Forever shouldn't be how long you keep the same Facebook profile picture. Quillian says "I love it when my friends change their picture -- it's more interesting -- I admire people who are constantly refreshing their image."
What makes for a great Facebook shot? "I think that it's really about choosing what represents YOU," Quillian contends. �There are people who get creative and use pictures of their kid or their dog or pull back from the familiar and use a destination. Bottom line, whatever best represents you and what you're feeling is what's appropriate."
Next: A top make-up artist shares what works (and doesn't) on film
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The 411 on adapting your makeup for different lighting
Can your makeup affect how you look in a photo? "Absolutely," says celebrated makeup artist Tina Turnbow who's worked with celebs including Mariska Hargitay, Amanda Peet and Vera Farmiga.
"What works well for pictures is using enough makeup to enhance your features but not so much that you overwhelm them," says Turnbow. "Don 't overdraw your lips and do not contour too heavily. In a picture everything is more obvious, so use restraint!"
The kind of light you'll be posing in makes a difference too. Natural sunlight is the most unforgiving and will show every flaw and drop of makeup so, if you're posing outdoors, keep your makeup natural.
Alternatively, fluorescent bulbs wash out color and blur definition. So, if you're having an office headshot taken, add some color and definition back to your face with blush and naturally drawn lip liner.
Next: Makeup tricks to employ regardless of the light you're in
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The makeup tricks to use before every photo
Regardless of the light, "even out your skin," says Turnbow. For the most natural finish, use yellow-toned foundations and concealer since pink ones look fake in photos.
"You definitely want to define your eyes," adds Turnbow, who advises against getting overly dark eye makeup because heavy shades can look harsh. "Don't go too black and be sure to blend, blend, BLEND!" And, enhance lips by going a shade darker than you normally do.
"Remember," summarizes Turnbow, "in a picture, everything is more obvious. So be attentive to detail!"
Next: Pro photographers share their insight
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The five rules pro photographers recommend you live by
Practice: "One of the differences between most of us and people who pose for photos for a living, is that we don't have very much practice having our photo taken," says Stiles. So don't be afraid to use your bathroom mirror to practice (no one will know except for you!).
Do your homework: "We all have our good and bad angles; the trick is knowing what they are," insists Stiles. Horne concurs. Take time to "look at pictures you've been in and see what angles you look best at and try and stick with them � try and recreate them."
Relax: And, when it comes to having pictures taken, noted fashion photographer Nick Horne, wishes we non-models or celebrities would "just relax! So many people tense up the second a camera is pointed at them and start looking uncomfortable," he says. "Just be yourself. Smile naturally, but don 't over do it -- think of something funny that will make you smile from the inside out."
If you are posing for a portrait and don't want to smile that's ok. "Whatever mood you want to portray will show in your eyes," says Horne.
Be subtle: "You also want to be subtle," continues Horne who cautions exaggerated motions like raising your chin too high or lowering it too much (that will result in a dreaded double-chin!)
Have fun: "Most important," says Horne �is to have fun and don't take it seriously. Or you could always just get really good at Photoshop," he kids.
If you've ever watched even a single episode of "America's Next Top Model, � you know that it takes a helluva lot more than saying "cheese" to look good in a photograph.
Those wannabes spend countless hours testing and trying the expert tips they're taught to figure out their best angles, learning how to "find the light " and mastering the "smize" -- Tyra-speak for smiling with your eyes -- before even having professional hairstyles and makeup done to be shot by a top photographer. The kicker? More times than not, the judges aren't even impressed by their photos.
HUH? So how are we regular folk ever supposed to look good in wedding pictures or camera phone snapshots if even those glamazons, with all of the expert tips they're given, can't manage to?
Well, in order to even the playing field a little, we've corralled a stable of experts whose job it is to help make Hollywood types look good on film, to chime in and share some expert tips and insider info that will help us all feel less doomed the next time a camera's pointed in our direction.
Keep in mind that, above all, the key is not to panic. As noted fashion, beauty and celeb photographer Andrew Stiles says, looking good in pictures "doesn't only involve angles and lighting. Perhaps it is a thought that the subject is holding in their mind. Something that is revealed through the eyes that is more important than any other factor."
So we don't have to be uber photogenic to get a great shot? We can just employ a few expert tips? Phew �
First up? Celeb stylist Beau Quillian's expert tips on how to pose.
