First, let me say this: I'm a 30+ part-time female model. It's been a few years since I last worked as a model, but I've had many years of experience in posing and taking self-timed photos. I enjoy taking selfies from different angles and in various situations.
Being a model isn't just about body size—it's more about expression, look, and emotion. Just like an actor in a film or TV show, the psychological state is shown through a glance, a smile, or a subtle movement. In other words, facial expressions, close-ups, and selfies are all very important for a model.
Today, I want to share some tips on using the self-timer effectively.
Let's start with taking a selfie. O(∩_∩)O haha~. Are you disappointed? No way! The child is already several years old, and I only added "part-time female model" after a lot of courage. I've been out of the country for many years, so it’s not easy to step back into modeling.
When it comes to taking photos and selfies, many people often say, “How do I look good?†There’s a popular saying online that says there are no ugly women, only lazy ones. But I’d say, it's because you don’t know the right techniques.
Step 1: Choose Unflattering Clothes
In countries like the US, where makeup is important, friends are valued, but your body can't be changed overnight. So, why not cover up the areas you're not happy with? Choose clothes that hide your belly and cover your curves—essentially, hiding the less flattering parts.
Example: The photo below shows a yarn-like fabric, not as puffy as cotton or linen. More importantly, it's a fake two-piece jacket. The outer layer helps conceal the stomach, commonly known as "covering the ugliness."
Step 2: Find the Right Camera Angle
1. Turn your waist: This helps hide waist fat. For girls, the most common issue is a "bucket waist." You can adjust by turning your waist at a certain angle, taking a deep breath, lifting your chest, and raising your head. This will help reduce the appearance of waist fat and give you a more elegant look. Remember: Take a breath! Take a breath! Take a breath!
2. Side face and stretch your neck: This helps hide a double chin. The hidden enemy of girls—double chin—can also be disguised. Similar to the waist angle, looking slightly to the side can achieve the desired effect. Tilt your face slightly forward and push your chin out to create a more defined jawline and even reveal your collarbone. While your natural looks can't change, you can definitely improve the photo effect.
3. Shooting angle: Highlight your advantages and cover up the flaws. On my wedding day, I asked a friend to take some photos. He held the camera above his head and shot from top to bottom. The result was a huge head with no legs visible. Many people do this without realizing it.
Example 1: I prefer shooting from the bottom up, pointing the camera toward the legs to make them look longer. A tall person loves this style, while someone shorter can use it to make their legs appear longer.
Example 2: This is a counterexample. Shooting from the bottom up forces the chin down and makes the double chin more noticeable. Sometimes I prefer backlighting, which can cover skin imperfections and make the skin look flawless. However, backlighting can blur the details between the chin and neck, so choose your angle carefully.
Step 3: Use Accessories
Accessories are a great way to cover up flaws. If your eyes are small, wear sunglasses. If you have a thick neck or lines around it, wear a scarf. For example, if you have small eyes and a thick neck, wear both a scarf and sunglasses. Haha, doesn’t that feel instant? Add some earrings or ear studs to boost your elegance and confidence.
Step 4: Makeup
Even though phone cameras offer beauty filters, I still recommend doing your own makeup. Phone filters may not match your face perfectly, and they can sometimes look unnatural. As a college teacher, I don’t require heavy makeup, and I’ve always gone for light makeup. Over the years, I’ve used L’Oréal products mostly, with little contrast. I wasn’t sure about my eyebrows until I met Yang, the chief makeup artist at Qingdao Radio and Television Center. He recommended Shu Uemura’s chopper pencil, and I realized how different eyebrow pencils can be.
Experience: For beginners, eyebrow pencils with lighter colors are easier to handle. I used Maybelline and L’Oréal pencils, but they often made my eyebrows too dark. After a few strokes, they looked like caterpillars. Then I tried Shu Uemura’s chopper pencil, which has a lighter color and gives more room for correction. That’s what I like about it.
I thought liquid foundation was similar to BB cream, mainly for brightening the skin. But my makeup teacher said that liquid foundation lasts longer than BB cream. If we have a class the next day, we need to remove BB cream and reapply mid-day makeup. So I switched to liquid foundation.
I usually go for colorless lipstick, as I prefer light makeup. But when I need to take a selfie or attend an event, I use a brighter one.
Step 5: Use a Fascinating Look/Eye Contact
As mentioned earlier, a photo, especially a close-up, is a powerful tool to attract attention. A captivating gaze can make people fall in love or get lost in admiration. Of course, this requires practice and experience. I used to study supermodel photos, trying to understand their expressions and emotions. Even if I couldn’t learn everything, I could pick up something meaningful.
You can try this too. Here are some examples:
Final Thoughts
Improving your demeanor comes from daily habits. Even if you’re a bit rounder or not as perfect as others, you can still exude femininity. I personally love seeing people with grace—they have a unique charm.
1. Read fashion magazines like VOGUE or ELLE. Observe how people style their outfits and add color, instead of wearing expensive clothes like a vegetable seller. (Sorry, I don’t mean to offend anyone, but it’s not appropriate to wear such clothes in professional settings.)
2. Watch model competitions and observe how models carry themselves, their smiles, and how they express emotions through their eyes. Check out this model performance:
And avoid this kind of performance:
3. Walk around branded clothing stores. You might not be able to afford them, but you can still keep up with fashion trends and stay stylish.
Well, I have many tips and hope they help you. In the future, I’ll continue sharing ways to build your personality and confidence. Please keep following me. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, and I'll reply as soon as possible. Thank you!
All the self-portrait photos in this article were taken using a Mito T8 mobile phone.
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