Why do the paparazzi ambush the famous and beautiful outside night clubs in the early hours of the morning? Because if you want an unflattering picture of someone, wait until they are tired with a skinful of booze and you can’t go wrong.

Sorry but being photogenic and drinking alcohol are not compatible. If you know that you are going to be photographed and you really want to look your best - stick to the mineral water.

“But one or two won’t hurt,” I hear you say. I don’t want to be a spoilsport – I’m very partial to a few drinks myself – but if you want to look your best in those photographs, stay on the wagon.

Alcohol is a very effective relaxant and analgesic (pain killer), but it also reduces reaction time, impairs thinking ability, affects balance, and induces sleep.

Yes there is a dose effect i.e. the more you drink the more pronounced the effects become; and yes people are affected by alcohol to varying degrees; but even if you think you have a high tolerance to alcohol, small amounts will still have an effect. You may not notice them, but the camera will.

Think of the camera as an extremely sensitive breathalyser!

Because alcohol is a muscle relaxant it reduces tone in the facial muscles. Interesting really when you think how much money is spent on cosmetics that claim to increase facial tone. Nobody tells you that a couple of glasses of wine will reduce facial muscle tone far more than any toning lotion will increase it.

Reducing muscle tone makes facial features less sharp and well defined. It leads to a “jowly” almost dopey appearance. It also affects posture making people look more “slumped”, more round shouldered, more “blobby”.

Even small amounts of alcohol mimic the effect of fatigue and sedation, by for example increasing blink duration, thereby greatly increasing the chances of you being photographed with your eyes completely or partially closed.

So if you know you’re going to be photographed at a particular event (a wedding for example) stay off the booze until the photographs have been taken. You may feel better after one or two tipples, but trust me you won’t photograph as well.

email bob@lookgoodoncamera.com to find out more about looking good in photos or telephone 07920 130985

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