The same face can look tired, sharp, soft or flat depending on light alone. If you've ever wondered why one selfie looks great and the next looks off, lighting is usually the reason.
Overhead light
Ceiling lights cast shadows under the eyes, nose and chin. Eyes look sunken and skin texture stands out. It's the most common unflattering setup.
Side light
Light from one side carves out cheekbones and jawline, but it also exaggerates asymmetry. One half of the face looks very different from the other.
Front, diffused light
A window in front of you, out of direct sun, gives soft and even light. Features look balanced and skin looks natural. This is the best setup for any photo you want to judge fairly.
Colour temperature
Warm indoor bulbs make skin look yellow or orange; cool daylight can look grey. Mixed light sources give uneven skin tone across the face.
Why this matters for face analysis
Facial analysis tools find landmarks using edges and contrast. Harsh shadows can hide a jawline or shift where an eye corner appears to be, which changes measurements like symmetry or proportions.
A quick setup
Face a window, stand an arm's length from it, turn off overhead lights and hold the camera at eye level.
FreeAttractivenessTest recommends this kind of light for consistent results, and its how it works page shows how photo quality affects the score.
Disclosure: written by the FreeAttractivenessTest team.