on models, it really does not do wonders for the rest of us. Here is a silly little trick if you are in a public restroom trying for a quick touch up and find yourself without blotters: use an unused toilette seat cover, they are perfect for soaking up extra moisture and grease. Believe me, this works perfectly (almost better than those powder infused blotters) even though it is a bit odd.

4. Talk with a smile. If there are photographers taking candids at the party, it is best to keep a smile going anytime you think of it. The worst is to see a photo of yourself deep in conversation. Don’t be so serious.

5. Giggle. Here is the number one best piece of advice I will give you. For the rest of your life, anytime you are getting a photo taken of yourself, giggle. Even if it is fake. If you just giggle a little you will always love the outcome of your photos. Here is why: your laugh muscles are different than your smile muscles. When you giggle your brain thinks you are going to laugh and so it triggers your more natural laugh muscles and not your fake, forced smile muscles. It works every time. So what if your friends think you are a little crazy giggling to yourself, you will always look great in a photo and that is all that matters!