How to Be Photogenic: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

“I’m not photogenic.” I hear it on almost every first call. After photographing more than 350 women in my studio in Waterloo, near Brussels, I can tell you this: the problem is almost never your face. It’s your posture, your breathing and your intention. And all of that can be fixed.

Here are the five mistakes I see most often in front of the lens, and what I suggest to my clients to avoid them.

Why don’t you like yourself in photos?

If you prefer yourself in the mirror than in photos, that’s normal. In the mirror, you see yourself reversed, the image you’ve been used to all your life. In a photo, you see yourself the way others see you, and that face looks strange to you, simply because it isn’t familiar.

Add stress to that. In front of a lens, you freeze, you hold your breath, you no longer know what to do with your hands. It isn’t your face that changes, it’s your body that tenses. And that’s exactly what the five mistakes below have in common.

1. You lock your stance

You want to get it right, so you stand straight, your weight on both legs. The result: your whole body stiffens, and it shows in the photo.

The tip: put all your weight on one leg. Your hips settle naturally, lines appear in your body, and everything relaxes. It’s the simplest gesture, and the one that changes the most.

2. You lower your chin to look slimmer

Everyone thinks lowering your chin slims the face. In reality, lowering it almost always creates a double chin.

What I ask for in a session, I call “the turtle”: you bring your face slightly forward, towards the lens. It defines the jaw and slims the neck. From the side, it looks a little odd, but from the front, the effect is immediate.

3. You hold your breath

It’s a stress reflex: you freeze and stop breathing. Your shoulders rise, your neck tightens.

Breathe in, then gently let go. With each exhale, your shoulders drop and you become more natural. During a session, I remind you often, because everyone forgets.

4. You look at the lens as if it were judging you

A lens is a piece of glass. If you stare at it like an examiner, your gaze hardens.

Look beyond it, through the camera, as if you were looking at someone you love, someone who loves you. Picture a kind gaze resting on you. Your face softens and your look becomes real.

5. You search for the perfect pose

Trying to hold the ideal pose makes you freeze completely. Nothing moves, nothing looks natural anymore.

Move slowly between each photo. Step one foot forward, turn slightly, shift your weight from one leg to the other, let your hands live. Let your breath guide you and allow yourself to make mistakes.

In fact, my best photos often happen when a client thinks the pose is over and relaxes. That’s when all her natural self comes through.

The real secret: feeling safe

All these mistakes have one thing in common: they come from tension. And almost all of them disappear as soon as you feel at ease.

That’s why, during a session, you don’t need to know how to do anything. I explain and show you every pose before I ask for it: where to place your hands, your feet, your gaze. I also show you the images on the camera as we go, so you see what I see.

You’re not “not photogenic”. You simply weren’t in the right space.

Before your next photoshoot: 4 simple things

Sleep well the night before. Tiredness shows in your eyes far more than in dark circles.
Moisturise your skin in the days before: hydrated skin catches the light differently.
Eat normally. Skipping a meal to “have a flat stomach” doesn’t work, and a lack of energy shows in photos.
Keep a moment for yourself that morning: a walk, a quiet coffee, a playlist that puts you in a good mood. You’ll arrive more relaxed, and that’s where everything begins.

All my advice is in How to prepare for a boudoir shoot.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I look worse in photos than in the mirror?

In the mirror, you see yourself reversed, the way you’re used to. In a photo, you see yourself the way others see you. That image isn’t familiar, so it looks strange. Stress does the rest: you freeze in front of the lens.

Can you learn to be photogenic?

Yes. Being photogenic is mostly about knowing how to relax in front of the lens: a posture, a breath, an intention. These are gestures you learn in a few minutes when someone guides you.

What is the best pose for a photo?

Your weight on one leg, your face slightly forward, hands doing something, and a gaze that goes beyond the camera. Above all, move slowly rather than holding a frozen pose.

How do I avoid looking tense in photos?

Breathe in and out slowly before each photo: your shoulders drop on their own. Shift your weight, let your hands live, and think of someone who looks at you kindly.

How to be photogenic: the 5 mistakes I see at every session