12 Ways to Make People Look Great in Every Portrait You Shoot (VIDEO)

Sure, there are some people who are naturally photogenic – such as professional models – but you don't necessarily need to be a model to look great in a portrait. The below video from Bright Side offers 12 ways to make people look fabulous in every photo.

"Many people believe that the work of professional models consists only of being pretty and staring at the camera," Bright Side says. "Much of their success depends on the skills of posing and presenting themselves in the right way. There are a few crucial mistakes you should avoid to look perfect in any photo."

Here are the 12 things a person should and shouldn't do when posing someone for a portrait:

#12 Put Your Chin Forward

#11 Do Not Cross Your Arms

#10 Watch Your Posture

#9 Change the Angle

#8 Turn Your Torso

#7 Pay Attention to Your Arms

#6 Create Visual Lines

#5 Combine Straight and Curved Lines

#4 Avoid Baggy Clothes

#3 Don't Show Your Elbows

#2 Imitate Touching

#1 Emphasize Your Face

Here's a summary of some of the key modeling points raised in the video below:

- In any photo, your neck should remain visible. Don’t tilt your head forward; otherwise, your gaze will become 'heavy' and unwelcoming.

- Tilting your head without lowering your shoulders looks unnatural. Crossing your arms turns your whole figure into a vague blur.

- Even a slightly hunched back visually shortens your neck and "adds" a few extra pounds around your waist.

- Be careful with choosing the angle: the wrong one can make your arms and legs appear shorter than they are.

 - If you turn your torso away from the camera too much, your shoulders will appear round and narrow, and your waist will seem wide.

- When we’re sitting down, we often wonder where to put our arms. Crossed arms create an ugly impression, but keeping your hands loose looks unnatural.

- Standing straight with your arms hanging at your sides can hardly qualify as a photogenic pose. Besides, some items of clothing can blur together, adding width and bulkiness to your figure.

- Baggy clothes make your figure difficult to discern. They also make your body seem much wider.

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