16 Tips to Make You Oh-So Photogenic

With wedding season in full swing, there are bound to be cameras around. And while it’s safe to say we all probably remember our worst photo sesh faux pas, from closed eyes to a double chin, there’s no need to deal with that nonsense this summer. The solution? Take some advice from models, photographers and selfie professionals, and follow these 16 picture-perfect tips to showcase the oh-so photogenic you.

1. Avoid Closed Eyes: Step 1: Make sure the photographer is counting down to the click. Step 2: Keep your eyes closed until right before the last second. Step 3: Open them up to reveal a gorgeous smile that features only open eyes. (via Daily Makeover, photo via Brit + Co)

2. Learn Why You Look Bad in Photos: This seems almost too obvious. Every time the camera comes out we all get nervous and fidgety, so why not plan ahead? Study past photos of yourself that you both like and don’t like, and see if you can find a pattern. (viaWikiHow, photo via Psychologies)

3. Pump Up Your Lashes: Open your eyes up by applying lots of mascara. Make sure it’s the last step in your eye makeup regimen too, so you’re left with a clean, bold finish. (viaCosmopolitan, photo via Get the Gloss)

4. Practice Your Red Carpet Pose: We’ve seen Taylor Swift rock the classic hand-on-hip at almost every red carpet event, but we love Allison Williams’ style here. Tilt your upper body out a little to create an angle between top and bottom, and hit that hand right to your hip for the ultimate figure-flattering stance. (viaDaily Makeover, photo via Celeb Mafia)

5. Keep Your Head Up: Avoid awkward angles and double chins by keeping your head slightly up. It helps to focus on a point slightly beyond and above the camera, instead of directly at it, to help remind you to keep your chin up. (Via InStyle, photo via Brit + Co)

6. Grab a Prop: Okay, you don’t exactly have to be prepared with a mustache or bow-tie prop 24/7, but you get the idea. Grab anything around you (a glass, a flower) to give your hands something to hold and to keep you from appearing uncomfortable. (viaDaily Makeover, photo via Etsy)

7. Shoot From Above: Holding the camera at even a slight angle above you can seriously flatter. And although we don’t necessarily suggest going overboard with the infamous selfie, it’s a great way to check out the best angle for your figure before a photo op. (viaAll Women Stalk, photo via Daily Makeover)

8. Practice: You know you do it already. Next time when you’re belting out the lyrics to your fave new pop song in front of the mirror, take a quick break to find your perfect smile and figure out your ideal angle. (viaCupcakes and Cashmere)

9. Play Up Your Brows: Get standout brows with this tutorial. Going for a slightly darker brow keeps your face from looking washed out and will convey lots of emotion. (viaLipstick, photo via Refinery29)

10. Twist to Look Slimmer: Of course SJP couldn’t possibly look slimmer no matter which way she stands, but, in true Carrie Bradshaw style, she’s rocking the twist stance to a T. If you give your shoulders or upper body a slight turn in either direction, you’ll instantly appear thinner. (viaKate Pease Blog, photo via Huffington Post)

11. Minimize Shine: Using a matte powder on your face will help keep the shine down in a photo. Stay away from sparkles or minerals that can defeat the even-toned look you’re trying to achieve. And when in doubt, turn to blotting papers as a last minute fix! (viaXO Vain, photo via Brit + Co)

12. Strike a Pose: While the good ol’ sorority squat is a phenomenal way to strike a pose, it’s not always the most sophisticated. When in doubt, throw up your arms, frame your face or rock some hang-tens like our fresh BFF Shailene Woodley. (viaWoman’s Day, photo via Huffington Post)

13. Add Some Color: Whether to your cheeks or eyelids, adding color to your face helps your facial features to really pop in a picture. (Via Real Simple, photo via Brit + Co)

14. White Wall Backdrop: It doesn’t take a genius to realize that tons of fashion and clothing websites are now featuring their models against white backdrops. Not only does it make your hair color and makeup pop, but it helps a camera find the right color balance to make your skin appear to be the perfect shade. (viaDaily Makeover, photo via ASOS)

15. Tongue to Teeth: Achieve a perfect, natural smile like Gwyneth Paltrow by employing the tongue-to-teeth trick. When you smile for a photo, press your tongue against the back of your upper teeth to prevent yourself from smiling too big or wide. It totally works. (viaDaily Makeover, photo via PopSugar)

16. Choose a Bold Lip: Red lips are totally hot right now, and they’re sure to stand out in any photo op. But even if you’re not ready to rock the rouge, you can still pick a more neutral shade of pink to make your lips stand out. (viaKate Pease Blog, photo via Brit + Co)

Which trick are you ready to try next time the camera comes out? What’s your signature photo pose? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook.

