By Amany Abdel-Moneim 14-01-2013 08:45PM ET Delivering fabulous Worried about how you'll look in the photos marking your special moments? I'm certain it happens to us all; pretty much every single photo ever taken of me seems to make me either look fat or plain goofy. Though being photogenic comes naturally to some, looking good in pictures makes you feel more confident about yourself, which is important. If you're one of the people who think photos don't bring out their best, stop running for cover whenever the camera comes out and try these experts' great tips to shine like a star when the flash bulbs go off. Relax: The more comfortable and relaxed you appear, the better the photo will turn out. Master the perfect smile: A wide smile gives out warmth, but if it's not your sexiest look, go for something smaller and more mysterious. A beaming smile works great for those with good teeth, while a more relaxed half-smile will make small eyes appear larger and lips appear fuller. Do the sexy scrunch: Experts say that camera tends to shrink hair in photos. To compensate, scrunch hair right before the shot. Keep your head up: This will help avoid the dreaded double-chin effect. Make sure the camera lens is at eye level or above. Move your face forward a bit and tip down your chin. Be careful with your make-up tones: Avoid dark colours as they appear more intense in photos. Photos exaggerate everything, so go easy on the make-up: for women under 30, a little mascara and lip gloss; over 30, add a touch of concealer. Avoid light-reflective or mineral foundations and finish your look with some face powder to help eliminate shine. Wipe your face: Make sure to wipe down your sweaty face and neck before a photo, particularly if the picture will be taken with a flash. Angle your body: Facing the camera straight on is rarely flattering. When you face forward, your body tends to look wider.Determine your best angle and use it as much as possible. Celebrities and models often stand at a more sliming three-quarter angle with one shoulder closer to the camera, extending one leg out in front, spinning around and placing the corresponding hand on the hip. Women tend to do this naturally, but it's harder for men, who tend to present a square angle front-on to the camera. For standing photos: Good posture can dramatically improve your appearance in pictures. Suck your belly in, tighten your buttocks, keep your shoulders back and spine straight. To look natural, avoid gluing your arms to your body by parting them slightly. As a rule, avoid patterns. For seated shots: Try looking slightly above the camera when the picture is taken so your eyes are fully open. Extend your neckand lean slightly towards the camera; it improves facial definition and helps to minimise the appearance of wrinkles and flabby skin. For a perfect profile picture: A recent American study has revealed that the left side of the face is more attractive than the right. To capture the perfect profile picture, look slightly to the right. This gives the illusion of a slimmer face for those with rounder faces.
