WHETHER YOU NEED A NEW PORTRAIT FOR BUSINESS OR JUST WANT FABULOUS PHOTOS OF YOURSELF ON VACATION, THIS LOS ANGELES–BASED PHOTOGRAPHER BREAKS DOWN HOW TO LOOK YOUR BEST IN PICTURES…
01
Eat.
If you’re hungry, you'll look agitated. Hunger shows up as tension in your mouth, eyes, and posture. You need all three working for you.
02
Set the Scene.
Decide: studio backdrop or real environment? If it’s a studio, stick with neutral backdrops– white, gray, black, or soft muted earth tones. Bright colors date quickly. If you’re outside or in a real space, make sure the space is somewhat styled. No messy desks, random parked cars in the distance, or harsh sun patches. Interact lightly with your environment—lean on a wall, sit on stairs, pick up a coffee mug, but don’t overact it. Shoot options— you can always delete the bad takes later.
03
Dress Smart.
Your clothing should reflect the goal of the photo. If it's professional, wear what you'd actually wear at work. If it's personal, wear something that genuinely feels like you. Stick to solid colors or muted neutrals—busy patterns and trendy looks will date your image quickly. Iron, steam, or dry-clean it beforehand.
04
Polish, Don’t Reinvent.
For a scheduled shoot, lay off alcohol and sugar for three to five days for clearer, glowing skin. Book professional hair and makeup—even if you "never wear makeup." Men, light grooming and powder to cut shine are non-negotiable. Don't debut a new hairstyle or makeup look—go with the polished version of how you already feel best. If this photo is taken out in the wild and on the fly, don’t overthink how you look—be present and go for it.
05
Move Naturally.
If you're standing, shift your weight between legs slightly. Keep your torso angled between 10 and 2 o'clock on an imaginary clock face. Never plant both feet straight toward the camera—it feels stiff and aggressive. Hands/arms should never mirror each other exactly. Let one arm hang, one hand lightly on a hip or thigh. Think how you naturally stand, not an Instagram pose.
06
Show Emotion.
Cycle through microexpressions: a big smile, a small one, a thoughtful moment, a serious look. Move your face gently between each. Even if you’re not a natural smiler, thinking a happy thought changes your energy— and it reads in the photos. Capture variety, then edit later
07
Retouching.
I aim for minimal, natural retouching. Flyaways, lint, minor blemish smoothing— sure. But changing your nose, reshaping your eyes, or airbrushing your skin until you look like a filter is overboard, and we can all tell. Overediting is awkward. Especially if it’s for something like a dating app—you don’t want them running away because you don’t look like your photo.
08
Eyes Matter.
Eye contact is everything. Don’t stare wide-eyed like you're shocked or squint so much that you look sleepy. Aim to keep your eyes comfortably open, about 60-70%. Look directly into the camera lens.
09
Don’t Stop Breathing.
Holding your breath creates tension. Stay breathing and appear alive and approachable, unless you want to appear as a corpse