"I love your aura." You may wonder what this means. We are now living in a time when we are beginning to wonder beyond the linear and physical reality of existence. The Age of Aquarius has been approaching these past years, encouraging us to look into spirituality and the collective consciousness. Our energy is precious – and learning about your aura can be the first stepping stone to level up your spirituality. Celebrities such as Emma Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Zosia Mamet have revealed their spiritual selves by promoting aura photography.

What are auras?

Getty/Aleksandra Konoplia

Auras are the unseen spiritual energy field surrounding all living things' bodies. They manifest as vibrations and colors throughout the body. Depending on what you are experiencing, it will manifest into the type of color filter around the body, revealing your spiritual and emotional self and state of wellness.

It is not always easily accessible to see auras, but it can be felt. Observe celebrities such as Taylor Swift or Beyonce. They have a magnetic yet powerful aura that swirls with creativity and prestige. Or suppose you are crossing paths with someone who gives off a warm and sunny persona. You can't help but smile. This indicates you are feeling or sensing their auric energy. The same also applies to those who store a negative vibe – only in this case, you decide (hopefully) not to engage due to the clashing of energies.

If you are an astrology lover like me, then there is a chance that you have invested time in learning about yourself, leading to non-stop Google searches. Learning about astrology can help you see things from an entirely new view because each zodiac sign holds strength and characteristics revealed in different aspects of energy and, best yet – self-acceptance.

How do I find my aura colors?

Lumi Pelinku

If you want to uncover your aura colors, one way is to get your aura photographed. A special camera, known as the Kirlian camera, captures your halo or colorful, energetic field using an electrified photographic plate. Or you can have a clairvoyant read your aura, and you will have a better idea about which parts of your birth chart you are in tune with your life story or address what needs work.

For example, five years ago, when I had my aura photographed, the most prominent colors in my energy field were bright red, green, and indigo. I was most in tune with my Mars, Venus, and rising sign. This was the time in my journey when I was unknowingly invested in my toxic relationship while over-compromising my individuality, which resulted in my Mars and Venus covering my indigo color. Last year, I took another photo of my aura that turned out burnt orange and murky while I still held on in the relationship. My indigo color was nowhere to be seen in my aura photo. This was a wake-up call and a red flag for me to realize what was in store for my well-being if I ignored my feelings about my relationship. Months later, and energetically depleted, I decided to part ways. Enlightening, isn't it?

Connecting with your aura will illuminate what part of your life needs attention. The colors of your aura correspond to one of the seven rays of the rainbow spectrum—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. With each life experience, traumatic or blissful, your colors are bound to change. It can appear clear and vibrant if you are on cloud nine or murky and dark if you are going through a tough time. The best part is that if you know this information, you can navigate past your life issues and figure out the core of your happiness, as each color has a theme.

However, everyone has a base color connected with their zodiac sign. Learning about your aura and what imbalances you will help you live a more authentic path in alignment with your sign.

Understanding your aura colors based on your zodiac sign

Getty/We Are

Aries

As the first sign of the zodiac, you are meant to step into the path of realizing the ability to initiate and set the tone of your success by being bold. The ram is notable for its ability to aim with its horns during conflict. Taking ownership of what you set your sights on will ignite willpower. You lead with great stride and confidence by emanating truth and authenticity behind your purpose. Hope and seeing life as a new conquest will help you see yourself through success.

Aura Color: Bright Red

You are the zodiac's spark of light radiating bright red in your aura. Red is the most primal and attention-grabbing of the colors. It connects with the Root Energy Center of the body, which stores your stability and security. This color embodies passion, sexuality, competitiveness, and persevering will – which are your major life themes. The ruling planet that is your support in this life is Mars, which adds fuel to your fiery spirit. This color adds momentum and confidence in pursuing your goals.

Imbalanced Aura

When imbalanced, Aries can hold an air of becoming overly authoritative, domineering, and untactful. To diffuse this tendency, this sign will have to shift the focus to the benefit of others instead of designating themselves as a priority.

Taurus

As an earthy and patient being, you are a stabilizing energy force. You are legendary for persistence and known to take your time in moving. As the bull sign, you are granular in your energetic makeup and persevering. Your will is so strong that you do not lose yourself due to mental conflict, resulting in you connecting with the sensuality of life by living in the moment, which so many aspire to master.

Aura Color: Jewel Green

Green is the color of relaxation, abundance, and love. With your Venus-ruled energy, this color is linked to the Heart Energy Center, and it can help support you by living more consciously with your decisions involving love – or, on the flip side of that, transmuting jealousy. Green is often used as a supportive color in healing by enhancing feelings of balance and renewal. As the earthy sign, this color is associated with nature and growth.

Imbalanced Aura

If your aura is imbalanced, you may be prone to indulging in the extreme of earthly pleasures such as food, materialism, inflexibility, and sex. Observe your life logically and change your patterns to balance out these extremes.

