photogenic
foh-tuh-JEN-ik
/ˌfoʊtəˈdʒɛnɪk/
Looking attractive, appealing, or well-proportioned in photographs or under film lighting.
Applies to subjects (people, animals, or places) that naturally render beautifully on camera.
The story behind the word. Coined in the 1830s in biological sciences to describe organisms that emitted light (bioluminescence). By the 1920s, Hollywood film studios repurposed the word for actors whose facial features captured camera lighting effectively.
Word relationships
- picturesque: Picturesque applies primarily to quaint scenery or places, whereas photogenic applies to people and objects in photos.
- camera-ready: Camera-ready implies being groomed for broadcast, not necessarily naturally attractive on camera.
- unphotogenic: Looking awkward or unflattering in photographs.
Commonly confused with
- telegenic: Telegenic specifically means looking appealing on television, whereas photogenic applies to still photos.
Word family
- photogenically (adverb): In a photogenic manner.
Collocations
- highly photogenic
- photogenic landscape
- photogenic smile
Example sentences
- "The coastal village proved to be extraordinarily photogenic with its brightly painted doors and cobblestone lanes." Coastal village description
Memory hook
PHOTO-GENIC: Generating (GENIC) great light on PHOTO film. Always looks great in photos.
When not to use
Do not use to describe audio recordings or non-visual art forms.
Fun facts
- In 1839, 'photogenic drawing' was William Henry Fox Talbot's original term for early paper photographs before 'photography' was chosen.
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