Holiday season is perfect time for these six ways to make sure your picture looks better than you do in reality

It is learnt that you look puffier in pictures, than in reality. That's not great news, especially in times of social media — the number of 'likes' our picture gets seems to have become the deciding feel-good factor in our lives. But don't feel so bad and go about deleting your previous pictures on social-networking sites. Follow these tips that teach you to master any shot, from a selfie to a traditional family portrait.

Slim down in seconds
Try stretching a thick rubber band — you'll notice that the more you pull, the thinner it gets. The same concept goes for your body. So just before you are about to take your own picture, lengthen your silhouette by tightening through your core, elongating your spine from your neck to your hips and relaxing your shoulders down. When posing in a seated position, sit on the edge of the chair with your legs at an angle (ankles crossed). This keeps your body long. For a standing pose, keep your spine strong and your torso tight. Isolating the muscles in view can give the illusion of tone. If the photo is shot in a carefree style, throw those arms up over your head and lengthen the body even further.

Wipe out that double chin
A double chin, quite literally, makes you seem 10 kilos more than you actually weigh. All this in the flash of a camera bulb. But don't fret. The solution is as simple. Point your chin down, and then stick it out, like a turtle. A make-artiste suggests you apply warm brown powder eye shadow or bronzer that is three shades deeper than your normal foundation just below the jawline, using a small blush brush to blend in a V-shape beneath the chin and onto the neck. This strengthens the jawline and makes that double chin disappear.

Highlight the cheekbones
The camera can make faces appear less sculpted than they are in life by visually flattening out our bone structure. So how do you fix the problem? Here you rely on the many wonders of make-up. Beauty experts will tell you it's all about tricking the lens with strategic highlighting and contouring. Start by dusting bronzer just beneath the cheekbones and then carefully sweep a touch of highlighter where light hits (like the top of the cheeks, cupid's bow and brow bone). Now strike a pose and shoot.

Shape up with clothes
This is the oldest trick in the fashion book — squeeze into shapewear before wearing your favourite dress. The right shapewear can make you look 10 kilos thinner, several inches narrower and instantly make you appear skinny. Also, make sure that your lingerie are properly fitted and that they don't create rolls of your back flab. Bra straps are notorious for this. Wear something that supports without cutting into your skin. They leave terrible marks behind.

Avoid high-calorie fabrics
How can fabrics be high on calories? Materials like Lycra and rayon have a tendency to reveal every crease you have worked so hard to hide or disguise. Woven, matte fabrics are far more forgiving. When it comes to prints, avoid wearing small stripes or polka dots (if you have a kettle like figure), as they tend to photograph wide. Instead, stick to solid colours with accent pieces around the head and shoulders draws attention up and away from the body.

Stick to a healthy lifestyle
If you're preparing up for a formal family portrait, replace processed foods for lean proteins and making sure you sleep for at least seven hours at night, days before leading up to your shoot. This will help you lose any bloat and look your best. Drink green tea during that week to improve your metabolism and steer clear of carbohydrates, fats and alcohol.