Gemini

Like the wind, you spiral out in different directions with your communication and ideas. As the messenger of the zodiac, you enable the conversations to flow in others. As seen in the Twins, this air sign reveals the polarity in situations and bridges the gaps of missed information. You are here to share the truth, strengthen yourself by confidently speaking openly, relate to all walks of life by embracing diversity, and engage the mind and instill this in others.

Aura Color: Yellow

Yellow is the most polarizing of all colors. This color transmutes your moods and emotional needs and invokes productivity and movement. With Mercury as your ruling planet, your thoughts formulate your reality. Solar Plexus energy center becomes the driving force behind you finding empowerment in alignment with your ideas.

Imbalanced Aura

If experiencing imbalance, it can manifest in scattered ideas and fall prey to playing out the messages in their head, and have a hard time developing the context of their findings. Grounding is essential to help you balance this tendency and ensure the practicality and meaning behind your motivations.

More aura colors and their meanings

Getty/Justin Lambert

Cancer

Naturally sensitive, you are here to establish your roots and build security in your relationships. Intuitive in nature, you are absorbent to the feelings of others and aim to extend empathy. Cancers are here to learn how to invoke self-care and safety to withstand the ebbs and flows of life while accepting help from others. Known to be compassionate and nurturing and possesses such camaraderie with humanity. You value tradition and have the talent for spreading wisdom to others.

Aura Color: Silvery White

White is the color in association with tranquility and surrender. However, it may be noted as an absence of color – quite the opposite. It stores all colors, like a spectrum. The Moon phases reflect your understanding of nature and experiences, and working with white helps you see and understand self-acceptance in alignment with your soul self.

Imbalanced Aura

With an imbalanced aura, you are prone to be excessively worried and become overly involved in others life problems, this leads to codependent routes in relationships. This stifling tendency can deplete your energetic capacity to build life as you see fit.

Leo

As the showstopper of the zodiac, you are the life of the party and child-like at heart. Even for Leos, who feel they are not outgoing, that spark hides somewhere. They lead by the heart and aim to immerse in their creativity. Leos are meant to stand on their pedestal, firmly holding their individuality. You generate your power by igniting and following through with your goals. As Leo instills hope, their inner radiance glows and inspires others to follow their dreams.

Aura Color: Orange

Orange combines the fiery energy of red with the optimism of yellow. With the Sun as your planetary guide, this color, too, emits the same effect of warmth, happiness, and high energy. Working with the color orange can curb procrastination and boost confidence to pursue your goals.

Imbalanced Aura

An unhappy Leo rarely goes unnoticed, and this is reflected in the aura. Imbalance manifests when you are not entirely accepted or feeling secure. To balance this out, look for the essential benefit of your life's work instead of surface-layered validation. This opens pathways for you to shine.

Virgo

As the service-oriented sign, you are here to extend the purity of purpose while assisting others. They have a strong work ethic, and measuring up to their promise of crystal-clear delivery is guaranteed. Virgos are to live out a path of finding order in their lives and becoming comfortable with inevitable chaos. With a sensitivity to environmental imbalances and external influences, it is crucial for you to honor your body with wholesome foods, clear away self-deprecating thoughts, and be flexible to life's rhythms.

Aura Color: Blue-Green

Blue is a primary color associated with logic, honesty, trust, and communication, while green is associated with the grounding element of the earth. These two colors fused align with Mercury as your ruler planet. Working with these colors instills a laser focus to look at the minor details and modify anything to perfection.

Imbalanced Aura

Experiencing the darker shade of your aura can manifest in excessive perfectionism, self-doubt, and criticism. Once you learn the art of self-acceptance and humility while making mistakes, you will feel stronger and at peace when things go haywire.

What is your aura color?

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Libra

Instilling balance within oneself while shifting the lens of the opposing forces of others is a part of your life purpose. You have a knack for challenging the status quo and aim to find justice and fairness in all aspects of life. Libra is also notable for their quest to find love. Attracting friendships or partnerships that challenge you will keep the spark alive. By having a natural gift of mediating amid conflict, you also desire to spread grace and beauty in the world.

Aura Color: Pink

Pink is associated with love, kindness, and compassion. Venus, your guiding planet, powers up your pink aura by supporting your mission to find beauty and love. Pink helps you connect with your heart center while boosting feelings of self-love.

Imbalanced Aura

An imbalanced aura manifests when you fall prey to codependent relationships or people-pleasing tendencies. Remaining in these scenarios to avoid confrontations dims your inner light and leads to delayed results in line with your goals. Mastering boundaries and sticking with assertion is vital for you to find balance.

Scorpio

Life is a rite of passage for you. Understanding the shadow and the light is not for the faint of heart, but as a Scorpio, you evolve and rise above life's trials. This stems from your psychic ability to see the darker depths of life and the shadows of others. The constant regenerating expression triggers inner conflict, but you emerge stronger as you learn to surrender to the process.

