How to take face scan photos that hold up
Take six photos at eye level in even light: a neutral front view, left and right profiles, left and right quarter views, and a natural smile. Keep your head level, your expression relaxed and your ears visible, and repeat the same setup every time so any change you measure is real and not a lighting difference.
The six photos
| Photo | How to pose | Check before you shoot |
|---|---|---|
| Front | Look straight at the camera, face centered, head level, lips gently closed | Both ears equally visible; no squinting or tense jaw |
| Right profile | Turn your head 90° to the left so the camera sees your right side; chin parallel to the ground | Nose clearly outlined; ear fully visible; head not tipped up or down |
| Left profile | Turn your head 90° to the right so the camera sees your left side; chin parallel to the ground | Nose clearly outlined; ear fully visible; head not tipped up or down |
| Right quarter | Turn about 45° to the left; both eyes still partly visible | Right eye more prominent; nose tip not past the cheek outline |
| Left quarter | Turn about 45° to the right; both eyes still partly visible | Left eye more prominent; nose tip not past the cheek outline |
| Smile | Face the camera and give a natural, full smile with teeth showing | Same head position as the front photo; eyes naturally engaged |
Set up for good light and a true angle
- Camera at eye level. Above or below changes how long the face and jaw look.
- Even light on both sides. Face a window or a soft light source instead of standing beside one. Light from one side shades half the face and can look like asymmetry.
- Some distance. Very close selfies with a wide lens stretch the middle of the face. Prop the phone up or hold it at arm’s length.
- A plain background. It helps the detector find the outline of the face and the profile.
- No beauty filters or retouching. They change the geometry that is being measured.
Stay consistent for re-scans
The value of a re-scan is comparing you with yourself, so the closer the setup, the less noise in the comparison. Use the same spot, the same time of day and the same distance. MaxxLook’s on-screen face outline helps you frame each photo the same way, and any change smaller than a test’s noise floor is reported as “within noise” instead of as progress.
Weekly skin checks work from a single selfie that is measured in memory and then discarded, so they need the same consistency more than anything: same light, same spot, same distance.
What to avoid
- Squinting or tensing your jaw in the front photo.
- Tilting your head up or down in the profiles.
- Forcing an exaggerated or closed-lip smile.
- Hair covering your ears or part of your face.
- Mixed or colored light, and strong shadows from overhead lights.
What happens to the photos
Analysis photos are encrypted in transit and at rest and kept as the privacy policy describes, and biometric processing requires your explicit consent, which you can withdraw in Settings. Read the privacy policy for retention and data requests. A rejected or failed photo set does not use up your free scan.
Common questions
How many photos do I need for a face analysis?
MaxxLook uses six: front, left and right profile, left and right quarter view, and a smile. The front photo provides the landmark measurements, the smile photo the smile measurements, and the other angles add skin readings and repeat checks.
What if my photos are rejected?
MaxxLook checks photo quality and asks you to retake any that fail. A rejected or failed photo set does not use up your free scan.