Almost no face is perfectly symmetrical. One eye sits a fraction higher, one cheek is a little fuller, a parting falls one way. None of it is noticeable in person, because people see you moving. A camera freezes one instant from one angle, and that is why some photos feel like you and others don't.
Your "best angle" isn't a mystery or a matter of luck. It's simply the combination of direction, height and light that suits your particular face, and you can find it in about ten minutes.
The twelve-frame test
Do this once, at home, without an audience. You'll use what you learn for years.
Set up the light
Stand facing a window in daylight. Soft light from in front of you is the most flattering there is, and it means you're judging your face rather than the lighting.
Set up the camera
Prop your phone at eye level or very slightly above, about two metres away, and use the 2× or portrait lens. Use the self-timer, or ask someone you're relaxed with.
Take six angles
Straight on; then turned roughly 15° and 30° to your left; then 15° and 30° to your right. Turn your shoulders, then bring your face most of the way back towards the lens.
Repeat with your chin
Take the same six again with your forehead eased slightly forward and your chin lowered a fraction. That's twelve frames.
Wait, then choose
Look at them the next day, not straight away. Ask a simple question of each: would I use this one? Most people find two or three frames, all from the same side, stand out at once.
What you're looking for
- Your eyes look open and even. One side of the face often makes the eyes appear more balanced.
- The jaw looks defined. The chin-forward frames usually win here.
- The nose sits in proportion. A slight turn often flatters more than straight on.
- It looks like you on a good day. The aim isn't to look like someone else. It's to look like yourself when you feel your best.
Height matters as much as side.A camera slightly above eye level flatters almost everyone. One held below the chin adds shadows and chins that no one actually has. If someone else is taking the photo, it's perfectly fine to ask them to raise the phone a little.
Using your angle
Once you know your side, use it quietly and consistently. Stand so that side is towards the camera in group photos. Choose it for your profile pictures and headshots. When a photographer asks, it's completely normal to say, "I prefer my left side."
Combine it with the rest of what flatters you: a body turned thirty to forty-five degrees, hands with something to do, a breath out just before the shutter, and your best colours near your face. There's more in our guide to being photographed beautifully.
