HOW TO LOOK GREAT IN PICTURES

Learn how to read light. “If you’re a brunette, make sure your hair is of your face so it doesn’t cast a shadow. If you’re a blonde, try to be backlit. The light will wrap around your face and give you a beautiful glow.”

It’s hard to leave the house these days without ending up in a group selfie. Oh, who are we kidding—it’s happening at home, too. We asked Allure’s creative director, Paul Cavaco, who has worked with every legendary model in the business, how to look our best.

Photo Credit: © Psychology Today

Practice in front of a mirror. “You know why models look so great in pictures? It’s not just because they’re beautiful and photogenic—really. It’s because they practice. Every single person in the world feels self-conscious about posing, but the ones who do it well are the ones who know their best side, how to stand, where to place their feet, and how to hold their arms because they did it in front of the bathroom mirror a thousand times.”

Know your smile. “Do you look better with a big smile or sexier with a smirk? A smile can close the face all your features migrate a bit closer together at the center. Learn how to make your eyes pop open so they don’t disappear. If you can open up your eyes without looking maniacal, that’s always good.” 

Follow your nose. “No one in the world has a completely symmetrical face, and usually it’s the nose that leans one way or the other. Find out which way your nose tilts, and pose with the light coming from that side. If your nose tilts to the right and the light comes from the left, it will make your nose more prominent.” 

Hold yourself high. “If you’re taking a full-length picture, position your feet 45 degrees to the side, then twist your shoulders to the camera—that slims the waist and lengthens the legs. Plant one foot in front of the other and bend the front knee slightly, pushing against the ground; the tension in your leg creates definition. If you’re in the middle of a group shot, stick out your bottom. Your waist will look more defined from the front.”  —DANIELLE PERGAMENT