Aura Color: Indigo

Associated as the color of wealth, mystery, and spiritual awareness, you, too, hold these treasures within your auric field. With the shortest wavelength of light, this acts as a shield to your energy, protecting you from unwanted circumstances. Guided by the planet Pluto, this color extends support and boosts your connection to a higher level of awareness for creative flow and intuition work.

Imbalanced Aura

As the sign with its fair share of intensities in life, you have a gift of persevering. However, your inability to change your ways or views can result in a murky aura and, therefore, block opportunities to invite joy into your life. Embracing change and new opportunities leads to empowerment and soul fulfillment.

Sagittarius

As the archer sign, they are on the path to spreading their joyful experiences and helping others see the silver lining even when things appear bleak. Their expansive and bright auras can stretch out to the heavens, and when they learn to bridge this connection down to earth, they can find their stroke of luck. They are here to bridge the philosophical connection from their past experiences by breaking free from the primal nature of ego expression. Teaching and empowering others is a part of their soul's fulfillment.

Aura Color: Gold

Governed by the sign Jupiter, its expansive energy extends a stroke of luck in whatever you set your heart on. In connection with your gold aura, this planet infuses you with the ability to absorb information. It is also the color of independence, confidence, and motivation. Working with gold will allow you to go after your dreams while remaining levelheaded.

Imbalanced Aura

When you experience disappointment with your goals not being met, you lose faith, leading to an imbalanced auric field. This in itself can close you off from life and its opportunity. Aiming to see the big picture and becoming receptive to other ideas can lead to fulfillment and a rebalanced aura.

Zodiac aura colors continued

Getty/Glen Pearson

Capricorn

As a Capricorn, you are the zodiac's powerhouse and capable of achieving your goals. Honing in on instilling structure while embracing discipline will ensure success in life. You are here to mark upon the world by reaching heights of success that align with your passion honorably. As you tap into your ability to rise above the physical pull of greed and live by authenticity, it will inspire many to step into their light.

Aura Color: Violet

Your auric field extends a pull of prestige, honor, and respect. Guided by the planet Saturn, it instills the need to preserve humility while igniting strength to power through obstacles. Violet helps you find your purpose while finding solutions to unresolved issues.

Imbalanced Aura

Capricorns within the materially driven path lead them to isolation and constant suspicion of others' motives. If you are disconnected from your energy, your emotive ability will be nonexistent, resulting in living on autopilot. Honoring everyone as your equal will instill trust in life and lead to a clean auric field.

Aquarius

Your purpose is to live an exciting life filled with innovation and to be a service to humanity. Their brilliance and intellectual capability come at lightning speed due to being one of the most innovative signs of the zodiac. Becoming involved in a cause greater than yourself drives you towards your soul's fulfillment. The ability to reinvent oneself is not easy, but as the water bearer sign, you can ease into changes better than any other sun sign.

Aura Color: Electric Blue

With an electric blue aura, you are infused with wisdom and innovation that inspires people in your life. This color invokes energy, action, and excitement for your future vision while extending support to see through your vision. With Uranus, the future-oriented planet, as your guide, you are given access to information that helps humanity evolve to a better place.

Imbalanced Aura

Your pure and absorbent aura can absorb an overflow of information from people you connect with. The nature of the groups, negative or positive, can result in a murky aura. Remembering to honor your individuality and holding ground with your sense of self will enable you to discern your connections while keeping your aura pristine.

Pisces

As a Pisces Sun, you are here to find groundedness while extending wisdom. You hold an archive of information within your consciousness that is otherworldly and yet archaic. Your sign can read into the auras of those you connect with by just feeling or strictly intuition. You are on this path to freely share divine wisdom while extending the lessons for others to understand the importance of unconditional love and acceptance. Since you hold etheric baggage of past lifetimes, your role in this lifetime is to learn how to surrender karmic ties and to live more in the present.

Aura Color: Pastel Purple

This shade of purple is tethered to the higher realms of existence, helping you coordinate your understanding of how life works in the present moment. It is magical and infuses you with the ability to draw in information and creatively utilize it. With the mystical planet Neptune as your planet, it powers up your ability to extend wisdom and empathy to each person you meet.

Imbalanced Aura

With an imbalanced aura, you can fall victim to disconnecting from reality and lose yourself in the pain of others and your own. You may feel lost and unmotivated in life if you do not practice discernment and personal awareness. Human connection and letting others know about your fears and insecurities can help you feel more in control and grounded.

After Emily in Paris season 3 dropped on Netflix in December of 2022, we were hoping to get the fourth installment of the hit show in 2023. But production halted when the WGA writers' strike, then the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike went to affect, and our beloved cast and crew campaigned for better wages and industry protection. But with the end of the writers' strike, and new SAG negotiations, Emily in Paris season 4 finally began production in February 2024 — and I can already tell you there's sure to be plenty of drama and French fashion this time around.

