5 Tips for Taking Great Photos with Braces | Drs Savage, Sabol & Visser
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5 Tips for Taking Great Photos with Braces

Braces FAQs in Virginia Beach, VASo you’ve got braces. Not much you can do about that. You may not even feel like smiling at first, especially when it comes to photographs. Good news is, there are ways you can minimize the look of braces in photos by following these helpful tips. So go ahead, smile away!

  1. Make sure your teeth and braces are clean. Before posing for a photo, be sure to brush and floss your teeth. Apply some lip balm or moisturizer to keep dry and flaky lips at bay. When your lips are dry, they tend to catch more readily on your braces, which can tear at the skin and make for unsightly pictures. Going to be outside? Use lip balm with SPF.
  2. Don’t pinch your lips closed. Instead, keep your lips slightly parted. If you’re self-conscious of your teeth due to braces, you may think it’s best just to zip your lip. However, this doesn’t make for an attractive photo. In fact, it could be mistaken for fake insincerity. Part the lips slightly and you’ll come off as more friendly, open and sincere.
  3. Nix the flash. To avoid bringing more attention to your braces, opt for outdoor photos that require no flash. Flash photos tend to accentuate the appearance of the lines around your mouth and eyes. Of course, professional photographers will have special light filtering equipment, but if you’re concerned at all about the quality of the photo, remember that late afternoon outdoor light is ideal for taking flattering photos.
  4. Wear lipstick but not too dark. Accentuating your lips will draw attention to your smile, but if you go too dark and gaudy, you will risk drawing too much unwanted attention. Experiment with different shades until you get the perfect one. You could even try matching your lipstick to your band color. Check your teeth beforehand and ensure you don’t have staining or streaking. Always keep a compact handy for this!
  5. Practice your smile beforehand. Only you can know which is your best side, which smile reflects your personality, and how you want to come off looking in your photos. Before you pose, take some time to practice in front of a mirror. It may sound silly, but you can actually exercise your smile by doing some simple stretches to find the “smile range” you feel comfortable with. Keep your lips closed, stretch the corners of your mouth outward, and hold for 10 seconds. Keep stretching outward and holding the pose. Go through the range again until you hit on the best look for you. Learning to control your smile is the most important part of taking a photo with braces.

Here at Drs. Savage, Sabol & Visser, we are dedicated to providing quality orthodontic treatment in a courteous and professional manner. Our goal is to help you achieve a photo-worthy smile that enhances your appearance, health, comfort and self-esteem. Call to schedule your appointment today!



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