The key facts
- Shooting from a distance of about 30 cm distorts facial proportions — the nose appears wider than in a shot taken from a meter and a half
- A face in a photo can seem 'unfamiliar' because the sides are swapped: everyone's face is slightly asymmetrical, and that is normal
- A live emotion almost always beats a posed one, while bright clothing details draw attention away from the face
Shooting too close distorts the face
Lead artist of the art of portraiture at the photo-portrait studio DasPortret, Boris Nechaev, told Gazeta.Ru about the mistakes that keep people from looking good in photographs. According to him, shooting too close can ruin a shot: in a selfie taken from a distance of about 30 cm, the nose appears much wider than in a shot taken from a meter and a half. 'The camera is close, and whatever is closer to it looks bigger. This is a distortion, not a feature of the face,' the expert explained. He added that portrait artists do not sit the model at a distance and step back from the canvas for nothing — it keeps the facial proportions correct. Nechaev advised asking someone to shoot from afar or placing the phone on a tripod, noting that the main camera makes the face look more natural than the front one.
Do not compare photos with the mirror
The second mistake, in the specialist's opinion, is comparing photographs with one's own appearance in the mirror. When a person looks at their reflection, they see the face differently and get used to it, and the human psyche is arranged so that people usually like what they see more often. 'Everyone's face is slightly asymmetrical, and that is absolutely normal. In a photo the sides are swapped, and the face in the shot seems unfamiliar. So you should not judge your photogenicity by a single frame. Take a series of photos, look through them one by one, and give yourself time to get used to them,' Nechaev advised.
Light, pose and emotions
The third mistake is related to light and pose. The expert recommended standing facing a window or a source of soft light. A 'standing at attention' pose, in his words, does not help achieve a good shot: in a classical portrait the model rarely sits strictly facing forward — the torso is slightly turned, the weight is shifted onto one leg, and the pose looks alive. Hands are considered by artists and photographers one of the most difficult parts of a portrait, and they usually give the model something to hold, such as taking a cup or adjusting a collar. In addition, a strained facial expression ruins a shot: 'It is better to talk, laugh, and take a series of frames, then choose the best one. A live emotion almost always beats a posed one,' the specialist emphasized.
Unsuitable clothing
A poor choice of clothing can also ruin a photo, Nechaev believes. 'If a garment is uncomfortable and restricts movement, it shows immediately in the frame. And overly shiny and contrasting details draw attention away from the face. In painting this is called the center of composition: the viewer's gaze should stop on the face, not on a bright collar or a piece of jewelry,' the expert explained. Earlier, as the outlet notes, Russians learned how to properly choose a photo for a profile on a dating website.
