‘Tis the season to be in pictures and naturally we all want to look our best for each and every shot. After all, these pictures are often priceless memories that will live on forever in somebody’s photo albums, passing from one generation to the next.

Whether it be an office or school party or a family function, there are a few things that you can easily do to make the most of holiday photo opportunities.

Keep makeup soft and natural.

The holidays are a festive time, and we often find ourselves wanting to share our holiday spirit through our makeup. When it comes to pictures, unless it’s a look you’re used to wearing, it’s best to stick with what you know. Not to mention, bold, bright colors can wash you out in photos, as can too much frost, and glitter can often reflect the camera’s flash, leaving you with a weird spark of light on your face or body. Natural-looking makeup is definitely the best bet for natural-looking photos. Also, make sure you’ve blended your foundation down over your jaw and into your neck to avoid the “mask” look, and go easy on blushes and bronzers!

Hair should be casual and natural, too.

Up-dos and extra effort hairstyles are popular during the holidays, and are usually fine for photos. However, super trendy styles can often leave you looking back and reliving a mistake you wish you hadn’t made (think of bad yearbook pictures – those live on forever). Instead of regretting a picture featuring you in a disastrous ‘do, stick to classic up-dos and sophisticated styles that aren’t too modern or trendy. Remember, mullets were cool once.

Avoid busy patterns and too much bling.

Just like glitter on your face can reflect the flash back at the camera, a whole outfit in sequins or glitter can do the same thing – tenfold. Stripes and uber busy patterns often steal too much attention in photos, leaving you on the B-list. Solid colors that you know you look good in, or classic black, are going to be your safest bets.

The camera adds ten pounds…can you afford it?

If the answer is no, try standing at a sideways angle to the camera. Stagnating your legs (having one leg slightly in front of the other), and keeping your arms out and away from your body can also slim you down for the camera. Stretching your chin out can help eliminate the double chin look and give your face a slimmer, cleaner appearance. And, just before the picture is taken, inhale and then exhale slowly, sucking in your stomach gently. If done right, it not only tucks your gut, but straightens your back.

Heels, heels, heels!

If you’re wearing anything that has your legs exposed, heels are a girl’s best friend! They don’t have to be six inch stilettos, but a good pair of heels will make your legs look slimmer, bring out the muscle tone in them and assist you in standing taller and straighter. Just make sure they’re comfortable and not too small – otherwise, they can have the opposite effect.

Be aware.

You don’t have to check your hair and makeup in the mirror every ten minutes, but do check. Two of the biggest photo flubs are:

1. Lipstick on teeth/food in teeth
2. Oily skin

To remedy flub number one, do a lipstick check:  after you apply lipstick, stick your finger in your mouth like you’re trying to gag yourself (key word here being “trying”), pucker your lips around it (like you’re over enunciating an “O”) and pull your finger out gently to remove excess lipstick on the inside of your lips. Blotting lipstick after applying is also a good idea. If you eat anything while at a party or event, give your teeth a quick check afterwards – spinach, lettuce, poppy seeds and fleshy red berries (like strawberries) are some of the worst offenders, but certainly not the only ones, so never assume you’re safe because you passed on the lemon poppy cake.

To avoid flub number two, keep a package of blotting papers handy, and gently blot your skin every so often. A little oil on your skin gives you a healthy glow in photos, but too much can make you look like a homing beacon for space aliens.

The T-Zone (Forehead, nose and cheeks) is usually the worst area for shine.

• Dresses/skirts being tucked up in an unflattering matter, either from static cling or a hasty trip to the restroom.
• Hair sticking out/up.
• Nose goblins.
• Earrings or pendants getting flipped around or over.
• Exposed lingerie or undergarments (especially common with slips).
• Red eyes from lack of sleep, allergies or excessive alcohol.
• Unexpected pimples (don’t pop them! The redness will show up more than the zit. Try and cover them, gently, by patting a bit of foundation or powder on just the zit and blending the edges).
• Bleeding lipstick.
• Areas where your makeup has rubbed off (you sneeze, blow your nose. Now, not only did you clear your sinuses, but you cleared all the makeup off the end of your nose).

Don’t look directly at the camera.

Looking slightly above the camera will not only open your eyes up and catch the sparkle, but also eliminate any chance of your closing your eyes as soon as the flash goes off.

Practice!

As weird as it sounds, spend a few moments every morning practicing your smile in the mirror. Also experiment with tilting your head different directions and at different angles to find what makes you look your best and hides any feature flaws you may feel you have. Once you find what suits you best, keep practicing so you can smile on cue, and make it perfect every time.

Don’t be afraid of the camera! Feel free to ‘Say Cheese!’ with confidence and enjoy fabulous photos that you’ll be proud to share for years to come.