Not only will we see Emily in Paris (see what I did there?!) but she's also pulling an Audrey Hepburn and taking a little Roman Holiday. That's right — our favorite Parisians are heading to Italy! If that doesn't sound like a dreamy comfort show then I don't know what does. Here's everything we know about the upcoming season of your favorite TV brain candy!!

Is Emily in Paris season 4 coming soon?

Image via Lily Collins/Instagram

Via Variety, Emily in Paris season 4 began production in Paris the week of January 15! "Did someone say Saison Quatre?!" Lily Collins says in her Instagram post announcing production. "Finally reunited with my @emilyinparis fam back in Paris and it feels so good. Although, I may need to brush up on my selfie skills for Emily’s sake…"

Now the wait is over! According to the official announcementfor Emily in Paris, we know part one drops on Netflix August 15, followed by part 2 on September 12. I've been impatiently waiting for this considering we didn't know how filming would be impacted by things like the WGA writers strike!

Is Emily in Paris filmed in Paris?

Image via Lily Collins/Instagram

Yes, Emily in Paris is filmed on location in Paris! We got our first look at Emily in Paris season 4 when Lily Collins and Ashley Park were seen filming in the City of Love (via Daily Mail). The costumes for the series are still as bold and bright as ever, with Ashley's Mindy wearing cobalt and metallic boots, and Lily's Emily dressed head-to-toe in lemon yellow. I can't wait to see what these best friends get up to this season! Check out our Paris travel recommendations to live out your own Emily in Paris dreams ;).

On April 27, Lily Collins confirmed Emily in Paris season 4 had wrapped its France shoot and that the cast & crew have swapped the City of Love for the Eternal City! "When you’re the first ones on the dance floor at the Paris wrap party. Next stop: Rome!" she says on Instagram. Late spring is literally the perfect time to film in Italy and I just know this season is going to give me more wanderlust than ever before. I need gelato!

What's Emily In Paris season 4 about?

Image via Netflix

Season 3 left us with a huge cliffhanger: Alfie breaks up with Emily, Camille learns she's pregnant with Gabriel's baby, Benoit's "Mon Soleil" has been chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, and Emily and Gabriel realize they've been in love with each other the whole time. Whew.

Emily in Paris season 4 will have a ton of cliffhangers to bring full circle, and a bunch of damage that all the characters need to heal. We know from the Netflix TUDUM fan event that we might also see Emily have to deal with an ultimatum head-on, as well as an unexpected twist. Plus, it looks like she's heading on a "Roman holiday," according to lead actress Lily Collins. We'll take any nod to an Audrey Hepburn movie, please and thank you!

Is Alfie coming back in season 4 of Emily in Paris?

Image via Netflix

We don't have OFFICIAL word on whether Alfie (played by Lucien Laviscount) will return for Emily in Paris season 4, but we're hoping for his sake that he gets some closure. Lucien wants to come back as well! "[The dream is] to keep this gravy train going and just to kind of really live in this world a little bit longer," he says in an interview with Elle. " The writers on the show and the creators behind it and everyone that comes into contact with it is so amazing and fantastic. Their minds [have] way, way, way, way surpassed mine. So, yeah. I’ll let them do their thing.”

Who else is in the Emily in Paris season 4 cast?

Image via Netflix

We can expect the rest of the cast — Lily Collins as Emily, Lucas Bravo as Gabriel, Ashley Park as Mindy, Camille Razat as Camille, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie, Samuel Arnold as Julian, and Bruno Gouery as Luc — to return.

Will there be a season 5 of Emily in Paris?

Image via Marie Etchegoyen/Netflix

It looks like Emily in Paris season 4 will not be the final season, according to creator Darren Star. “There’s a lot more story to tell here and we’re not wrapping things up anytime soon,” Star tells Elle. “And also hopefully season four isn’t the end either. I feel like we’re all creatively feeling like we’re in the middle of something not heading towards the end.”

Darren also told Deadline season 4 is "not necessarily conceived as a final chapter. I think like every other show, it’s a rich ensemble. There’s no end in sight until everybody feels like it’s time to end. And I don’t think this show is limited by a number of seasons, I think it’s limited by everybody’s enthusiasm and excitement about doing it and telling stories about these characters."

We'll take as many seasons of Emily in Paris as they'll give us!!

What has the cast said about Emily in Paris season 4?

Image via Marie Etchegoyen/Netflix

Lucas Bravo told People he's excited for a coming-of-age for Gabriel. "When you start a character, then there's a year where you experience the world and you mature, you become another person and you come back and it's exactly the day you left off," he says. "I'm happy that in season four I'll be able to bring more of what I became and what I've experienced in the past four years."

Even though Lily Collins is now an executive producer, she doesn't want to know TOO much about the future of the show. “Darren and I speak, on occasion, about where he’s thinking of going, but he also doesn’t wanna spoil too much for me because there is a fine line,” she tells Collider. “I don’t wanna know everything because I want to be led with the writing, but I am also curious because, as a producer wanting to celebrate the other characters, I’m very curious to see what their trajectories are."

