Sunday, July 25, 2010

Say Cheese!


I've never considered myself photogenic. If I smile naturally my mouth is too wide and my eyes turn into slits. One eye is a tiny bit smaller than the other...nothing you would notice except in pictures it becomes a giant flaw. (at least to me it is)

Just knowing this about myself makes me flinch whenever anyone says cheese.
Over the years I've learned to keep my mouth closed when having my photo made. A Mona Lisa like smile is oh-so-much-better than having eye slits.

I found this tip for overcoming that tense feeling of impending doom when you know the photo that is about to be taken is going to make you look unattractive.

Learn how to change your state No, I don’t mean if you live in Idaho you need to move to Oregon. Changing state means going from level 1 to level 5, or in other words, instead of looking like you were caught off guard, you look natural and like you are enjoying yourself.

Models are taught to change state by developing a “trigger.” So when they are about to have their picture taken, even if they are in a crummy mood, they can go from level 1 to level 5 in a heart beat. Firing a trigger is a reminder to do the things that make you look good. Believe it or not, THE most successful trigger we found over the years was called the “rear cheek squeeze.” It’s really cool because it’s inconspicuous. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like; you squeeze the cheeks of your rear end together. Don’t make fun of it until you try it. To see it’s effectiveness try this experiment. Ask someone to sit on a chair and then ask them to squeeze their cheeks together. I have not met ONE person who doesn’t immediately smile and say something like, okay, now what?

So what about you? Do you like yourself in photos or do you try to hide behind everyone else, hold your head way too high in order to get rid of that double chin and never smile for fear of showing your gums or eye slits? I for one gave up avoiding having my photo made a few years ago when I realized that there were hardly any pictures of me taken throughout my 20s, 30, and part of my 40s. How dumb of me...I'll never look as good again, eye slits or not. Anyway, my children should have a photo or two to show their grandchildren one day.

So....in the future let's all say squeeze instead of cheese and we might just find we've become photogenic!

15 comments:

  1. After reading this I can't help but smile!
    (Leonardo da Vinci obviously did not have a sense of humor or crack jokes!)
    :)

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  2. Most people have asymmetrical faces with one eye smaller than the other and one side of the mouth lower than the other. I'll bet you are gorgeous and just being hard on yourself as none of us are perfection. I have huge bags under my eyes and have to photo shop them out.

    DI

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  3. I hear you. There are few photos of me I like after my wedding pictures. But, you are right how silly, I too will never look as good again. So I'm just saying squeeze too!

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  4. I hate to have my picture taken! Will try the squeeze next time:)

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  5. Hell, I am always squeezing, now that I'm 65, so that I won't pee when I laugh or sneeze...oh, not my gluteus maximus. I should have done my keigel's more when I was younger. But, seriously, stevie, I could squeeze till the cow's come home and I doubt I'll take a good picture...though I haven't held back from being photographed. I have such a collection of pictures at the captain's table on cruise ships - guess I have to consider myself lucky to get invited to dine there since he treats for good wine and I do like a man in uniform. I will try to remember your hint, though, since there are usually some gorgeous young things there, too, and I don't think they need to squeeze anything....oh, yes, now that I was forced to retire, I'm not cruising anyway. In all my pictures, I'm crying!

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  6. Oh yeah.. I don't like havng my picture taken for a multitude of reasons. That's why I'm always on the other end of the camera.

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  7. I used to be photogenic and I used to enjoy having my picture taken.;)) Today, as soon as I see a camera, I run.;))
    Great post, you always pick the best themes.;))
    xoxo

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  8. Unusual advice Steviewren, but seems like it might just work. :-) Must try it next time a photo is to be taken... - Dave

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  9. I look terrible in photos. I will think of this "trigger" the next time. How funny. Squeeze instead of cheese. I have plenty of photos of me and they are all awful. Ha.. I gave up long ago worrying about it. It just is. I even had a professional photographer tell me I looked much better in person (long story). Ha..

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  10. Its only within the last few months that I have not been front and center when pix are being taken ... I am now seeking refuge behind the camera more and more and more .. and when I see someone with a phone camera taking video I make sure to stand next to them to avoid being videoed

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  11. Someone must stand in front of my tummy for starters. Then , DAMN, if I smile my eyes squint all up and the bags freefall. Don't take my photo , let me take yours! :)

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  12. That's funny! I can relate too because I have lop-sided eye brows. ha ha

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  13. I think we should all get together and take each other's pictures until we get a damned good one!

    I hate having my taken. My mouth looks weird no matter how much or little I smile, my eyes go halfway shut, I have that horrendous brown spot on my left cheek (I'm talking about my face) that just keeps getting larger. Ugh. I hate this part of getting older.

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  14. Ok...I think I just pulled a muscle! LOL!

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  15. That's a good tip but I'd have to squeeze a whole lot more to take a good photo these days. I usualy do heavy editing on myself...lol

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."