[ How to Look Good in Photos

[
Without (looking like you are) Really Trying
1 an
introduction:
We don't expect SuicideGirls to be professional
models, and we love the "girl next door" vibe in a set.
However, we want you to look your best in every pic-
ture, so we've put together this guide to help you out
shooting your set.
Have this page up before you shoot and while you
are shooting - there are lots of good examples in the
next sections that will break down exactly How to Look
Good in Photos Without (looking like you are) Really
Trying.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
2 fa c i a l
expressions:
Before you shoot your set, you should practice making
faces in the mirror. Make happy faces, sad faces, sexy
faces, angry faces, mysterious faces, all of them!
See what looks interesting and works with your face.

Scrunch up your face really tight, then relax. When

your face is relaxed, your lips will naturally part a little
bit in the middle, which is super sexy... way better than
pursing your lips. Whoever decided that “duck face” is
sexy is wrong - definitely do not do this.
Practice smiling with your eyes - Tyra Banks likes to
call this a SMIZE, and it makes you look fierce and you
should definitely learn it.
Have you ever seen America’s Next Top Model? You can
watch pretty much every episode on YouTube - it’s an
incredible reference for learning how to look good in
photos.

Here's a good old fashioned smize:

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying

Tilt your chin down slightly.
This defines your jaw line
and gives your face a good
shape, all while making your
neck look slimmer.
Practice different angles on
your face.
Slightly to the right or to the
left looks the best on most
people rather than straight
on, although some straight
on shots can be really strik-
ingly beautiful too.
tips:
Always try to find the light
when you’re shooting a set.
Your face should be facing the
light source so there aren’t any
weird shadows cast over it,
which can be unflattering.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

Here are some great examples of different facial expressions: without (looking like you are) really trying
Here are some great examples
of different facial expressions:

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
3 posing:
The hardest thing about shooting a set that is interest-
ing to look at and captivates the viewer is getting your
posing right - just standing there won’t do the trick.
Just like facial expressions, practice posing in front of
a mirror! Try poses standing up, sitting down, laying
down, kneeling. Practice holding things in your hands,
practice holding nothing and where you will put your
hands - on your hips, on your shoulders, playing with
your hair. What are you doing with your feet? Try every-
thing and see what it looks like.
Try to have at least one piece of furniture at your
location, especially if you have never modeled before.
Having a chair, a bed, a railing on a staircase, a table,
a ladder or any other item will give you a lot more
options for a variety of poses. Sit, stand, kneel, climb,
drape yourself off of it, whatever feels natural. Interact
with it - take something out of a dresser drawer, reach
up for a book on a bookshelf, bend down to turn the
channel on the TV on the floor, lean over the couch to
answer the phone - be creative!
HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
without (looking like you are) really trying
 Here’s some of our favorite poses from sets on Suicide-

*
Girls.com. Pull up these photos when you shoot your set
and try to recreate the poses - many of these are tried
and true and work for pretty much every body type.

tips for posing,

that even Tyra herself would approve of:

Keep it classy.

DO: Yes, you must be nude, but we discourage spread shots, and
definitely no penetration for any reason ever. Do not even think
about it.
Create curves. Instead of standing straight up, move your body
into an S shape. Your body will look the best and the resulting
photo will be visually appealing when you maximize your natural
curves.
Make eye contact. The sexiest sets are when the viewer feels like
they are right there in the room with you. You don’t have to stare
down the camera in every photo, but direct eye contact in at least
a few shots create the most intimate vibe.
Request to have your favorite music playing when you do a
shoot! The beat will kick your poses up 10 notches and make you
feel way more comfortable.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
 lose your neck!! Try to elongate your neck, it makes you look

DO taller, leaner, and more confident.

be a limp noodle. Always pose with tension in your body, from
head to toe.

