The Secret to Looking Good in Photos
Razia's TEDxHuntingtonBeach talk shares the technique she uses to bring out the best in everyone — even the most camera-shy.
A nine-minute talk on the psychology behind looking confident in photographs. Your photo is your voice when you’re not in the room — make it count.
The psychology of looking good in photos
Genuine emotion creates instant connection. When viewers see authentic expression, they mirror it back, making you appear more attractive and more trustworthy.
The Emotional Memory Technique
A four-step process borrowed from actors: look with intention, think of someone you love, recall a specific joyful memory, and let that emotion show naturally.
Professional impact
LinkedIn's data shows you're 21 times more likely to have your profile viewed with a photo. One client increased their impressions by 40% in 48 hours using this technique.
It works remotely too
The technique isn't dependent on being in the room. Razia has used it photographing a client in Mexico from the UK, with the same transformation.
The Secret to Looking Good in Photos
The power of connection in photography
I'm in the London Underground tube station. It's hot, it's busy. Everyone's looking miserable. Apart from me, of course.
As I make my way outside, a poster catches my eye. It's a portrait of an elderly man, part of a charity campaign. As soon as I locked eyes with him, the sounds, the people, the crowd — it all disappeared. We had this one-on-one moment, eye to eye.
He's smiling, but not the kind of smile you make when you're happy. It was more the kind of smile you do when you're trying to be brave. I can see his loneliness, his isolation in his eyes. He's smiling through his pain.
The journey to connection through photography
This image gave a voice to the voiceless. It started my journey into the profound power of connection in photographs — a connection that transcended language and turned a stranger into someone I could trust.
I wanted to encapsulate that magic and infuse it into the photographs I took as a photographer, so others could feel seen and heard. And whilst on that journey, I discovered the secret to looking good in photographs.
The science behind emotional connection
Research has found that when we look at a photograph of a person conveying genuine emotion, we connect immediately. We empathise and mirror back the same emotion. Your photo has the ability to transform from a mere image into a powerful tool of connection.
The more I focused on capturing genuine emotion, the more attractive the person looked. It was like an inner spark glowing from inside out. After 15 years as a photographer and thousands of images, I've not seen anything quite as transformative.
The impact of authentic photography
Research by Santorini et al. found that a genuine smile is considered more attractive and more trustworthy. LinkedIn's data shows you're 21 times more likely to have someone click on your profile if you have a profile photo.
The Emotional Memory Technique
I use a technique borrowed from actors called the Emotional Memory Technique. Here's how to do it:
- 1Start with the eyes — look with intention, a slight squint that shows engagement.
- 2Think of someone you love — your child, partner, or anyone who brings you joy.
- 3Recall a specific memory — a moment that filled your heart with joy.
- 4Focus on that emotion — let it show in your face naturally.
The transformation
Using this technique, clients show remarkable transformations. They display more connection in their eyes, greater authority, and genuine illumination. Each person tells something authentic about themselves through their expression.
This technique works even virtually — I was in the UK photographing someone in Mexico. One client increased his LinkedIn impressions by 40% in 48 hours using a photo taken with this method.
The message
The bravest thing you can do is step in front of the camera knowing you are enough. Use the Emotional Memory Technique to tap into your brilliance and illuminate your uniqueness. Find the person you were before society put you in a box.
When you do that, you won't just look good — you'll captivate.
If your photo could give you a voice, what message would you reveal?
Ready to transform your professional image?
As a London photographer and TEDx speaker, I help professionals overcome camera shyness and create authentic, powerful images that connect with their audience.