What happened at the end of Emily in Paris season 3?

Image via Netflix

To be fully prepared for Emily in Paris season 4, it's important to remember just what happened during season 3! The junior season was a bumpy ride for Emily, and it ends with the craziest finale yet. After Camille and Gabriel decide to get married, Camille stops the wedding, saying she knows Gabriel is in love with Emily instead of her. This declaration leads Alfie to break up with our leading lady because he refuses to be her second choice (and honestly, I respect it). That's not the only shocker because Camille also reveals that she's pregnant with Gabriel's child, which comes as a surprise to everyone. Meanwhile, Mindy learns Benoit has submitted a song (specifically "Mon Soleil") to the Eurovision Song Contest and Laurent has his heart set on opening a club in Paris.

Are you excited for Emily in Paris Season 4? Give us your craziest theory in the comments, and check out our Facebook for more pop culture news. Read up on how This Emily In Paris Theory Could Be Why Emily And Gabriel Aren’t Together (Yet).

Lead image via Netflix.

This post has been updated.

When we think of Christmas, we think of gifts. And what's more special than the gift of life (okay, we know that's a little corny, but we're rolling with it)? Whether you just found out you're expecting or are about to pop, the holiday season is the BEST time to share your excitement with loved ones. Sneak a peek at these 11 ideas for a little inspiration for a festive Christmas baby announcement.

Minted Merriest Occasion Announcement

Share the big news with a foil-pressed announcement that can also serve as your holiday card - win, win! For a more festive approach, your shoes can be little Santa booties! Here are more pregnancy announcement ideas from Minted.

Sibling Wish List

If you already have kiddos, have one of them make a Wish List with the item "Brother or sister in {Month} 2021," and share the photo on social media. There's nothing cuter than your child's wishlist with a sibling listed as a gift. (via Blue i Style)

Winter Picnic

Pack up a cozy picnic and use some trendy chalkboard art to share the news. (via Alyssa Rock)

Minted Best Gift Ever Announcement

Shimmery rose gold add a festive flair to this sweet announcement. Belly photo optional!

Family of Snowmen

Don't let all that fresh powder go to waste. Build a family of snowmen and be sure to include any new ones on the way. (via Popcorn and Pandas)

Formal Affair

Leave all the gimmicks behind and strike a pose for a formal portrait. You'll look your best, and the baby will too. (via Emily Egan Photography / Pink Peonies)

Bow Tied Baby

Put a bow on it! Wrap some ribbon around that belly and create a giant gift tag for an adorable announcement. (via J Is for Jones)

Holiday Stockings Pregnancy Announcement

Santa's leaving something extra special in the mail for your relatives and close friends in the form of this cute holiday pregnancy announcement! They'll love placing it on their mantles or coffee tables. (via Minted)

The More, The Merrier Pregnancy Announcement

Spread your family's holiday cheer with this pregnancy announcement from Minted!

(via Minted)

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Letter Board

Savor your final silent nights and share the news via letter board with sweet holiday trimmings.

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Backlit Bump

Draw attention to your silhouette by backlighting yourself with a glowing Christmas tree. You'll get bonus points if there are gifts under it.

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Holiday Ornament

Announce the news with an ornament on the tree or tree stump.

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Santa Photo

A visit to Santa can serve as a holiday baby announcement for the ultimate #memories.

Tag us on your favorite Christmas pregnancy announcements @BritandCo and join our newsletter for more creative ideas and inspiration.

This post was updated in partnership with Minted. Shop Minted to find more creative birth announcements.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead image via Minted.

We all have big feelings. And thanks to social media and rising levels of anxiety, those feelings, well, feel bigger than ever. That’s exactly where resources like Wondermind come in. The self-proclaimed “mental health ecosystem” is all about exploring, discussing, and navigating our emotions together. This Mental Health Awareness Month, Wondermind wants you to live your mental health journey in community because Mandy Teefey, who co-founded the company with daughter Selena Gomez, knows what it’s like to walk that journey alone.

Image via Wondermind

“As I went through a very long journey of finding I did have a mental health diagnosis — and then I was misdiagnosed and then I had to go through that — I was blessed to have the resources to do that,” Teefey, who received an ADHD and trauma diagnosis after a 20-year bipolar misdiagnosis, says. “Whenever I started my journey of discovering what mental condition I had…I didn't have anybody to lean into or explain the way I was feeling.”

While these personal experiences helped Teefey better understand mental health, it wasn’t until she produced Netflix’s 2017 series 13 Reasons Whythat she saw just how far the mental health conversation goes. The hit show went viral almost as soon as it aired because of its realistic depiction of mental health and all the aftershocks of trauma.

