Look Good in Your Holiday Photos

If you are getting professional Christmas pictures or just want to look good in your regular holiday photos, here are a few suggestions to help.

Hair:
Don't cut your hair or change the style. Keep it natural.

Face and body:
1. Makeup needs to be a little heavier than normal. Avoid anything with sparkles, it could create a white spot that could look like a blemish. Foundation with SPF makes skin look shiney. Mascara should be clump free.
2. Tan lines look very bad in photos and sunburns look worse. Avoid excessive sun or tanning for a week or so before hand. Try to cover any tan lines with your clothing.
3. If you have tattoos you don't want shown, let the photographer know and they can help you hide them.
4. If you have braces don't try to hide them by holding back smiles; in the end it only looks worse. Let yourself smile normally.
5. Don't pull your head back. If you gently pull your chin out and slightly down it is much more flattering.

Clothes:
1. Don't wear stripes or plaid; solids photograph better.
2. Wear clothing that flatters you. If you don't like your arms then don't wear sleeveless tops, etc.
3. If you're wearing light bottoms make sure you are also wearing plain, light underwear. Same with shirts and bras.
4. No bra straps showing please! They are unattractive in real life and worse in pictures. Also make sure the bra doesn't create unsightly lines in your top.
5. Light clothes look better on light backgrounds and dark clothes look better with dark backgrounds.
6. Jewelry should be kept simple, so that you are the focal point and not your necklace.
7. Nail polish: Your toes and nails will show up, so make sure you remember to do them. Avoid bright or dark colors, natural photographs better.

For guys:
1. A clean shave photographs best.
2. If he's wearing a dark outer shirt he needs to wear a grey or dark undershirt. Otherwise the white will stand out.

For Professional Photographs:
Bring your own props and as many as you want. Anything from toys or musical instruments to sports equipment. Whatever can help define you. This is typically done for children, teens or whole families.

For at Home Photography:
Don't be afraid to pose you and your spouse in front of a mirror. Try several ways of standing or sitting to see what best flatters or that feels most natural. This way when there is someone around to take your picture you can pose instead of having that same old sitting or standing side by side look.