Being Photogenic

[bighead384]

Is being photogenic a real thing? Or is it just an excuse for ugly people?

[Dulce]

Dare to ask a shallow/conceited photogenic person that?

[_Lost_]

Some of the most beautiful people i've known take TERRIBLE photos. Also, ever seen a model IRL instead of a photo? Most of them are not even remotely attractive to me. Like my friend Matt: GREAAAAAT modeling portfolio, awkward and weird as fuck looking in person.

["Melyssa K" Kennedy]

Photographs don't portray how people look face to face, and I think your choice of wording in your question is incredibly insensitive.

[_Lost_]

Its Bighead. What do you expect?

["Melyssa K" Kennedy]

True enough. But, c'mon, I thought that he might have learned some tact by now. Then again, I wasn't here years ago.

[Godxilla]

Bighead.
Instead of asking us if photogenesis is a real thing, why don't quit it and go to a dictionary. Stop asking us this shot as if we're your parents and get some damn answers on your own?
Love,
Godxilla

PS: When will your "Is Santa Claus a black man?" thread come up?

[ad8]

Wait does "being photogenic" mean that you have the capacity to look good/better than usual in photos, or does it mean that every single picture that is taken of you will look good with absolutely no effort? While I believe that the latter does not exist, I would say that the former is just another word for having some kind of self-reflection abilities that makes you aware of how you are going to look in a photo and able to take actions toward a better look in photos.

[_Lost_]

Its not a "better than others in all pictures" thing. Its more that the likelihood of a picture of you looks good is greater than the average person. Some people truly photograph better than others.

[bighead384]

photogenesis

Huh? What is "photogenesis"?

Wait does "being photogenic" mean that you have the capacity to look good/better than usual in photos, or does it mean that every single picture that is taken of you will look good with absolutely no effort? While I believe that the latter does not exist, I would say that the former is just another word for having some kind of self-reflection abilities that makes you aware of how you are going to look in a photo and able to take actions toward a better look in photos.

Granted, but I think this is a very small part of it, mainly because I believe that people have very similar abilities when it comes to the ability to self-reflect moments before a picture is taken. Sure, there's obvious traits of physical attractiveness, but beyond that, I think some (perhaps fairly attractive) people just have facial characteristics that make it hard to replicate established "looks" that make for a good photo. For example, some people naturally look more spaced out or unfocused, which often causes a poor photo.

Its not a "better than others in all pictures" thing. Its more that the likelihood of a picture of you looks good is greater than the average person. Some people truly photograph better than others.

But how do you explain this and what causes it?