Why most progress photos do not work
Two photos of the same person can look very different. Different light, a different angle or a different time of day changes a lot.
If your photos change, you cannot see if you changed. So the rule is simple. Change nothing but yourself.
The five things to keep the same
| Keep the same | How |
|---|---|
| Place | The same spot in the same room. A plain wall behind you. |
| Light | Daylight from a window, in front of you. |
| Time | The same day of the week and the same time of day. |
| Distance | The camera at the same distance, at eye level. |
| You | The same expression. Hair off your face. No filter. |
Photos of your face and skin
- Wash your face. Do not put on makeup.
- Stand facing a window.
- Hold the camera at eye level, an arm's length away.
- Take one photo from the front.
- Turn and take one photo from the side.
Keep your face relaxed. Do not smile in one photo and frown in the next.
Photos of your body and posture
- Put your phone on a shelf or a small stand, at the height of your chest.
- Stand far enough back that your whole body is in the photo.
- Use the timer.
- Wear the same clothes each time. Pick ones that sit close to your body.
- Take one photo from the front and one from the side.
Stand the way you normally stand. Do not pull your stomach in for one photo only.
How often
Once a week. Pick one day and keep it. Sunday morning works well for many people.
Do not take a photo every day. Change is too slow to see from one day to the next.
How to compare
- Put two photos side by side.
- Compare this week with four weeks ago, not with last week.
- Look at one thing at a time. Skin first. Then hair. Then posture.
Skin care takes time to show. Read how long skincare takes to work.
Common mistakes
- A light right above your head.
- A camera held low, pointing up.
- Beauty mode left on.
- A messy background.
- A different shirt or a different hairstyle each time.
Keep your photos safe
These photos are private. Keep them in an album that only you can open. Think before you send them to anyone.
Let an app keep track
Ukti is our app. Once a week you take a front photo and a side photo for your Look score.
- Ukti checks each photo. If it is blurry or has a filter, it tells you why and asks for a new one.
- It puts this week's photo next to last week's, from the front and from the side.
- It counts how many weeks in a row you did it.
Want a plan for what to work on? Read how to glow up.
Be careful
This guide is general advice. It is not medical advice. If you see a change in your skin or your body that worries you, please see a doctor.
