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

Go to Home Page www.lookgoodoncamera.com

I don’t claim to be an expert on hair styles but I do have an opinion about what suits an individual best. As an interested third party I find it surprising that the vast majority of brides want to wear their hair up on their wedding day (even our cartoon of the camera shy bride depicts her with her hair up).

Now there are women who look very good with their hair up, women who look good with it down and some who look good with it up or down (Alex, the bride on the front page of our website is one such lady). However girls, if you will permit a mere male to give his opinion, many of you look better with your hair down.

Putting your hair up can give you a very severe look and can emphasize your neck and ears.  Hair can provide a frame for the face and have a major softening effect. If you have decided that a certain style suits you best for everyday purposes, why change it so drastically on your wedding day? 

Another problem with wearing your hair up is that the laws of gravity dictate that at some time it is going to start falling down. You therefore run the risk of having your photograph taken when your hair is becoming increasingly untidy. If you have short hair or wear your hair down, it is a lot easier to do a little titivation prior to posing for your photographer.

If you disagree with me, at least have your photograph taken with your hair up beforehand. That way you can judge for yourself and/or show the photos to a few people who you know will give you an honest opinion.

In a look Good on Camera photo-shoot we give you the opportunity to be photographed with your hair up and with it down. 

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

Go to Home Page www.lookgoodoncamera.com 

The human body comes in many shapes and sizes but generally we are all wider full frontal than we are side-on. The ratio is about 3:2. So you might expect that being photographed side on will make you look a whole third slimmer - and if you have one of those straight up and down figures it probably will. But if like me you are a little over your ideal weight, you will know that those extra pounds are not evenly distributed and being caught side-on can show the odd bulge in the wrong place. It’s also quite uncomfortable to screw your head round through 90 degrees to look at the camera. 

So the answer is to stand at 45 degrees to the camera (i.e. half way between full frontal and side on). In this way you will reduce your body width by about a sixth without profiling those ever so slightly podgy bits! 

For those of you who feel you are a little on the slim side, then present your body full on to the camera. 

A Look Good on Camera photo-shoot will give you the opportunity to practice this along with many other tips on how to look better and achieve your photogenic best in photos and pictures. Believe me, you really can look better in pictures and photos and become more photogenic. It just needs a little practice. Don’t be camera shy. Give me a call. I’m here to help.

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

Go to Home Page www.lookgoodoncamera.com