Pro Photographer's Quick Tips: How To Look Better in Photographs

The question I get asked most often is...drumroll.... "What can I do to look better in photographs?"

Because the camera sees a little differently than the human eye, we can all use a little help with this!  I had a little help from one of my very favorite subjects, (I had to bribe her by making pancakes) to demonstrate my favorite 6 tips (and a bonus!) on how to pose whether it's for a selfie, a photo with friends, a family portrait or a business portrait with a professional photographer.  (Of course, at that point, you'll have the help of a pro, but you'll be ahead of the game with these tips!)

1.  Turn your body slightly away from the camera rather than facing the camera straight on.  Facing the camera straight on will make you look wider, so if you'd like to appear thinner, then turn your body a little.

2.  Keep your arms slightly bent and away from your body.  Any body part that is pushed against another will look bigger, so create a slight gap between your arm and your body.

3.  In a group, try not to be the one on the ends (closest to the camera).  The closer to the camera, the bigger the object will look.

4.  Keep the camera just slightly above eye level.  First of all, no one looks good with an up the nose camera angle.  Again, the face will look slimmer with a slightly higher camera angle.  (Slightly, not super high)

5.  Maintain good posture, keep your shoulders back.  Good posture always makes you look more confident (and slimmer!)

6.  Finally, my favorite tip: bring your chin out and slightly down.  Not so much that the tendons stand out in your neck, but just enough to get rid of the double chin effect that happens.  We all have a tendency to pull back from the camera or pull our chin in when we laugh--giving the dreaded double chin!  You might will feel goofy, but from the camera view, you'll look amazing!

My bonus tip:  There are lots of articles on the psychology of the arms crossed pose--whether or not you think it's good or bad, I don't recommend it for portraits. The pose is often seen as a psychological and physical barrier--don't risk it!

Here's to looking better!

Featuring: Behind the Scenes with RED Capital Group in San Diego, California

A couple of weeks ago, I was shooting on a corporate job for RED Capital Group in their downtown San Diego, California office.  I love shooting in cities--typically lots of open shade, lots of textures and backgrounds.  I always arrive early to scout my shooting locations.  Large cities like San Diego are rich with locations--and I really love when my clients request a background that identifies with their office location or what they do.

In this instance I was really excited to find a wall painted in multiple colors in a parking lot across the street from the offices I was working in and right next to that, a gorgeous old brick wall.  All that and the trolley that rolled through every ten minutes or so.

 I also love finding light to shoot with.  I come to jobs fully prepared to make my own light if I need to, but love to find places that will give me the light I'm looking for.  In this case, a storefront window offered two long, thin lights tucked just inside the window and gave me fabulous catchlights for my subject's eyes.

  Stuff happens--like stepping in I don't even want to tell you what!!

But hey, live and learn!  You can be sure I've now added Clorox wipes to my shoot kit!  


            

Pro Photographer's Quick Tips: What To Do When You Don't Have a Makeup or Hair Artist For Your Shoot

You've been prepping ahead of time for your shoot and have followed my advice on what to do in advance of your shoot. You've been drinking lots of water and getting enough sleep.  It's the day of your shoot and time to do your hair and makeup.  Now what?  If you don't have a professional makeup or hair artist at the ready, don't worry, I've got you covered!  Here are my favorite tips for perfect makeup and hair for your shoot.

Think these tips are just for women?  Guys, you'll benefit from (well, some) of these tips too!

1. Hydrate your skin:  (This works for both men and women!) Begin by hydrating your skin with a lightweight, non greasy moisturizer.  (preferably without SPF which sometimes has ingredients that can make your face look shinier) A good moisturizer will plump up your skin and it will look softer, firmer and smoother.  And hydrating with a good moisturizer will prevent makeup from looking too "cake-y".

2.  Think MATTE:  Use matte makeup so that your skin won't look greasy or shiny or reflect the light.  Matte makeup also covers inconsistency in skin textures (i.e. wrinkles!) making your skin look smoother.  It can cover any redness in the skin or blemishes.  It goes without saying that your foundation should match your skin tone exactly.

3.  Limit shimmery blushes or eyeshadows:  In camera, a shiny area is like a spotlight and will attract attention.  (However, a little shiny lipgloss is good because it can make your lips look more full!)

4.  Highlight and brighten the focal point of the portrait: your eyes:  Got dark circles?  Use a yellow based under eye concealer to hide them.  Use eyeliner to define the eye on your upper lid and use a shadow that will highlight your eye, blending it to the outer corners with a brush. For blue eyes, choose warm tones to balance them.  For brown eyes, most any color will work, but purple, bronze and navy work well.  For green eyes, reddish browns are good options.  And for hazel eyes cool tones work well.  Don't forget mascara and use an eyebrow pencil to fill in thin brows.

