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The Camera Never Lies, But It Can Be Seduced
By JUDY MANDELL
Linda Schwartz was preparing coffee in her Chicago photography studio when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to a small, mousy young woman. "I was about to ask 'Who are you?' when a voice inside beckoned me to just say 'Hi,' " says Schwartz.
It soon became clear that this person was the model hired for the shoot. Schwartz was astounded. Could she be the statuesque blonde whose glossies everyone was drooling over?
Schwartz sent her to do her makeup. She was more than a little nervous to hear what the client would say, even though he supposedly had made the final selection.
After half an hour, the "mouse" emerged -- as a lioness. "The transformation was astonishing," says Schwartz. "When I looked at her through my camera, it was even more amazing. The camera loved her."
How did this nondescript woman metamorphose into a beauty? Why do some people look better through the lens than they do in real life?
"A key factor in looking good in pictures is your attitude about being photographed," says Dr. Debra Condren, business psychologist, career development coach and president of SuperiorCareer.com. "If you can rally yourself to feel a pre-photo shoot attitude -- a savoir-faire, a chutzpah -- and if you can convey this by flirting with and making eye contact with the camera lens, your personality and energy will be reflected in the photo and you'll look great. On the other hand, if you think, 'I'm going to look terrible,' if you're too self-conscious to put forth 'the look,' the camera will pick this up."
When we look in the mirror, we often put on a face that masks our emotions and makes us appear different to ourselves than we look to other people.
Beth Ellenby, president of Rest of Your Life Productions, a women's leadership training and development company in Norwalk, Conn., assesses new clients by taking their picture with a digital camera. "This technique allows us to pause and view the person's face as it is naturally and relaxed," says Ellenby. "It allows people to get feedback about how they come across to others. Our clients are always shocked at how they really appear."
According to Ellenby, people are photogenic when they are relaxed in front of the camera. "Models look incredibly appealing in photo shoots because they are captured in a moment of doing what they love to do -- having photographers, makeup artists, and wardrobe experts surround them, making them look fabulous and telling them how gorgeous they look."
Do certain bone structures photograph better than others? "Absolutely," says Charlottesville photographer Lynne Brubaker. "Even plain-looking people who have eyes set wide apart, full lips, high cheekbones and a straight nose can look great in photos. Although the whole package isn't that great, with makeup and good lighting -- ta-da . . . they're gorgeous."
"It's all in the lighting," says Marilyn Parver, professional makeup artist and photographer. "Even great makeup does nothing without good light."
What lighting techniques make us look beautiful in photographs? "Take pictures late in the day, about an hour before sunset, when the skin takes on a nice golden glow," advises Parver. "Use a flash, if possible. We call this "fill light" -- it fills in lines and creases, making them less noticeable. Avoid overhead lights, which exaggerate facial lines and wrinkles."
Parver suggests that makeup should not date a woman's face. Avoid heavy eyeliner or dark lip liner. Use neutral colors, a matte finish, curl lashes for an open-eyed look, and use lots of mascara, as long as it's not clumpy.
Many psychologists believe that being photogenic is highly subjective and can be shaped by personal confidence -- or lack thereof.
"If someone says, 'I don't take a good picture,' it could indicate self-esteem issues," says Susan Battley, leadership psychologist at SUNY-Stony Brook in New York. "It is not uncommon to hear gorgeous actresses and fashion models express sincere doubts about, or belittle, their looks, an obvious discrepancy between subjective (self) and objective (camera) appraisals."
Having your photograph taken involves exposure and scrutiny. Few of us feel confident about our looks. When asked to pose for a picture, we may ask ourselves, "How do I look? Will I look fat or old? Are my eyes too puffy? Is my hair bad? Is my makeup too harsh?" Some people are hesitant to allow a permanent record that will reveal their physical flaws, whether real or imagined.
"Humans are social animals," explains psychologist Michael Nuccitelli, executive director of SLS Wellness in Upstate New York. "We constantly assess ourselves, defined by the way others perceive us.
"When people say they're not photogenic, they assume others will look at the photograph and say, 'My God, she looks terrible.' Although that's possible, it's more likely that others will see the whole picture and not just her."
When people complain to Linda Schwartz that they don't like the way they photograph, she asks them, "Wouldn't you rather look great in real life and less great on film, than the reverse? Wouldn't you hate to have someone see your picture and then watch the disappointment on their face when they see you in person?"
There are few Cindy Crawfords in the world, who are beautiful to the camera and in person. A picture is not reality. "There are no perfect people, only people who appear perfect in a photograph," says Schwartz.
Copyright 2002, The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved
http://www.washingtonpost.com
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