Photogenic people.

[lilmonkey]

I've just been looking through some pictures I took a few weeks ago, and wondered why one friend, who is really attractive in the flesh, looks quite scary in photographs, whereas another friend who is much more plain, looks fabulous.

So why do some people photograph better than others? Anyone got any tips for looking better on camera?

[Andyvon]

I think that may well be the key zebuk. If a subject is particularly self-conscious and uncomfortable about being photographed, then they may not appear relaxed or 'natural'. That would almost certainly come across in the picture more than for a person who is happy to be pictured.

[gary baldy]

For ladies it if you are facing straight at the camera look down slightly and to the right and then lift your eyes to look directly into the lens.
Some people's colourings lend themselves well to being photographed aswell and when someone who looks quite plain in the flesh their skin tone may actually flatten a flash better.
The majority of 'scary' photos are because of the limitatiions of small flashes on a camera. Models look nice in pictures mainly because they are lit well and the camera is exposing correctly.
If you snap someone in a dark nightclub with a little snappy camera the chances are most people will look scary, especially if they are well made up or, to be frank, a little sweaty. Once again this helps 'plainer' looking people - if a person's features are quite subtle then they are less likely to be caught in a 'bad light'. For someone who is quite distinctive looking the camera (and the person taking the picture) has to work that little bit harder to catch them in a 'good light'.
Does that make sense?