How To Look Good In Your Driver's License Picture
Let's begin this blog with a quick stroll down Memory Lane. Well, ok, for me it's Memory Lane; for you it'll just be a few funny (but TRUE) anecdotes about bad driver's license pictures...
I remember when I was eleven years old, and Mom took me shopping for school clothes. We were at the checkout counter in one store, and Mom wanted to write them a check. This, of course, meant that the sales clerk had to ask to see her ID. Mom's driver's license picture was so bad that the clerk was actually snorting with laughter!
In college, a male friend of mine told me his driver's license pic sucked, and he was right; it was horrendous. In the photo, he looked stoned; had the blank, glassy-eyed stare of someone with a head full of fried brains and the IQ of patio furniture. I couldn't help chuckling:P
When I was 19, I briefly dated a guy who was a little on the heavy side. I caught a glimpse of his license picture when he went to pay for dinner one night, and was not surprised that it was a really bad pic of him. In the image, he looked angry and had his head lifted in a way that made his chins look like one ginormous chin. Not a good look for anybody.
And now let me explain - from my point of view - why it's such a good idea to at least try to take a good picture at the DMV. See, you're stuck with the same picture for several years at a time. So if your license makes you look goofy, or old, or whatever...guess what? You're screwed. Whenever someone needs to see your picture ID, they're going to see that embarrassingly unflattering pic of you. But if you like (or at least don't mind) your license pic, then you won't spend the next how many years cringing every time you hand over your license.
I've had many women ask me "How come you look good on your license, and I look like shit on mine?" Not only that, but I've received quite a few compliments from sales clerks, airport workers and other people who've had to check my ID. I hope I'm not coming off as arrogant by posting this blog, or by blatantly telling you that I have never taken a bad driver's license pic. I don't mean to come across that way, I'm just trying to help anyone who's ever wished they could look decent on their license or any other form of identification.
And now my secrets for taking a flattering ID pic:
1. Wear full makeup to the DMV. So many women go there looking like they just rolled out of bed, and then they wonder why their license picture sucks. Before you leave the house, put on enough foundation, concealer and powder to hide skin flaws. Wear enough eye makeup and lip color to really make your features pop in that tiny ID picture.
2. Fix your hair as if you were going on a hot date right after your DMV visit. I recommend wearing it down if it's long, bc ponytails and updo's often make women look like they have a mullet, or like they don't have enough hair. If your hair's short just do whatever you'd do with your hair to get ready for a special occasion.
3. You might want to consider what shirt you'll wear. Don't make a big deal out of it, just pick something simple in a color that flatters your skintone. If your skin has pink undertones for instance, avoid wearing warm colors like peach and yellow, bc they'll make your complexion appear "washed out" and sallow. Trust me on this.
4. Keep a powder compact and a little makeup kit in your purse for any last minute touch-ups. I always like to apply a little powder so that my face isn't greasy-looking in my picture.
And the most important tip of all...
5. SMILE! It's a known fact that most of us look better when we smile. Or, if you're asked not to smile, just do what I call a "semi-smile", which is basically lifting your cheeks and the outer corners of your mouth very slightly. (Just be careful not to overdo it, lol.) When the DMV employee goes to take your picture, smile (or semi-smile) and do your best not to blink until after the light flashes.
Next time you have to get an ID picture taken, follow these tips and you can thank me later;)
I remember when I was eleven years old, and Mom took me shopping for school clothes. We were at the checkout counter in one store, and Mom wanted to write them a check. This, of course, meant that the sales clerk had to ask to see her ID. Mom's driver's license picture was so bad that the clerk was actually snorting with laughter!
In college, a male friend of mine told me his driver's license pic sucked, and he was right; it was horrendous. In the photo, he looked stoned; had the blank, glassy-eyed stare of someone with a head full of fried brains and the IQ of patio furniture. I couldn't help chuckling:P
When I was 19, I briefly dated a guy who was a little on the heavy side. I caught a glimpse of his license picture when he went to pay for dinner one night, and was not surprised that it was a really bad pic of him. In the image, he looked angry and had his head lifted in a way that made his chins look like one ginormous chin. Not a good look for anybody.
And now let me explain - from my point of view - why it's such a good idea to at least try to take a good picture at the DMV. See, you're stuck with the same picture for several years at a time. So if your license makes you look goofy, or old, or whatever...guess what? You're screwed. Whenever someone needs to see your picture ID, they're going to see that embarrassingly unflattering pic of you. But if you like (or at least don't mind) your license pic, then you won't spend the next how many years cringing every time you hand over your license.
I've had many women ask me "How come you look good on your license, and I look like shit on mine?" Not only that, but I've received quite a few compliments from sales clerks, airport workers and other people who've had to check my ID. I hope I'm not coming off as arrogant by posting this blog, or by blatantly telling you that I have never taken a bad driver's license pic. I don't mean to come across that way, I'm just trying to help anyone who's ever wished they could look decent on their license or any other form of identification.
And now my secrets for taking a flattering ID pic:
1. Wear full makeup to the DMV. So many women go there looking like they just rolled out of bed, and then they wonder why their license picture sucks. Before you leave the house, put on enough foundation, concealer and powder to hide skin flaws. Wear enough eye makeup and lip color to really make your features pop in that tiny ID picture.
2. Fix your hair as if you were going on a hot date right after your DMV visit. I recommend wearing it down if it's long, bc ponytails and updo's often make women look like they have a mullet, or like they don't have enough hair. If your hair's short just do whatever you'd do with your hair to get ready for a special occasion.
3. You might want to consider what shirt you'll wear. Don't make a big deal out of it, just pick something simple in a color that flatters your skintone. If your skin has pink undertones for instance, avoid wearing warm colors like peach and yellow, bc they'll make your complexion appear "washed out" and sallow. Trust me on this.
4. Keep a powder compact and a little makeup kit in your purse for any last minute touch-ups. I always like to apply a little powder so that my face isn't greasy-looking in my picture.
And the most important tip of all...
5. SMILE! It's a known fact that most of us look better when we smile. Or, if you're asked not to smile, just do what I call a "semi-smile", which is basically lifting your cheeks and the outer corners of your mouth very slightly. (Just be careful not to overdo it, lol.) When the DMV employee goes to take your picture, smile (or semi-smile) and do your best not to blink until after the light flashes.
Next time you have to get an ID picture taken, follow these tips and you can thank me later;)