How to Look Smart in Photos

Whether you're taking pictures for a dating site or setting up a professional portfolio, getting your intelligence across in a picture is an important part of the process. Looking smart in a picture can be hard since still images aren't...

Method 1 of 3:

Dressing and Grooming Yourself

Brush your hair and wash your face. Make sure your hair looks smooth and frizz-free. Quickly wash off your face with a mild cleanser and pat it dry to get rid of any oil or dirt so you look clean and fresh.^{[1] X Research source}
1. You can straighten your hair, curl it, or leave it natural if you'd like to. Do your hair however you think it looks the best.
2. If you don't have time to brush your hair or wash your face, just smooth down any frizz with your hands and blot your face with a napkin to freshen up.
Throw on some light makeup, if you'd like to. Dab a little bit of concealer under your eyes, add a layer of light foundation, and put on some mascara to freshen up your face and conceal any blemishes you might have. Stay away from brightly colored eyeshadows and lipsticks, and instead stick with neutral, natural colors.^{[2] X Research source}

Tip: Avoid wearing translucent powder if you are going to take a photo with the flash on. The light from the flash could bounce off the powder in your face and make you look washed out.
Put on glasses if you have them. Even nowadays, glasses are associated with intelligence. If you have a pair of glasses that you already wear, put them on for the picture to look smarter.^{[3] X Research source}
1. Try to use thick-framed glasses to seem more intelligent.
Wear business casual clothes. You don't have to wear a full suit, but throw on a button-down shirt and some slacks to look smart and professional. You can also wear a blazer on top of your clothes to look more dressed up.^{[4] X Research source}
1. Stay away from bold patterns or colors and instead stick to small stripes or solid-colored neutral clothes.

Method 2 of 3:

Choosing a Setting and Pose

Take a picture on your own, not with other people. This will immediately draw attention to you and only you, not anyone else. Plus, it shows that you are confident enough to take a picture by yourself.^{[5] X Research source}
1. If you are taking a photo for a business website or profile, try to stay away from selfies. These can make you seem less professional and more juvenile. Instead, ask a friend to take your photo or set up a self-timer to snap a picture.
Pose in traditional stances, not goofy or silly ones. Try standing with your arms by your sides or leaning up against a building. Avoid taking jumping photos or ones where you are posing with a silly statue or theme park character.^{[6] X Research source}
1. Keeping your pose neutral will show people that you can act professionally.
Pick a simple background. A nature park, a brick wall, or even a blank white sheet are all great backgrounds for a photo to make you look smart. Stay away from crazy colors or distracting background items, like other people or a party.^{[7] X Research source}

Tip: You can set up a neutral background by hanging a white bed sheet over a door with some duct tape.
Smile with your mouth closed. Smiling too hard in your photo can make you look over eager. Keep your lips together when you smile and try not to show your teeth to make yourself seem smarter.^{[8] X Research source}
1. Smiling with your mouth open may make you seem more likeable, so if that's more important to you, you can smile while showing your teeth.
Look directly at the camera. Making eye contact with people makes you seem more intelligent. You can mimic that by looking directly into the lens of the camera when you take your photo.^{[9] X Research source}
1. Looking directly at the camera also makes you seem more confident.

Method 3 of 3:

Editing the Picture

Snap a few different photos so you have some options. Instead of relying on 1 picture to make you look smart, try changing up your pose, smile, or background to get a variety of snapshots. Then, you can choose which one you look the smartest in.^{[10] X Research source}
1. You can also look at a photo you've just taken and make any changes that you'd like to before taking another one.
Make sure the photo isn't blurry. If you moved when your picture was taken or the camera was shaky, it can make your picture look out of focus. Try sharpening up the image or retaking your photo until it looks clear.^{[11] X Research source}
1. If you took your picture on a smartphone, click the 'edit' option on the photo and go to 'sharpen.' You can increase or decrease the sharpening tool from this area.
Crop out any alcoholic beverages. People who are holding drinks, especially beer, are automatically perceived as less intelligent. If you've taken the perfect photo but you're holding a margarita in your hand, try zooming in on your upper body to take the alcohol out of the picture.^{[12] X Research source}
1. People who are drinking often make worse decisions than when they're sober, which is why it can sway people's perception of you.
Avoid using heavy filters that make your photo look edited. Although there are a lot of filters out there that can smooth your skin or brighten up your face, a picture that looks heavily edited will have the opposite effect that you want. Try not to do a ton of work on your photo once you take it so it looks natural and smart.^{[13] X Research source}

Tip: Try taking your picture in natural lighting so you don't need to filter it a ton.