I’m a tech expert. Stop saying ‘cheese’, when you pose for photos – say ‘yoga’ if you

When you look at photos of yourself, do you like what you see — or do you wish you knew how to look more like your best self? 

Photo editing apps have come a long way since the dog ears filter made its appearance on Snapchat – but we all know natural is best.

So use our quick guide to make yourself instantly more photogenic:  

Direct light can create harsh shadows that make your skin look bad. Never stand right under a light source (right). Instead, face a light source so it illuminates your features and draws attention to your eyes (left)

Before we get to the basics, there are a few quirky techniques that will improve how you look on camera. 

Forget ‘say cheese’ – words that end in an ‘uh’ sound can put your mouth into a more natural smile shape.

Try ‘data’, ‘yoga’ or ‘mocha’ next time someone is taking your photo. It’ll bring the corners of your mouth up naturally.

If that doesn’t work for you, try to think of something funny. 

Fake it: A fake smile can look really strange. A fake laugh, though, almost always turns into a real one and you’ll end up with a true smile. 

Another odd trick that works is pushing your tongue against the back of your teeth. This relaxes your face and slims your jawline.

Another bizarre method that works is taking advantage of a rainy day. The filtered light of a cloudy day is super flattering. Head outside to snap your new dating app pic.

Below, I go into detail about some of the fundamentals when it comes to being more photogenic. 

Bye-bye, ‘turkey neck’

It’s not just you. Cameras exaggerate certain features and give you a different appearance than what you see in the mirror. You need to be strategic when you pose.

Think about what is closest and farthest from the camera. Say you put your foot out and lean back: Your foot will look larger since it’s closer to the camera.

You can use this know-how to your advantage. To minimize neck fat and extra skin, jut your head forward slightly so it’s closer to the camera.

At the same time, elongate your neck and tip your chin down a little bit. Imagine holding a piece of fruit between your chin and neck.

In person, it looks a little weird. On camera, it looks great. If you feel silly, practice with your front-facing camera. You can delete the pictures.

Let there be light

Bad lighting can make even the best-looking person resemble a villain in a horror movie. Here are a few simple rules of thumb to remember.

● Direct light can create harsh shadows that make your skin look bad. Never stand right under a light source.

● Find soft, natural light instead whenever possible. It hides blemishes and smooths out imperfections.

● Face a light source so it illuminates your features and draws attention to your eyes. If there’s a light fixture nearby, point your eyes toward it and widen them just a bit.

● If you’re outside, face the sun to take advantage of the natural light.

● If the bright sun is casting dark shadows or causing you to squint, turn away or find a patch of shade.

Bonus tech tip: You’re on a video call and your room is too dark, so you look shadowy. Open up a new blank document in your browser or with your word processing program. Make it fill as much of the screen as you can. The reflection will brighten you up.

Find your best angle

Taking a photo of your face with the camera below you is very rarely unflattering. So, how do you determine the best angle for you?

Instagram influencer Vi Luong says you should take a series of nine selfies from different angles. 

Hold your smartphone and look at it head-on. Then, take three pictures: One with the camera right in front of your face, one above and one below.

Taking a photo of your face with the camera below you is very rarely unflattering.

Now it’s time to angle your face. Turn to the right for the following three pictures and keep your head still. 

Now, take one photo of yourself with the camera at face level, one where the camera is high, and one is lower.

Then tilt your face to the left. Keep your head still and snap three pictures (face level, above and below) at this new angle.

It’s a lot of pictures, but it’s worth it. Once you get these nine options, compare them to see which angle suits you best. Ask a friend or family member you trust if you can’t decide.

Make full-body pics better, too

Standing straight toward the camera isn’t flattering. Instead of facing the camera with your feet planted under your hips, slightly tilt your body to one side. Angle your torso away from the camera to look slimmer, too.

Here’s a trick especially for ladies: Put your weight on your back hip. This makes your front leg, closest to the camera, look leaner.

Wondering what to do with your arms? There’s a reason putting a hand on your hip is a classic: It makes your arm look slimmer than keeping it pressed against your body.

Keep it real

We all feel pressure to look as happy as possible in pictures, which can look unnatural. Make sure your smile is genuine. Tell a joke or think about something that always makes you laugh.

Other times, a mysterious Mona Lisa smile is the way to go. Think about turning up the corners of your mouth, or even one side, without doing a full smile. Part your lips just a bit to avoid grimacing.