How-to
How to look good in photos
Nobody is unphotogenic. People are photographed badly: from below, under a ceiling light, at the wrong moment, and then judged on that one frame.
The three technical causes
Almost every unflattering photo comes from one of three technical problems, and all three are fixable in a minute. The first is camera height: a phone held at chest level looks up at the face, widening the jaw and flattening the eyes.
The second is light direction: overhead light puts shadows in the eye sockets and under the nose, which is the lighting used in every unflattering photo ever taken. The third is timing — the frame is taken on a held expression rather than a natural one.
- Raise the camera to eye level; prop it if you have to.
- Turn off overhead lights and use a window.
- Shoot bursts and pick a later frame, not the first.
- Stand a metre from the background so no shadow falls behind you.
The psychological part
Most people dislike photos of themselves because they are comparing the image against a mirror image they have seen every day, and against an internal picture of how they look. The photo is usually more accurate than either.
That is worth knowing because it changes what to do about it: instead of looking for a photo that matches the internal image, choose the frame that looks most like the person your colleagues meet — relaxed, engaged and recognisable.
- Do not chase the mirror image; it is reversed.
- Ask someone who knows you which frame looks like you.
- Prefer the frame that looks relaxed over the one that looks perfect.
- Look at the photo at the size it will be displayed, not at 100%.
When to generate instead of retake
If you have a handful of photos you half-like, a generated set is often a better use of an afternoon than another self-timed shoot. AI Headshot Pro: Zenith Studio takes six to ten varied photos and produces portraits that keep your features while rebuilding the light, background and framing.
The practical advantage is volume: you get a set to choose from, rather than a single frame you have to accept.
How it works
Three steps from a phone photo to a finished image
Upload your photos
Six to ten selfies with different angles and expressions.
Pick a style
Business, editorial, black and white, cinematic — or a profession set.
Download the set
A consistent batch of portraits, ready for your profile.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why do I look bad in photos?
Almost always because of the camera height and the light. A phone held below eye level looks up at the face, and overhead lighting puts shadows under the eyes and nose. Raising the camera to eye level and using window light changes the result immediately.
Can someone be unphotogenic?
No — people are photographed badly. The technical causes (camera height, light direction, timing) account for most of it, and the rest is the mismatch between a photo and the mirror image people are used to seeing.
How many photos should I take to get one good one?
Twenty or more. The first few frames of any session are tense, and the relaxed expression usually arrives somewhere after the fifth. Shooting in bursts and choosing later is the whole technique.
Should I use a photo I like or one that looks like me?
The one that looks like you — specifically, like the version of you that colleagues and clients meet. A photo that looks like a different person causes hesitation when you turn up in person.
Try it on your next photo
Free to download on the App Store. iPhone and iPad only.