You need one, you know. What do you think... teeth/no teeth? Kissy-face jaw-lunge? Are you supposed to do something with your tongue behind your teeth like Elizabeth Hurley does to look consistently beautiful?
Do you want to look predictably decent but always the same in all your photographs? Or would you prefer spontaneous moods for different occasions... and all the risks that come with letting your feelings determine the appearance of your face?
July 7, 2011
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30 comments:
cc: Rebecca Watson.
I'm not sure postings like this are going to collect very many eyeballs.
A few years ago, I was waiting to have my picture taken for my driver's license, while one of the local anchor girls was having hers done. When the camera went off, she did her photo face, exactly as described in the article.
The Blonde needs to find one. She hates having her picture taken, even though she's a pretty good-looking woman.
I look like a nut in all my pix regardless of my efforts, so I"m just going with that.
As a photographer, I see a lot of this. Some people's photo-face is just fine, but other people have adopted a go-to look that's just silly looking. It's very difficult to tell people this but sometimes I do. A go-to face is just fine for group photos, but when doing a portrait, I'd much rather have genuine looks. In the digital era, we can shoot as much as need to. I'm not limited to a few exposures. I'm pretty good at making people smile and I can usually get a really good smile but sometimes you don't want a smile, you want something else. If the subject is determined to maintain the "photo face" it can be a pain.
No more duck faces. I don't know why girls think it is attractive.
Does everyone like my "photo face"?
Great point, Rick.
It's best to take a lot of shots and then trash nearly all of them, but it's often the case that someone poses you and takes exactly one picture, and you have no control over where that picture goes.
I used to be afraid to smile big in these kinds of pictures, but the result was a stupid simper. It was important to learn to abandon inhibition and do the big smile, with teeth, because it would probably look better than the cramped smile.
Here's a picture of me, published in the Isthmus, where I was put in that position and went with the big smile. (Yeah, I know, I look like I'm at a party, but it's just noon in the Rotunda.)
Meade went with a big smile too.
Blaska went for the controlled face, and, as a result, he looks inexplicably grouchy! He wasn't grouchy at all though.
Check the comments at the comments over there for song parodies. There's a hilarious version of "This Land Is Your Land" (for conservatives). And Meade turns "Idiot Wind" into a thing about the WI SCt "chokegate" story.
I agree that big smile is usually best, unless you're horsey looking. I fixed my smile after viewing a local TV show I used to be on - ugh, realized I'd picked up the "upper teeth way too exposed" look, like I used to see in the old LA Times Society pages. Those go-to smiles were deliberately phony IMO.
I guess I need to find one, too, as I also hate getting my picture taken. I never know what the hell to do and find it best to just stay out of the way of any camera...
Of course.
As you all know, with my photo, I'm bent on bringing sexy back.
I have perfected mine AND its not perfect.
(Or am I misunderstanding "perfected"? Mine is consistently poor.)
My photo face is to assume the look of, "Oh, you're taking my picture? Here? Of all places? Why?" It looks good on me. In fact, it's the expression I used to the photo you see next to my name. Otherwise, I choose the Althouse method: look away from the camera entirely. Profiles: It's not just for mugshots anymore!
Oh, but there is good news: I've seen a lot of advertisements lately for companies that will airbrush and photoshop your photos for you, so you can then put them up on Facebook or dating sites.
edutcher said...
"...even though she's a pretty good-looking woman."
This use of words struck me as funny. The use of "pretty" as an adverb meaning "moderately large" to an adjective "good-looking" that is also a synonym.
Carry on.
I'd say that monkey has definitely perfected his.
Apologies for the interruption, but I thought you should all know that the current top headline at Yahoo! Finance is "News of the World Shutting Down Amid Scandal". So we're probably never going to have the chance to use the photo face anyway.
I am the picture taker at family events. And I try to get candid shots that show the personalities that I know so well.
But learning to do a beautiful fixed smile for portraits is very valuable.
Every social event we go to a photographer seems to be snapping shots, and those pictures will become the first impression of us for a stranger.
And first impressions are +5 or -5
mental images. Making up a 10 gap when you meet them later is nearly impossible.
Curious George said...
edutcher said...
"...even though she's a pretty good-looking woman."
This use of words struck me as funny. The use of "pretty" as an adverb meaning "moderately large" to an adjective "good-looking" that is also a synonym.
Carry on.
Would quite instead of pretty help?
She doesn't like her looks, but I think her looks have a sensuality that's appealing.
At long last, I found mine.
If you look like Elizabeth Hurley I don't think it matters a bit what sort of smile you have. Genetics has already adequately handled that bit of business for you.
I believe that perfected "photo boobs" is just as important, if not more important, to women.
I lost my photo face back in 1993. No matter what I try it looks worse and worse every year. What is happening?
"edutcher said...
Would quite instead of pretty help?
She doesn't like her looks, but I think her looks have a sensuality that's appealing."
I knew what you meant, basically that she's pretty pretty...which is what I found funny. Not ha ha funny...
Who gives a shit? When did everyone become so fucking vain and superficial.
"I believe that perfected "photo boobs" is just as important, if not more important, to women."
One minor change to this comment, and then you have my total agreement. "to girls"
Actually, "photo boobs" says it all. ha ha
My local paper has a photo section where you can look in on various bars and clubs in the area. The Photo Boobs love having their pictures taken.
Usually in groups of three, all wearing tank tops, arms around each others' waists, smiling wide...and leaning in... Or mostly OVER.
I got up the other day, and caught a glimpse of my good side in the mirror. Took my hot ass right back to bed and kinda got carried away. Haven't been able to look myself in eye ever since. I seemed like I was I enjoying it, but I had never tried some of those things before, and maybe it was too far - too fast in our relationship, but you don't live forever. I'm sure we still love each other, and can remain open an honest once time has done it's thing.
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