Portrait photographs freeze a moment in your life for eternity.  Naturally you want to look great.  So whether you have a professional photographer shooting your portrait or you are taking a selfie, here are some tips and tricks that will help you look your best for your portrait photograph.

Identify your best feature and focus on it

Study your face carefully and look at older photographs to find your best feature.  Generally it is the eyes.  For most people, their eyes express a range of emotions and thoughts.  It could also be the lips or cheekbones.  Whatever it is, make sure this feature is the focus and is highlighted in your portrait photograph.

Best angles

Again, look at old photographs and see which angles show you in the most flattering light.  Before the portrait shoot, get a friend or family member to take some pictures of you from different angles and see which angles look best.  While posing for the portrait photo, make sure that the shot is taken from these angles so you look your best.
    

Clothes and makeup

While choosing clothes, accessories and makeup for your portrait photograph, keep in mind which colors and cuts make you look good and stick to these.  Avoid experimenting with a new look while shooting a portrait photograph.  Use minimal accessories so that the focus remains your face.  Makeup adds color to your face and prevents you from looking tired and washed out.  Use subtle makeup to conceal blemishes and imperfections and highlight your strong features.  Avoid very loud makeup as it can make you look plastic.
    

Posing

While posing for a portrait photograph, firstly make sure you are comfortable.  If you are uncomfortable or stiff, it will show on the portrait.  Secondly, use a pose that flatters your face and body structure.  People with heavy set chin and neck should pose looking upwards at the camera so that the neck gets stretched and looks a bit longer.  If you are posing for a group  portrait, make sure that everyone’s head is at a different height and focus remains on each one.
    

Smile

A smile is invaluable to a great portrait photograph (unless you want a dark or mysterious look).  Whether it is a spontaneous wide smile or just a tiny hint of a smile, it will light up your face and instantly add warmth to your portrait photograph.