For me, it's impossible to start a book without knowing the face claims. Maybe I'm just quirky that way or perhaps it's a common thing I'm not sure. I am sure that people constantly pick horrible face claims and lack the proper knowledge on how to select them, sorry not sorry. Do not fret though, for I am here to guide you... maybe.

So in this chapter, I've made a list of the most important components to remember when you're picking your faces.

#1 AGE

"i want someone who is around [insert age here]"

Age is one of the most common concerns when considering a face claim and it's something I see constantly. You're wanting someone whose the same age as your character, but let me tell you age doesn't matter as much as people think it does. Some people just have a young face and no matter how old they are, they're gonna look like they're five years younger.

Take Holland Roden for example. She's 31, but she played a teenage for six years. Yes, in some photos she looks her age, but not in all. In no way am I saying use Holland for a face claim, but she's a prime example of how age doesn't define everything. That's just the power of moisturizer and anti-wrinkle cream.

When you're finding faces, age isn't a factor you should consider at all. It only limits your search pool. The only time age should be considered is when you have a young cast. Stranger Things is a series based off of pre-teens and teens. If your character plays someone who is in their pre-teen and early teens, it's best to find someone around that age. The exact age may not be perfect, but for kids under 14 I think the rule should be 3-4 years older or younger.

Some ways to get around the age concept is using pictures of when the face claim was younger. Or using the photos they look the youngest in.

#2 GIFS

"they need to have a ton of gifs or i dont want them"

This probably should have been number one on the list, but this isn't a prioritized list. People like gifs, and so do I. It adds an element to the story that's different from a hardback book and it's an element that only wattpad has that makes it so unique. Although, it's a blessing and a curse. You shouldn't base whether or not you use a face claim based off of the fact they have a gif or not.

Some of the best face claims I seem to find for people are upcoming agency models. They don't always have a giant gif stockpile on the internet, but why should that stop you from picking the face? With the way technology is today it's so easy to make gifs! Look for youtube videos of them, check their instagram, maybe even their twitter! It's possible to just make your own gif of them!

Is it a little more challenging? Yes! Is it worth it? Yes! Maybe one day I'll make a list of easy to use tools and websites on how to make your own gifs if you're interested. But even if you don't want to make a gif of them and the face is perfect, gifs shouldn't matter!

#3 EYE COLOR

"i'm looking for a male model with only green eyes. that's it"

For some reason, eye color is really important to people. Personally, I'd rather find the right face and settle with their eye color than the other way around. This may be a major factor in your story, if so then do your best to try and find the right color, but there are other ways around this issue.

For instance, no close-up face shots. The further the picture of your face claim is then the less likely anyone is able to decipher their eye color. Another idea, that I've used before is making the photo of the face claim black and white. That way no one is ever able to tell! May try doing what I do and build your face claim around the character.

Brown eyes are the most common eye color in the world. Then it's blue, hazel, and finally green, but if your face claim doesn't have brown eyes here are a few tips on how to make whatever eye color you need work. Green, brown, and hazel look really similar, so if the face claim happens to have this eye color and you describe it as so, only a super fan of your face claim would be able to distinguish the difference.

Take Daniel Radcliffe for example. He has blue eyes, but one of the most important features of the Harry Potter character is his striking green eyes that remind everyone of his mother's. Yes, it's an important factor, but overlooked. If J.K. Rowling can make that kind of sacrifice, so can you,

#4 Hair

"they need to have medium length, brown hair"

Hair is honestly pretty important to any character. You can always write a story without being descriptive of the character, but it's not very common now days especially on wattpad. It's the first thing people usually list off when they're wanting a face claim, and that's why it's on this list. People ask for the color and the length and it's a major turn off if a face claim doesn't meet this criteria.

The color issue I see more often then length so I'll start there. Don't fix your criteria on a certain shade of hair. Brunette is brunette. Blonde is blonde. If your character is a dirty blonde, doesn't mean the face claim has to be a dirty blonde. Black and brunette are similar enough that your face claim could have brown hair, but your character could have black. The same thing goes for certain shades of red and brunette.

For Riverdale, Cole Sprouse dyed his hair black when he's a natural blonde. Your character may be a blonde, but the face claim make have black hair. Just imagine they use hair dye. Maybe this face claim already had that hair color at one time, try googling their name followed by the color you're looking for. You may find something that could surprise you.

Sounds dumb, but if you don't like that option, there's always photoshop or other editing software to change the color. Or my favorite method, making the photo black and white. This honestly solves so many reoccurring issues. If your interested, I can make a tutorial on how to change the hair color on pictures easily without photoshop. Just ask.

Length is odd because sometimes it's an issue and sometimes it's not. One way to fix the length issue is crop your photo so that only the amount of hair you want is in the shot. Or if you magical enough photoshop. Maybe even try googling "celebrities name" bald and see what comes up. If your face claim has a pixie cut, that's a different story in itself, but this method works for anyone with longer hair.

#5 HEIGHT

"my character is a short...."

Height doesn't matter at all! I promise. People sometimes say they want a tall or short face claim when in actuality height is the least important thing you could put on your wish list. Nobody can tell height from a photo or a gif. It's irrelevant. I'm sorry for maybe being blunt, but it's true.

You can always give your character height, but knowing your face claim is the same height doesn't matter really.

♡

Suggested Face Claim of the Chapter: Ira Chernova