“After we did 13 Reasons Why and saw the reaction and the need for that support, me and Selena were trying to really figure out what could be next,” Teefey says. “Everybody was releasing things [at] different times. It's like you have to have 12 apps to have a program, and then remember to use them all. So that's when we decided to create a mental fitness ecosystem. So it's all-encompassing, but there's something for everyone.”

“We're not a medicinal company [but] we do have an advisory committee that oversees everything that we do,” Teefey continues. “We're technically not doctors, but we are for everyone when it comes to feelings. Everybody has feelings and they can go to our content hub and just kind of explore that for a while.”

Image via Brit + Co

Admittedly, that exploration bit is pretty fun. The articles are inspiring, and the worksheets (which are each created by an expert) are incredibly helpful. Seeing every program, article, and podcast episode feels like an opportunity to start fresh, but once you have all the ideas in front of you, what do you actually do? Teefey recommends journaling, even if it’s just a sentence every day. (She also loves watching journaling videos from Planning Annie: “Anytime I'm feeling sad or like a little unmotivated, I put her on.”)

Journaling every day, even if your entries are short, allows you to track your mood over an extended period of time. If you notice a consistent sadness, for example, it could be a sign it’s time to check in with your doctor. Plus, journaling can help prepare you for the conversations mental health appointments bring up.

“Sometimes if you go into a therapy session and you're not really settled or concrete in who you are and what may be going on, you might go through what I went through, which is being misdiagnosed,” Teefey says. “It's more important for you to know who you are and what you need prior to going in. So you can give that to them instead of them guessing and working around that process with you.”

Image via Brit + Co

Establishing a consistent routine can help decrease your stress, whether you’re eating the same breakfast every day, or you stick to a tried and true skincare regimen like Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie does on Euphoria. I immediately thought of this teen drama when Mandy Teefey mentioned how important her 4 a.m. routine is. But while Cassie spends time doing her skincare and makeup, Teefey spends time nurturing her soul.

“If I don't have [that routine], I'm usually really off kilter,” she says. “So I get up at 4 when everyone's still asleep, and I found that time could be about me, and I'm not taking it away from anybody. And so that's really what helped me be more grounded throughout the day.”

I can attest that my own quiet time in the morning is vital for a successful day — as is knowing what my boundaries need to be. Because honestly, boundaries can change daily! Teefey and I both acknowledge we have to stay away from sad music to protect our mental health, and she also recommends staying off social media when you feel your mental health struggling.

“I can go three days without looking at social media and then when I go on there, I start having anxiety because I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven't liked this person. I haven't even liked our own pictures [for] Wondermind.’ And then I start feeling guilty,” she says. “There's just some kind of [expectation] to do social media and you really don't. Not everybody needs to know everything, you know? There's beauty in privacy.”

Even Selena Gomez admitted at the 2024 Time100 Summit that taking time off Instagram "was the most rewarding gift I gave myself."

Image via Brit + Co

The idea of staying off social media is way easier said than done (speaking from first hand experience here). If you feel like you’re drowning in engagement announcements, anxiety-inducing news, and FOMO, Teefey recommends keeping tabs on your reactions to gauge when it’s time to take a serious break.

“If it invokes any emotion that is a negative emotion, I [know] it's not worth being angry about, it's not worth losing sleep about,” she says. “It just feels like there's an unintentional taunting on social media and, ‘Wait a minute, is that about me?’ You don't know this person and then you start running with all this stuff in your mind.”

Like every area of life, social media is all about balance, and if you’re looking to unplug while still staying informed, Mandy Teefey recommends bringing a journal with you when doing your morning news scroll — that way, you can process emotions while keeping tabs on what’s happening. “If anything evokes emotion, I'm meditating during the quiet time,” she says.

Studies have found journaling can help decrease your anxiety, and that it can help you break obsessive thought cycles. And while you’re the only one who can process your thoughts and emotions, it’s important not to isolate yourself from your community — especially when you’re struggling. “You gotta build trust and you gotta build the boundary of who you volunteer [your] help to,” she says.

When it comes to her own daughters, Mandy Teefey knows it’s a process. “You have to work with them and meet them where they're at, and then see the help they need and don't assume [they’re going through] what you went through,” she says. “You've got to really understand them to be able to give that advice.”

Image via Natalie Rhea

In her own life, Mandy Teefey got to experience building that trust first-hand with Selena Gomez! “One time it was very, very cold in California and me and Selena were on the opposite sides of the pool,” she says. “We were in sweats and she says, ‘Do you trust me?’ And I went, ‘Yeah.’ And she goes ‘Okay, if you trust me, on three, we're gonna jump in this ice cold pool.’”

While Teefey wasn’t convinced, she trusted Gomez, and they both ended up in the freezing cold water! Which is both a funny story and a fond memory: “We couldn't get out of the pool because [our clothes were] so heavy. It was madness!”