N O T: just stand there. Boresville. Mix it up with innovative poses!

slouch! Arch your back or at the very least, stand up straight.
be comfortable. If you are super comfortable, it probably doesn’t
look good on camera. Your entire body should be tense head to
toe - if you’re doing it right, you’ll be sore the next day from using
all those muscles.
be forgettable. Make an impression by showing your distinctive
personality.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
B O DY T y p e s :
Every body type is different, but the more you practice, the more
you will know what works best for you personally! Here are some
more tips that work well for certain body types, but are actually
pretty universal:

Tall Girls: Petite Girls: Curvy Girls:

Try extending your arms and
legs out more in some shots,
using those long limbs to
create really dramatic lines!
Being tall makes it easy to
look graceful in photos with
the right poses!
Arching your back as much
as you can and keeping your
head upward will give you
a longer look. (Arching your
back is also a great tip for
those of us who don’t have
“abs of steel”, as it gives
a flatter appearance to the
tummy.) Petite girls should
also be careful of positions
and angles shot from above,
as these generally shrink you
in a shot.
Avoid positions where you
bend inwards, as this will
exaggerate rolls that normally
wouldn’t even be noticeable!
Arching your back will give a
nicer shape to your curves. Be
sure to find some poses that
you really like that will highlight
your favorite body parts, rather
than hiding areas you don’t like
as much. And don’t be afraid to
flaunt a big booty!

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
More great poses for almost any
body type. HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
without (looking like you are) really trying
4 HAIR *
Here are some great examples of minimal yet sexy hair
and makeup:

We favor light makeup and hair. We want to see YOU

and appreciate your natural beauty!
HAIR: Please wash and lightly style your hair for your
shoot. You do not need to have a stylist come to your
shoot - you wear your hair every day, so you know
how to style it best! Simple hairstyles work the best on
camera, but always try a couple test shots with your
photographer before you get into the set. If you wear
your hair down, make sure that it’s not obscuring your
face. If you wear it up in a ponytail or in braids or a half
ponytail, make sure it’s not pulled too tightly. Your hair
should look touchable, and be recognizable as hair, not
a helmet of hairspray. Think about how you’d wear your
hair on a first date - do that.
Please do not wear a wig. If you think you can wear a
wig and we won’t be able to tell, you are wrong. When
there is no visible part in your hair, when your hair is
unnaturally shiny, when it is perfectly styled with no
hair out of place, trust that we know and just don’t do
it. If you normally wear wigs due to a health condition,
e-mail the model coordinator prior to submitting the HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
without (looking like you are) really trying
set: modelcoordinator@suicidegirls.com
4 MAKEUP
We favor light makeup and hair. We want to see YOU
and appreciate your natural beauty!
MAKEUP: The most universally flattering look is a little
face powder on any shiny areas, a little blush on your
cheeks, a thin line of black liquid eyeliner on your eye-
lids (top only), and mascara.
Apply your makeup as you wish, we just ask that
you keep it somewhat minimal - really just a little face
powder, mascara, and blush does the trick for most
ladies! If you normally draw on your eyebrows, we find
that it looks best when they look like natural brows as
opposed to super thin, super arched drawn on one

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
We understand that sometimes a little smoky eye or a
red lip can essential to the theme, especially if you are
emulating a character, but all over caked on makeup
and drawn on eyebrows is pretty much never necessary.
Here are a few instances of too much makeup:
HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
without (looking like you are) really trying
 *
Here are some examples of casual but super cute
wardrobe choices:

5 WA R D R O B E
Your wardrobe should express who you are.
Dress how YOU feel sexiest! Casual and classy never
go out of style, so try to pick outfits that are casual but
cute, or a little sexier but still classy.
Casual wardrobe includes: cotton t-shirts/tanks, denim
shorts, sundresses, tall socks, cotton panties, track
shorts, blue jeans, cardigan sweaters, chuck taylors, etc.
Have fun with your wardrobe choices! Its entirely up
to you and a representation of you.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
5
*
And here are a few examples of very sexy, classy
wardrobe choices:

