Beautiful vs. Photogenic - Why They’re not the Same Thing

People often use beautiful and photogenic as if they mean the same thing. They don’t. Some beautiful people photograph beautifully. Some very photogenic people aren’t conventionally attractive at all. And that difference matters—especially in photography. 

As a Northern Colorado portrait photographer, I spend a lot of time studying faces. Not in a critical way, but in a curious one. What draws my eye isn’t perfection. It’s presence. 

Expressiveness Is Everything 

The first thing that makes someone photogenic is expressiveness. Big, authentic, relatable expressions. You’ve probably noticed it before—people who seem to have only one face in photos. The same practiced smile. The same stoic look. Every time. 

Actors are famously photogenic for a reason. They have access to a wide range of expressions, and they aren’t afraid to use them. Models learn this, too. They don’t just pose; they communicate. A face that moves, reacts, and tells a story will almost always photograph better than a “perfect” but guarded face. 

Style Creates Interest 

A person’s unique style also plays a huge role in how photogenic they are. Jewelry, hair, clothing—anything that feels intentional and personal adds visual interest. It gives me something to work with. 

A mohawk isn’t my personal taste, but paired with an expressive face? I’d absolutely want to photograph that person. Style signals confidence, individuality, and story. All of those translate powerfully in a portrait. 

Distinct Features Hold Attention 

Then there are physical features. Not beauty in the conventional sense, but distinctiveness. Keith Richards isn’t considered a handsome man, yet his angular face and piercing eyes make you look twice. His face has character. 

We’re all born with our faces, but how features are emphasized matters. Makeup, lighting, and angles can draw attention to what already makes someone interesting rather than trying to “fix” anything. Photography isn’t about erasing uniqueness—it’s about highlighting it. 

Why I Say “You Have a Great Look” 

When I come across a stranger I want to photograph, I don’t say, “You are so beautiful.” I say, “You have a great look.” 

They may be beautiful. They may not be, at least by conventional standards. But what I’m responding to is something more specific—their expressiveness, their style, their presence. Their photogenic quality. 

And that’s the thing people often miss: being photogenic isn’t about fitting a standard. It’s about being interesting, open, and unmistakably yourself.