“I hate having my photograph taken. I’m just not photogenic.”
If I had a pound for every time someone said that to me, I’d probably have retired from photography by now.
Here’s something I wish more people understood.
There’s no such thing as an unphotogenic face. There are only photographs that don’t do someone justice.
I’ve photographed hundreds of people, from business owners and professionals to actors, musicians and people who simply wanted a decent photograph of themselves.
And I’ve yet to meet someone whose face couldn’t be photographed beautifully.
The problem isn’t your face. It’s usually a combination of lighting, camera angles, expression, timing and how comfortable you feel in front of the lens.
The good news? All of those things can be improved.
Why You Think You’re Unphotogenic
Most of us form our opinions about how we photograph from terrible evidence.
Awkward family photographs. Unflattering group shots. Someone pointing a phone at us from below. A photograph taken mid-conversation when our face is doing something peculiar.
Then there’s the selfie problem.
A phone held close to your face, especially with a wide-angle lens, can exaggerate your nose and change the proportions of your features.
Add harsh overhead lighting and an uncomfortable expression, and you’ve got a photograph that looks nothing like how people actually experience you.
No wonder you don’t like it.
But none of that means you’re unphotogenic.
Good Lighting Changes Everything
Lighting is probably the single biggest difference between a flattering portrait and an unflattering one.
Harsh light from directly overhead can create deep shadows beneath your eyes and nose. Direct flash can flatten your features and make your skin look unnatural.
Soft, directional light is usually far more forgiving.
It brings shape to your face, creates gentle shadows and gives your eyes life.
You can try this yourself. Stand facing a large window, turn your body slightly and look towards the light.
Then compare that with a photograph taken beneath a ceiling light.
Same face. Completely different result.
Camera Angles Matter More Than You Think
Where the camera sits in relation to your face makes an enormous difference.
Photographing someone from too low can exaggerate their chin and jaw. Getting too close with a wide-angle lens can distort facial proportions.
Even turning your head a few degrees can change how your face appears.
A good portrait photographer understands these differences and makes small adjustments throughout a session.
Sometimes moving the camera a few centimetres is all it takes.
Stop Trying to Look Photogenic
Here’s where things get interesting.
The harder you try to look good in a photograph, the less natural you often appear.
You become conscious of your smile. You wonder what to do with your hands. Your shoulders tense up.
Suddenly you’re performing for the camera rather than being yourself.
That’s why I spend time talking to people during my portrait sessions.
I’ll give you direction, make adjustments and help you find a comfortable position. But I’m also looking for those little moments between poses.
The genuine smile. The thoughtful expression. The moment you forget there’s a camera pointing at you.
Those are often the photographs people love most.
You Don’t Need to Change Your Face
You don’t need a different jawline, a smaller nose or a more symmetrical smile.
You need someone who understands light, knows how to use a camera and can help you feel comfortable being photographed.
Professional portrait photography isn’t about making you look like somebody else.
It’s about creating a photograph that looks like you, on a really good day.
And that’s possible for everyone.
Ready to Change Your Mind?
If you’ve spent years avoiding cameras because you think you’re unphotogenic, I’d love to prove you wrong.
I photograph people at my studio in Cranleigh, Surrey, and on location across Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.
You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to practise smiling. And you certainly don’t need to arrive feeling confident.
That’s my job, not yours.
Book a portrait session and let’s create some photographs you’ll actually enjoy looking at.