5.  Apply your makeup just a *little heavier than you think you'll need it:  Even if you are going for a more subtle look, the camera sees differently than our eye does. Makeup will look less dramatic than to our eye.  Be sure to bring your makeup with you in case you need to add a little more.

6. Apply your makeup in natural light if possible.  If it looks good there, it will most likely look good in any lighting condition.

7.  Plan for your hair in advance:  Hair requires a little advance planning.  If you color your hair, it's important to see your stylist in advance to avoid showing root grow out.  A cut or trim needs a bit of settling in--another reason to make your appointment prior to your shoot.  The day of the shoot, plan to bring some sort of hair serum (works better than hairspray) with you to smooth flyaways or frizzy hair.

Good makeup application and good hair only enhances my post production work and makes for an even more natural look so that you will look your best in your portrait!

Have you got more questions on how to prepare for your portrait?  Look here and here!

I can't wait to see you!

Connection...Or Not?

I am a firm believer in connection.  As in connecting in a portrait with the eyes.

As viewers, we are drawn in by the eyes.  It's the eyes that create a feeling of connection for the viewer,  making us feel like we "know" the subject.  And that's important when it comes to business portraits and head shots.  You WANT to connect with your viewer, make them FEEL like they already know you.

I like shooting portraits with connection--I feel like it's been a successful portrait session when I've gotten that expression with great eye connection with my subject.

That said, there is a time and a place for a portrait where the subject is not looking at the lens.  As a viewer, we want to know what the subject is looking at outside the frame--if you don't show it, it can create intrigue--and if done right, we want to know more about this person.  The images tend to be more candid, perhaps more charming and very natural.

Are these images usable for business?  It completely depends on your business branding.  Would it work for a banker?  Maybe not, but maybe!  For a creative or an entrepreneur?  Most likely!  It's all about your brand and who you are.

Whatever your brand, let's create a business portrait that will stand out!  

Change!

I was at trader joes last week chatting with the checker about New Years resolutions. She said "I don't make them anymore, I never follow through," On one hand, her statement felt really freeing, but on the other hand, it felt defeatist. Like giving up. Since that conversation, I've been thinking a lot about New Year's resolutions and why we make them on a certain day.

As I've gotten older (and wiser) I've come to realize there is no magic to January 1.  Or Mondays.  Or Mondays that fall on the first day of the month. (!) But the bottom line is, that I won't give up.  It doesn't mater when you start to change, because "A year from now, you will wish you had started today." (Karen Lamb)

My mantra for change in both my professional and personal life comes from Napoleon Hill--"Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right'.  Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along."  No, definitely not perfect at remembering this, but getting better!  

Happy New Year's--here's to change happening all year long!  See you in 2016!

Behind the Scenes: RED Capital Group--Columbus and Dallas

When I was little, I used to watch the sky to see planes overhead to give me a jolt of wanderlust.

Last Monday found me up in the air, traveling for the week, changing the world, one headshot at a time. My wanderlust was on. Travel can be exhausting and exhilarating, tedious and exciting, tiring and invigorating all at the same time but I feel lucky that I'm exploring the world and meeting so many different kinds of people. 

Here’s a few behind the scenes from my shoot for The RED Capital Group in Columbus and Dallas last week.  Many thanks to Lisalynne Quinn and Joy Selby Cain of RED Capital Group for their behind the scenes pics and their super duper assisting and Kimberly Boyenger for her fantastic makeup and hair artistry.  

My Columbus hotel: The renovated Buckeye Savings and Loan in downtown Columbus.  Now this would be a cool place to shoot in!

Downtown Columbus Sunrise

Makeup and Hair by Kimberly Boyenger (photo credit: Lisa Lynne Quinn)

One of my favorite parts of a shoot is finding my locations.  Loved shooting here!

Panorama by Joy Selby Cain of one the shoot spaces

Sometimes the smallest of spaces yields awesome results

My Mad Men pose.

I don't often have time to do much exploring while I'm in a city working, but took an evening excursion to find the Short North Public Art in Columbus, Ohio (photo credit: Joy Selby Cain)

On to the next stop: Dallas!

The Dallas shoot space next to the Clock tower of the Mercantile National Bank

Amazingly, Dallas was quite dark and overcast so I added a little of my own soft light by bouncing a diffused speed light off a white wall and ceiling.

 I keep everyone in stitches obviously.

Lisa Lynne braving the elements so I can get set up before the talent arrives.

A different look by facing my subject toward the window and using the white wall behind her to create a high key portrait.

I'm looking forward to seeing y'all soon!  (Whoops--A little holdover from Dallas!)