I made a short series of videos on the secrets of a photogenic woman (the videos are in French). Three details come up in almost all my boudoir sessions near Brussels: the double chin, the hands and the gaze. Good news: none of the three depends on your face. It’s all a question of angle, gesture and intention.
Secret no. 1: the double chin
We all hate it. And we often think “that’s just my face, I can’t help it”. Not at all. A double chin almost always comes from the angle, the posture, and a slight compression at the neck.
- The angle: if the camera is lower than your eyes, you’ll almost always have a double chin. Ideally, the lens is at eye level, or even slightly above.
- The turtle: lengthen your neck and bring your face slightly forward, towards the lens. From the front, it defines your jaw. From the side, the position looks odd, but it doesn’t show in a photo taken from the front.
- Tongue to the roof of your mouth: press your tongue against your palate. Your throat tucks in a little and the difference is immediate.
- Lips slightly parted: to go one step further, part your lips slightly. Your expression becomes more relaxed.
Secret no. 2: your hands
If there’s one detail that betrays stress in a photo, it’s the hands. Under stress, they become stiff and clenched, the wrist locks. And it shows long before your face does.
- Ballerina hands: a soft hand follows the movement right to the fingertips.
- The soft side towards the lens: the palm is for gripping, for defending yourself. Show the edge or the back of your hand instead. It’s instantly more delicate.
- Always an action: adjusting a detail of your outfit, brushing your skin, sliding your hands through your hair. A hand rarely looks natural just placed there for no reason.
- If it tenses up: let go, gently shake your hands and watch how they fall. That’s often the most natural position.
A stressed hand is a woman hiding. A soft hand is a woman awakening.
Secret no. 3: your gaze
For a more beautiful gaze without forcing it, a few gestures are enough.
- Chin very slightly down, then the turtle: by lowering your chin just a touch, your eyes come closer to the lens and look bigger. Then bring your face forward to avoid a double chin.
- Open your eyelids, not your eyebrows: if you raise your eyebrows, your forehead wrinkles and you look surprised. Simply open your eyelids a little wider: your gaze wakes up, your forehead stays smooth.
- Look through it: don’t stare at a piece of glass. Look further, at the person who will look at this photo later, or at a memory that makes you proud.
During a session, there’s nothing to remember
You can try these tips on your next selfie. But during a session, you don’t need to know them: I guide you every second. Where to put your hands, what to do with your gaze, how to place your body. You come as you are, and I take care of the rest.
Further reading
- How to be photogenic: the 5 mistakes I see at every session
- How a boudoir session works
- The portfolio
Would you like to be guided from head to toe? Let’s talk about your session.