How to take a body/face photo

Please make sure to read the recommendations very carefully before asking for advice on any of your beauty types.

We require

  • one full body photo

  • one face-on face photo

  • one side profile face photo

  • 5-10 outfit photos

  • your height in feet and inches (e.g. 5”2)

  • information on any appearance-altering surgery

  • any feedback/typing I have given you in the past

Please send all of your photos as a google drive folder to us in an email + ensure we have access to the folder.

Body

Person in gray workout clothes standing in front of a wooden bookshelf with books and a dog in a bed nearby.

    • the photo should look exactly the one pictured here

    • include your entire body head to toe

    • arms by your sides, but not obscuring your hips

    • hair behind your shoulders

    • feet together

    • take the photo at chest height, not below or above

    • disclose if you have had any plastic surgery, or body-altering surgery. this won’t affect your type, but it might throw off your analysis. If possible, send some pre-surgery examples in addition to the current photos.

    • do wear

      • underwear/bikini or tight fitting sportswear

      • a skin-tight vest (camisole) with no bra + leggings/bikini-bottoms is the best combination

      • wear plain garments

    • do not exclude any part of your body in your photo including feet or head

    • do not pose e.g. with your hand on your hip, shift to one leg, move your body at angle

    • do not take the photo at a downward or upward angle. the camera should be taken at chest height and include your entire body. if your body will not fit, you must stand further back

    • do not send side portraits or photos of you from behind, these don’t help I would rather you focus on getting the full body photo right

    • do not send a mirror selfie

    • do not remove the background of your image, or modify the image

    • do not wear

      • loose fitting garments

      • a vest/top that does not cling to your bust or waist

      • a top which obscures your shoulders

      • a-tshirt

      • loose-fitting trousers

      • leggings which flare at the ankle

      • bold prints

      • swimwear with ruffles or similar detailing that changes the shape

    • rather than taking the photo from the floor or an upward cabinet, tables and window ledges tend to be the right height. tripods are best, but stacking books is also effective!

Face

    • we require two face photos: one face-on + one side profile

    Photo 1

    • try to emulate a passport photo as much as you can

    • make sure you face the camera straight on

    Photo 2

    • please send a side profile

    Both:

    • take the photo at arms length+ to avoid distortion

    • have a blank facial expression

    • pin back any bangs

    • hold your camera at a straight angle, not downward or upward - even slightly

    • let me know if you have had any plastic or face-altering surgery. this won’t affect your analysis but it might throw me off if I don’t know about it. If possible, send some pre-surgery examples in addition to the current photos.

    • do not wear makeup

    • do not pose at a more flattering angle i.e. tilted to the side

    • do not smile

    • do not wear glasses

    • do not take the picture in a dark room

    • do not squint your eyes

    • do not send a photo with a filter on

    • do not worry about how you look - its normal for this to feel a bit uncomfortable. I’ve even included a picture of me on a spotty day here because it’s okay if you’re not looking your best!

Outfits

    • send a maximum of 10 photos

    • send a range of photos

      • different angles

      • different locations

      • different types of clothing: dresses, tops, shorts, trousers, flared, skinny, cropped, long etc - whatever you have but a range

    • send outfits you feel good in AND outfits you feel bad in

    • you should be wearing the clothes in the photos

    • do send entire outfits head to toe

    • “real” photos of you, unposed for this specific project is fine - just pictures of you out at dinner, with friends etc are fine!

    • send 5-10 photos

    • do not send more than 10 images

    • do not worry about the outfits being ‘good’ or ‘stylish’

    • do not send pictures of just your top half for your outfit pictures, I need to see how clothes fall on your body

    • do not send mirror selfies

The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like
The above photos are examples of what the outfit photos might look like

general

    • make sure the photo looks accurate to YOU before you send it

    • take the photos fresh if possible as they are more likely to be accurate (except for outfit photos)

    • if you are not sure, send multiple - its better to have too many than too few

    • do not worry about how you look - everyone finds this process a little strange! I look at photos like this every day, and I do not judge any photo that reaches my desk. It is uncomfortable to see ourselves in our most raw, un-photogenic form, but you are completely normal I promise!