Smile For the Camera: ABCDlady's Guide to the Perfect Photo

With wedding season in full swing, it's time to make sure you look your best in every picture! Summertime is high picture season. Between weddings, family reunions, vacations and other outdoor get-togethers, you can bet on your cameo in more than one Facebook album. Following a few simple tips will maximize your beauty and prevent red eye, off-coloration and awkward poses. So before you smile and say "cheese" for that camera, stop and think!

Don't disappear! South Asian clothes can be very overwhelming in photographs. Between the bright colors, jewelry and other adornments, it's easy for your face to disappear into the background. By wearing the right makeup, you can stop that from happening. Bright colors that help your best features pop (like ruby red lips or shimmering golden eyelids) will help keep you in the frame, so everyone admires how beautiful you (and not just your clothes) look.

Ditch that double chin! Double chins occur when the photographer's lens is at or below eye level. If you feel you are prone to double chins in photographs, try to have the photographer snap the picture from above. If you can't control where the picture is coming from, bend your knees, sit down or adjust your position so that you are not looking down onto the camera. Can't move? Stick your chin out an inch or two more than normal. It may feel weird, but your neck will look long and lean in the picture.

Follow the light! There is a reason that models follow the light when they are in professional photo shoots, and it’s not what you may think. When your face is properly lit, your skin looks smoother and more flawless. Light illuminates the skin and blocks out imperfections. Taking photos indoors? Look for the most well-lit area of the room or use the flash. Photos with white or light backgrounds usually turn out better because reflective surroundings, like snow or sand, help the light hit the right angles in your picture.

Show off your best side! Most faces are not perfectly symmetrical, but facial symmetry is perceived as a sign of health and beauty. So what’s a girl to do? Turn your head slightly in photos. When your photos are not directly head on, it’s harder to judge symmetry. For the best angle, try to keep about two-thirds of your face in the photo. An added perk is that this angle is also the most slimming!

No more red eyes! Before the photographer snaps the picture, make sure your eyes are focused on a light source. Red eye occurs when the setting is dark and the blood vessels in your eyes expand giving a reddish tint. Can’t keep your eyes open? Tell the photographer to snap the picture on the count of three. When he says three, open your eyes. Works every time!

Model: Sunaina Virmani. Photo by Suraj Shetty.

Often, the people that are the most photogenic are not the most attractive; they just know what to do in photos to look their best. And with this list, now you do too. So no need to be camera-shy this summer – get out there and smile!

Vidhya Ravi is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. She has worked in the beauty industry for nearly five years and currently works in hair care marketing for Procter & Gamble. You can visit her blog at www.starterchef.blogspot.com.