WA R D R O B E
Classy wardrobe includes: nice lingerie (lacy, satin,
sheer, etc), bodysuits/one pieces, tights, thigh highs,
garter belts & garters, sexy shoes (vintage, stilettos,
boots), corsets, etc.
We ask models to stay away from:
Stripper heels and stripper attire (neon colored fishnets,
anything crotchless, metallic/sparkly two piece sets,
etc). Although they might look hot on stage, it doesn’t
transfer well in photos. Just don’t.
Pasties, electrical tape, or anything else covering your
nipples - Nude means nude!
Top hats, fedoras, bowler hats, etc. Don’t let a hat steal
the show from you!
Angel or fairy wings. No.
Old timey burlesque apparel - Bettie Page was certainly
an inspiration, but your set should be a modern take on
how you feel the most beautiful, not an ode to ye olde
days of yore.
6 CHOOSING A
L O C AT I O N :
The location you choose can be simple or visually
intriguing - just make sure it isn’t cluttered! There’s
not much worse than seeing a gorgeous girl posing in a
untidy bedroom, surrounded by piles of clothes, bags,
books, etc. So distracting!
Sometimes you have to put a little work in to find a
great location. If you don’t have a cool room in your
house, maybe a friend does! You can even ask local
boutiques, coffee shops, bars, etc. if they would allow
you to shoot in their space.
The only place that we ask that you DO NOT shoot is
in a studio, in front of a plain backdrop - you are much
more interesting than that! We will not accept any
sets shot in front of a plain studio backdrop. Lose
the backdrop and try a different area of the studio, and
then you’re on to something.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
If you don’t have access to a really great location, that’s
okay, too! Some of our favorite sets are shot on a bed
with crisp white sheets, or in an empty room.
Here are some examples of very simple locations
that made for some wonderful sets:
HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
without (looking like you are) really trying
 Kitchens:
In front of a window:
Bathrooms & Showers:

Some girls are able to shoot at their house or a friends

house in different rooms, like the kitchen, or the bath-
room. There are plenty of ways to use different rooms HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
creatively! without (looking like you are) really trying
On a front or back porch: On (or near) a couch or chair:

*
Here are some examples of sets shot in different
areas or rooms:

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
7 CHOOSING A
THEME:
Set themes are fun and add a narrative quality to your
set. Themes can be simple - it can be related to your
shoot’s location, focusing on one of your interests,
hobbies, or even your favorite shirt. They can also be
complex and tell a story, or pay homage to a favorite
movie, book, character, etc. 
Some themes we ask our models to stay away from:
Stuffed animals, dolls, school girls, nursery rhymes, or
anything else childish in theme
Paint, dirt, candle wax, food, or anything else messy,
drippy, oozy, smeared, etc.
Swords, knives, or most other weapons. If you want to
have these in your set, that’s okay, but letting the whole
set revolve around them is just weird.

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
Ryker in “Game Day” - Who wouldn’t want to watch
football with this babe?

Rambo in “Fast Times” - Rambo looking super sexy,

paying tribute to one of her favorite movies.

Casanova in “Nostalgia” showing off her collection

of vintage cameras and old photos.

There are a lot of themes that seem to come in waves,

and these change all the time, but basically you don’t
want your set to be “just another [whatever] set”. If
you’re going to have a theme in your photos, make sure
you’re adding something really original!
BUT! Don’t feel obligated to have a super elaborate
theme - we love sets that keep it simple and keep it
HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS
about you! without (looking like you are) really trying
AnnaLee in “The Princess and the Pea”

Discoquette in “Detention”.

*
Here are some examples of sets that are much more
complex or tell a story throughout:

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying
8 o n e last
thing!
In short, your set should be a representation of who you
are AND be something you are super proud of. If you’re
not 100% in love with your entire set, you can re-shoot
as many times as you like, until you have something you
are really excited to submit to SG.

Hopefully this guide will help you nail it on the first

time, though! ;)

HOW TO LOOK GOOD IN PHOTOS

without (looking like you are) really trying