“There's a lot of things I know my daughters don't tell me and that's their right,” she continues. “It's so sensitive between teenagers — especially teenagers — and their parents. They're going through that phase and they don't want to be around them and they don't wanna tell them things. It's definitely not easy but maybe put some feelers out there and just make sure that they know you're there and make it okay to have these conversations.”

Thanks to all this actionable advice, we know that Mental Health Awareness month isn’t limited to TikTok videos or Instagram posts we can reshare. There are real tips we can use to take care of ourselves — and a place to go when we need a boost.

Watch Our Full Interview With Mandy Teefey Here!

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Wondermind Co-Founder Mandy Teefey Helps Us Navigate Big Feelings For Mental Health Awareness Month

If you're struggling with your mental health, check in with your doctor or check out the mental health resources Wondermind offers. You can also use Psychology Today to find a therapist near you.

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After The Gray Man and a year full of Barbie and Ken, The Fall Guy (plus the upcoming Ocean's 11 prequelwith Margot Robbie) continues to prove Ryan Gosling is THE definition of a star. And between his friendship with Emma Stone and his relationship with Eva Mendes,Ryan seems like the kind of guy we'd all want to be best friends with — and not just because of his endless #Kenergy.

Not only is Ryan the sweetest partner, he's also the ultimate girl dad to daughters Esmeralda and Amada. Their "interest in Barbie and disinterest in Ken," as Ryan tells People, get him to Barbieland in the first place, but he also just revealed they "asked specifically" he avoid one The Fall Guy stunt. “My kids didn't want me to be set on fire,” he says. “Even though I said, ‘Well, it's actually, technically the safer thing to do because there's a lot of protective stuff involved, [they] were like, ‘No. No fire.’ So I didn't do it.”

It's clear that Ryan Gosling's children are spitfires and I love to see it! Here's everything you need to know about Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling's kids.

How many children do Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have?

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Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have two children, Esmerelda Amada and Amada Lee. Amada was named after Eva's grandmother — both my sister and I have family names and I love seeing the way different families carry on that tradition!

How old are Ryan Gosling's kids?

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Esmerelda was born in September 2014, meaning she'll turn 10 this fall. Amada just turned 8 at the end of April!

How does Ryan Gosling prioritize his kids?

Image via Lionsgate

In his recent profile with WSJ, Ryan Gosling revealed he only picks roles that will benefit his whole family. "I don't really take roles that are going to put me in some kind of dark place," Ryan says. "The decisions I make, I make them with Eva and we make them with our family in mind first."

"I think La La Landwas the first," he continues. "It was sort of like, 'Oh this will be fun for them too, because even though they're not coming to set, we're practicing piano every day or we're dancing or we're singing.'"

Every couple needs to figure out what prioritizing their kids looks like for them, and considering how much I love all Ryan's recent roles, I'd say this is a shift that benefits everyone ;).

When did Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have their daughters?

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Eva Mendes gave birth to Esmerelda on September 12, 2014 and later had Amada on April 29, 2016.

Are Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes still together?

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Yes, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are still going strong, and thank goodness. Eva just revealed that Ryan provides a ton of support for her. "When I was 40, it was a big deal for people when I was pregnant, and it wasn't for me," she tells People. "And then I was 42 and I was pregnant with my second one and people were like, 'Oh my God, you're going to be so tired. That's why people have kids in their 20s.' I was like, that's the most sorry, asinine thing I've ever heard."

"[Ryan supports me] in all the ways I need to be supported," she continues. "He's got me in all the ways."

How has fatherhood affected Ryan Gosling?

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Considering Ryan Gosling's daughters are such a huge part of his life now, it's hard to believe that earlier in life, he wasn't sure he wanted kids. "After I met Eva, I realized that I just didn’t want to have kids without her," he tells GQ. "And there were moments on The Place Beyond the Pines where we were pretending to be a family, and I didn’t really want it to be pretend anymore." Now, I'm going to need you to pause and reread that quote because I can't believe that's a real sentence. I'm obsessed!

A source also told People in 2023 that "Ryan is such a fun dad. He is goofy and his girls love it."

Via WSJ, we also know that since Ryan Gosling's kids have started learning Spanish, they now call him Papi. "It kills me every time," he says. "There's just nothing, nothing better than that."

What has Eva Mendes said about their daughters?

Image via Eva Mendes/Instagram

Eva Mendes is just as obsessed with her and Ryan Gosling's children as he is, and she's talked about how they make life so much better. "Oh April…I have such a complicated relationship with you," she says on Instagram. "[April 2] would have been my brother’s birthday…..in a couple of weeks from now is the day we lost him…but then, the end of April we got the biggest blessing of all, my little girl was born 8 years ago. I hate you April. But I love you more."

Check out our email newsletter for the latest celebrity news and trending content, and check back here for the latest news on Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling's kids!

Lead image via Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Universal Pictures