‘Tis the season for holiday parties, which means that friends, family and coworkers will be whipping out their cameras and snapping hundreds of photos, including shots of you from every possible angle.Considering we live in the age of oversharing on Facebook and Twitter, there’s no telling how many sets of eyes will land on that photo of you at the company holiday party or your bestie’s New Year’s Day champagne brunch.Translation: You want to look your best at all times because that picture may live online in perpetuity!MORE: The Beauty Benefits of SmilingHere are some expert tips that will keep you from untagging every photo you see this season:Act natural—and move around. Granted, when you’ve got one pose that works beautifully in photos, you may be afraid to mix it up, but you’ve got to move around between shots or else risk looking like an escapee from Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.“Don’t force a facial expression just to minimize the dreaded double chin—or other facial feature you can’t stand in your photos,” says New York photographer Liz Ligon. “If you have the option to have more than one or two photos taken, try to switch it up in each one to increase the likelihood of looking really natural.”Crack yourself up. There’s nothing more attractive and enticing than laughter, which is why Ligon recommends embracing laughter when someone is snapping your picture. “Laugh at the photographer if you have to,” she suggests. “You’ll automatically feel more comfortable in front of the camera.” Might we add that, you know, actually having fun at a party always leads to better photos?QUIZ: How Funny Are You?Wear fitted, flattering clothes. The camera can add a pound or two so there’s no need for extra bulk in our outfit. Celebrity stylist and founder of A Clothes Call Ruth Sonnenshein suggests that you keep clothes on the fitted rather than billowy side.Go nude. No, not in the photos. “Wear nude undergarments,” suggests Sonnenshein. “Those sneaky flashes can wreak havoc on a party pic.” Think about the times when you and your friends have mocked a celebrity on the red carpet in a dress that instantly became see-through the minute the paparazzi’s flash bulbs went off. Sure, you want to be remembered—but not in that way.Brighten up. As tempting as that over-the-top smoky eye might be, makeup artist Jackie Cioffa recommends keeping makeup simple and bright. “I love using cream shadows in light colors like beige or gold applied to the lids to give eyes a pop. Then line close to the lash line with a kohl pencil for definition,” she says. Cioffa prefers Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Shadows to do the trick.Don’t OD on powder. Sure, no one wants to look like an oil slick in photos, but heavy powder can look like a chalky mess once that flash goes off. Cioffa says to go easy on the powder, and go for a translucent formula over pigmented.Do a final double-take. Take a last look at yourself before leaving the house and then remove one accessory, recommends Sonnenshein. “Too much is just that—it’s a holiday party, not a costume party,” she says.Now get out there and have some fun…because we’ll all be looking at your pictures online soon.MORE: Control Your Online Image
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