Elisa Zied, nutritionist and author, photographed by Lucille Khornak.

Before the days of social media, a bad photograph was just a bad photograph. It could be thrown away, swiftly deleted and never worried about again. Now, with the existence of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, there is no escaping the embarrassment of an unflattering photo! With friends and family constantly snapping photographs for their social media accounts, it is not uncommon to wake up to find you've been tagged in a cringe-worthy picture post, displayed for all the world to see. We've all had someone take less-than-becoming photos of us at some point and, despite our subtle hints or blatant protest, post them on social media for everyone's eyes. If you dread taking photographs with others in the fear that you won't be happy with the result, here are a few simple tricks that may increase your photo- taking confidence and stop you from running the other way every time someone pulls out their camera.

• Know your angles. Everyone has a 'good side'. Figure out which angle is most flattering for you and pose accordingly in group photos.
• Go for a more natural makeup look. Foundation that is too heavy or not the right shade will make your features appear flat and distract from your true beauty. Lightly emphasis the eyes and lips and use a sheer highlight and contour powder on the cheekbones for a healthy glow. Lipstick can also help you look good.
• Remember that dark-colored makeup can age you, so avoid brown or deep red lipsticks and heavy blush. Set your look with a light mattifying powder to avoid excess shine in photos.
• Smile! A smile that is natural and not forced will always look best. If you can't think of something funny before the picture is taken, smile or laugh a little. Happiness is always beautiful!
• Enlist the help of a professional!: When in doubt, consult a pro. Skilled professional photographers know exactly how to capture their clients so that a perfect picture is possible every time. Their knowledge of angles, lighting and posing can prove to be infinitely helpful when trying to capture flattering, high-quality photographs.

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