A turkey neck also known as a double chin is a common insecurity that many people have when posing for portraits. While genetics and weight play a role, there are techniques you can use when taking photos to minimize the appearance of a turkey neck. With some strategic posing, lighting adjustments, and camera angles, you can take beautiful, flattering photos that accentuate your best features.
What Causes a Turkey Neck in Photos?
A turkey neck occurs when extra fat accumulates under the chin and neck, causing the area to sag and wrinkle. As we age skin loses elasticity and facial fat pads start to descend, exacerbating turkey neck.
While being overweight can contribute to a double chin, even skinny people can get turkey neck from tucking their chin or having loose neck skin. Genetics also play a role, as some people are prone to storing fat in the neck and chin area.
Turkey neck is often emphasized in photos because your head is tilted at various angles. When lighting comes from below or you smile widely, it can cast shadows and cause unflattering creases that emphasize turkey neck.
10 Tips for Minimizing Turkey Neck in Portraits
With some adjustments to your posing, lighting, camera angles, and expression, you can minimize the appearance of turkey neck for more flattering, confident portraits.
1. Stretch Your Chin Forward
Pushing your chin slightly forward stretches out neck skin to smooth out wrinkles and tighten loose areas. Cue your subject to tilt their head forward by demonstrating the movement yourself. Have them hold for a few shots before relaxing.
2. Shoot From Above
Position the camera higher so it’s angled downwards towards your subject’s face. This creates a slimming effect by accentuating the face and minimizing the appearance of loose neck skin.
3. Diffuse Lighting
Harsh lighting from below casts unflattering shadows that emphasize neck wrinkles. Diffuse natural light or bounce flash off ceilings for a soft, even lighting that flatters the neck area.
4. Warm Up Neck Muscles
Have subjects warm up neck muscles by slowly rolling their head from side to side. This stretches the skin for a smoother look when posing.
5. Avoid Over-Smiling
Wide smiles that stretch open the mouth can cause chin wrinkling. Have subjects smile softly with lips gently closed.
6. Opt for Higher Collars and Necklines
V-necks, mock necks, and higher collars gracefully camouflage neck wrinkles. Position collars to sit smoothly against the neck.
7. Contour with Makeup
Bronzer and highlighter can sculpt and define the jawline and chin for a slimming effect. Follow up with setting powder to avoid creasing.
8. Change Up Chin Levels
Alternate between lifting your chin up higher and lowering it find the most flattering positions that tighten and smooth out the neck.
9. Lean Forward Slightly
Leaning the body forward naturally brings the chin and neck forward to smooth out wrinkles. Support yourself on furniture or a wall.
10. Zoom In
Cropping out the lower neck and filling the frame with just the face eliminates turkey neck entirely. Get closer or use a longer lens for tight facial shots.
Work With Your Subject’s Features
Accentuate your subject’s best angles and features in portraits. Identify problem areas early so you can make adjustments before capturing shots. Maintain clear communication to make sure your subject understands how to pose properly.
Be mindful not to overdo adjustments or overanalyze imperfections. Small tweaks go a long way for a natural, effortless look. With practice and these turkey neck minimizing tips, you’ll be able to beautifully photograph all body types and make subjects feel confident.
Easily avoid this common problem
Fans, politicians, and influencers all use this simple trick every day to avoid having a double chin in pictures.
MAKE A DOUBLE CHIN VANISH
If you want to look great in pictures, don’t hold your chin in the normal way when you know someone is taking them. Draw your chin forward in a slight arc, as though you have a peach tucked under it.
It works if you actually have a double chin. It also works if you don’t have one-but seem to have a double chin in photos. It can feel unnatural at first, but the final result looks right.
Why do you need to do this? When you’re being photographed, especially if you think the camera is getting too close, you’ll probably tilt your head back a little. Putting your chin against your neck in that way makes your face bunch up and your neck thicker.
An extra-big smile makes it all bunch up even more. You will see your photo afterwards and go off thinking misguidedly about the size of your chin….
You can change this a lot, though, if you pull your chin forward and tuck that imagined peach under it.
Now you are physically separating your chin from your neck, and reducing the bunching-up effect. The camera sees your face and neck as two separate surfaces instead of letting them run together because there is more space between them.
This makes your jaw looks more contoured. Your neck looks slimmer. This may make a little shadow appear under your chin, which also makes you look slimmer.
In these side views, you can see that Betty is using the Peach Technique to bring her whole face forward, not just her chin. Let your forehead come forward too. Using the Peach Technique doesn’t mean putting your bottom lip closer to the camera than the rest of your face, which could change the shape of your face in ways you don’t want. Learn more here.
HIDE DOUBLE CHINS IN PHOTOS | Tips to hide Turkey neck | Camera Confidence
FAQ
How to disguise a turkey neck?
How can I make my neck look better in pictures?
How do you get rid of neck fat in pictures?
How to tuck your chin forward with a turtle neck stretch?
The turtle neck stretch is an easy exercise you can do to get your chin forward by holding it at a higher angle. It even helps ease your tense shoulder muscles. All you need to do is push your face forward first while keeping the rest of your body still. Then you bring your head back and tuck your chin.
What can I do if I have a turkey neck?
To improve your neck’s underlying muscle quality and tone, you can try: Turkey neck exercises: Daily neck exercises can strengthen neck muscles, which may help improve your neck’s appearance. For ideas on moves you can try, ask a dermatologist. Botox® for turkey neck: As the platysma muscles weaken, vertical bands or cords can appear on your neck.
Can Ultherapy help hide a turkey neck?
Plus, your good taste and attention to fashion trends will make your age even more undetectable. When you’re sick of rooting around in your closet for accessories that can hide your turkey neck, there’s an FDA-cleared non-surgical solution to the rescue: Ultherapy’s ultrasound skin tightening treatment.
Should you wear a turtleneck?
When you really need an extra boost of confidence, throw on a turtleneck and you won’t need to worry about your neck for the rest of the day. All you need is a sweater that covers all the way up to your chin (no mock turtlenecks here!) and you’ve found yourself a new favorite sweater.
Can a saggy turkey neck look younger?
Nothing ruins a great outfit like a peek of wrinkling, saggy turkey neck. But with just a few tricks of the trade, your neck can look younger than ever using accessories and a simple ultrasound treatment. Here are our smart tips for turning back the clock on your skin:
What causes a turkey neck?
Dr. Newman says these six factors can cause turkey neck: Aging: Your skin naturally loses elasticity as you get older. “Gravity takes over, and the skin on your cheeks starts to drift down,” explains Dr. Newman. “Your cheek skin then pools underneath your jawline and in your neck.”