Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and think, “What the heck is wrong with me?” If so, you’re not alone. Most people struggle to take flattering photographs because there are lots of factors that go into creating a beautiful photo. There isn’t just one thing that makes someone appear ugly in photos; there are several things. The first step to looking your best in photos is understanding why you may look unappealing in images. Read on reasons why you might not be a natural red carpet star, and see which of these problems may be affecting you.
Why Am I Ugly In Pictures?
1. You Have Bad Lighting
Lighting is crucial to take a good photo. You may be gorgeous, but if the light is coming from behind you, you’re not going to look your best. You may have beautiful skin, a great smile, and a ton of fashionable accessories, but if the lighting is bad, you might not look as fabulous as you think you do. The most common type of lighting is called even lighting. This is when the light is evenly dispersed across the whole room. If the light source is too close to you, or if you’re taking a photo near a window, it can cast a shadow across your face, which can distort your features. This can make you appear unappealing, or even scary, in your photo.
2. Your Face Is Stretched Or Squished
If you’ve ever taken a selfie, you know how tricky it can be to look good in one. There are a few factors that can make your selfie come out looking less than flattering. If you’re taking a selfie, you don’t have the benefit of a photographer to position you, so you have to make sure your face isn’t squished or stretched. If your face is too squished, your eyes will look smaller, your mouth will appear larger, and your nose will look bigger. If you have a short neck, this will be even more noticeable in a selfie. If your face is too stretched, your eyes will look too big, your nose will appear tiny, and your mouth will look small. It’s not impossible to avoid these problems—if you’re taking a selfie, just be sure to position your head so that the frame of the camera is in the middle of your face, not on the squished or stretched side. You should also try to tilt your head upwards slightly, so your eyes look slightly upward, instead of squished down.
3. You’re Too Bright Or Too Dark
As mentioned above, lighting is crucial to take a good photo, but that doesn’t mean you need to be in a pitch-black room. You don’t want to be too bright, or too dark. You want to be in the middle, which is called being “well-lit”. The camera flash is the easiest way to get a well-lit photo, but it’s not perfect. If you’re taking a picture in a dark room, the flash will be too strong, and your face will be too bright, which will make it look overexposed (too brightly lit) and washed out. If you’re taking a selfie outside during the day, you’ll likely be too dark, unless you have a special lighting app for your phone.
4. You’re Shooting From A Bad Angle
If you’re taking a regular-looking photo, you may not have to worry about this problem, but if you’re trying to make yourself look slimmer, taller, or more slender, bad angles can ruin your photo. You can shoot yourself from almost any angle, but make sure the camera is at eye level (when you’re standing up), not below your eye level (when you’re sitting down). If you shoot yourself from below, you may appear fatter than you actually are, and if you shoot yourself from above, you may seem skinnier.
5. Your Hair Isn’t Right
Hair is an important part of any photo, but it can be especially important in photos where you’re trying to look your best. Your hair should be clean, and it should be styled in a way that complements your face. If you have short hair, don’t try to make it appear longer by using extensions, or putting it up in a ponytail or bun. If you have long hair, don’t cut it super short, or style it in a way that doesn’t look good on you. You should also make sure you’re wearing the right color. If you have dark hair, don’t wear bright red clothes, and if you have light-colored hair, don’t wear super dark clothing.
How To Fix It Ugly Pictures?
1. Find Good Light
The best way to make yourself look better in a photo is to shoot in good lighting. That’s because the light is what actually makes you look like yourself. It illuminates your features, shapes your face, and gives you dimension. Flash, on the other hand, tends to flatten everything out and create an unflattering glow. So, if you want to look good, avoid flash when you can. Instead, find a nice natural light source. It’ll make all the difference.
2. Set Up Your Environment
Your location is another element of your photo that can make you look better or worse. If you’re shooting in a shoddy, dirty room, your picture is going to look shoddy, and dirty. It’s as simple as that. You’ll want to think about how your environment will impact your photo, and try to make it work for you. For example, if you’re trying to take a nice outdoor shot, choose a clean and well-lit area. If you’re trying to take a nice indoor shot, choose a room that is clean and well-lit.
3. Be Selective About Which Photos You Share
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth remembering when you’re taking pictures. You don’t need to post every single photo you take. In fact, it’d probably be best if you didn’t. Instead, be selective about the photos you post. Make sure they’re high quality and well-lit, and that they illustrate the best version of yourself. Even if you have tons of flaws, a single great photo of you is better than a hundred bad ones.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Edit
Now, this is a tricky one. And like everything else on this list, we’re not saying you should do this all the time. But there are certain occasions where editing your photos can actually make you look better. And for those times when you do want to edit your photos, there are tons of free options online. For example, you could use an app like Snapseed or VSCO. Alternatively, you could use a photo editing website like Canva.
Tips For Good Photo
- The first and foremost tip to look pretty in pictures is to smile. Even if you aren’t feeling it, fake it till you make it. Smiling is the most expressive feature on our faces and it’s really hard to look grim when you are smiling.
- The next most important tip to look pretty in pictures is to have great posture. When you are standing with proper posture, your body looks slimmer and you don’t appear as tired or lethargic as you might otherwise look.
- Our mirror reflection is skewed because we see ourselves from one angle — and that’s it! This is why you should get your pictures taken outside in natural light as this will give your selfies a natural glow. If you are taking pictures inside, you should use a flash, or else your pictures will come out looking flat.
Summary
Bad lighting, a bad angle, and a cluttered environment can all make you appear unappealing in photos, but so can overexposure, a bad haircut, and wearing clothes that don’t match your hair color. Even if you can’t control the lighting in a room, or if you can’t move your couch to make your living room less cluttered, you can still look your best in photos by paying attention to your haircut, the color of your clothing, and how you are positioned in the frame. If you want to look your best in photos, make sure you’re not making any of these mistakes. Practice taking pictures until you get the results you want, and remember, don’t get too critical of yourself – after all, everyone has bad photos.
