How to make myself look better in a photo?

[sartracker]

I'm involved in a formal, church investiture and there will be at least one professional photographer taking random and formal photos.

I hate having my picture taken! Age has blessed me with a sagging neck that didn't go away when I lost weight. I feel like I need a really high turtleneck shirt to hide it. The rest of me isn't too bad although I have a weird smile, it doesn't curve like a smile usually does. So I love taking other people's photos but stay away from being in front of the camera. Am I the only photog who hates having a photo taken?

This time I won't have a choice! Any hints on how to hold my head so my neck doesn't have 3 chins and/or how to make my mouth look like a smile - toothpicks?

I'm semi joking but really serious too. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! The event starts this Friday and is over late Sunday.

Thanks!

[BigFuzzy]

Sadly, for the candid shots, there's very little you can do as you can't prepare for them..

As for the formal shots, I would suggest speaking to the photographer and tell him your concerns.. he should be amenable to trying to capture as best possible. One thing you could do (or suggest to the photog) is to shoot you from a higher angle so that your chin kind of covers the sag. You could help by pulling your chin up a bit.. but just a bit, because if you go too far it'll be obvious. Practice in the mirror. Hold the mirror above eye level and that's what the photographer (and hence his chip) will see. Practice putting yourself in the most flattering angle. Then you'll be ready when it's your turn. If you have to (depending on what type of photos the 'formal' ones are, ie 3/4 torso, only head and top of shoulders) you could lean forward a bit and pull your chin up.. that'll tighten things up a bit in that stubborn area of yours.

I hope this helps.. good luck!

[sartracker]

Thank you so much! I didn't think to practice but that's good advice. I know I would shoot from a higher spot so I'm hoping this photographer will do the same.
I'm usually not self conscious, but having a camera pointed at me makes me that way.

Okay, I'm off to find a flattering angle! Chin up!

Thanks again for the tips!

[Photologyst]

Ask the photographer to use a PS portrait program. If it's not overdone, the results can be very flattering.

[sartracker]

I've seen those but never tried one. I'll ask if they use a program like that. Are there many different ones, maybe one in particular that you've used that you like?
Thanks! Kitty

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by sartracker

I've seen those but never tried one. I'll ask if they use a program like that. Are there many different ones, maybe one in particular that you've used that you like?
Thanks! Kitty

Portraiture is very good, Kitty but will not permit individual feature adjustment: http://www.imagenomic.com/pt.aspx

You can do the same things in Photoshop, but it’s much easier and faster in a portrait program.

“Portrait Professional” will allow individual feature adjustment of the kind that they use for celebs: Portrait Professional - Easy Photo Editing Software

Both have lots of examples online as well as tutorials.

You can try both of them for free.

[sartracker]

Thanks, just downloaded the trial Portrait Professional. It looks easy. Even if isn't used on my portrait it seems like something that might be good to add to my plug ins.

I'll live through this weekend and will be much more sympathetic now when I point my camera at someone who says "I hate having my picture taken"!

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by sartracker

Thanks, just downloaded the trial Portrait Professional. It looks easy. Even if isn't used on my portrait it seems like something that might be good to add to my plug ins.

I'll live through this weekend and will be much more sympathetic now when I point my camera at someone who says "I hate having my picture taken"!

You may find that PP is very good if it’s actually a high res portrait. You have to do one person at a time, but you can really adjust the features.

For group shots that are not super quality, try Portraiture.

Digicams tend to produce shadow on the face if not taken with ideal lighting.

Try them both and see what you think.

[sartracker]

Downloaded both trial versions now. Amazing! I have done all my retouching in PS (although I don't do a lot of portraits) and both programs are so easy and quick. I can see where they might not work in certain photos but even if they just get you started, it seems worth it.

Thanks again to you and Al for all the good advice! Being face to face with a very nice Catholic Cardinal, several Bishops and a lot of rigamarole is nerve racking, photos just make it worse!

Have a great weekend! Enjoyed your photos of NM and Italy (esp. the homemade limoncello). Nice memories from our days spent in Italy. Kitty

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by sartracker

Downloaded both trial versions now. Amazing! I have done all my retouching in PS (although I don't do a lot of portraits) and both programs are so easy and quick. I can see where they might not work in certain photos but even if they just get you started, it seems worth it.

That’s the thing. I love PS, but it’s a pain to do faces. Takes much too long. With portrait programs you save lots of time and money.

Thanks again to you and Al for all the good advice! Being face to face with a very nice Catholic Cardinal, several Bishops and a lot of rigamarole is nerve racking, photos just make it worse!

Trust me, the Church hierarchy will LOVE photos in which they look good. Once you start to use these programs people will tell you, “Your photos are the only one’s of me that I like.” (It will be your secret.)

I recently took portraits of an orthodox priest. He was very happy with his likeness.

Have a great weekend! Enjoyed your photos of NM and Italy (esp. the homemade limoncello). Nice memories from our days spent in Italy. Kitty

Thanks, Kitty!

New Mexico is unique in the U. S. It is truly the Land of Enchantment.

I am currently having a bit of that Limoncello going through photos of Austria.