写(うつ)り映(ば)え

うつりばえ

noun

photogenic quality; how well something photographs

1. photogenic quality; how good something looks in photos or on screen

The quality of looking good or impressive when photographed or filmed. Describes how well a subject's appearance translates to photographs, video, or television.

この料理(りょうり)は写(うつ)り映(ば)えがいい。

This dish is very photogenic.

写(うつ)り映(ば)えを意識(いしき)して盛(も)り付(つ)けた。

I plated the food with photogenic appeal in mind.

SNSでは写(うつ)り映(ば)えのする写真(しゃしん)が多(おお)くの「いいね」を集(あつ)める。

On social media, photogenic pictures collect many 'likes.'

Composed of 写(うつ)り (how something appears in a photo/on screen) and 映(は)え (shining, looking impressive — the same 映(は)え as in the popular word インスタ映(ば)え). The reading changes to ばえ through rendaku.

This word predates the social media era but has gained renewed relevance with Instagram culture. While インスタ映(ば)え specifically refers to looking good on Instagram, 写(うつ)り映(ば)え is a more general term for photogenic quality that applies to any photography or filming context.

Common collocations

写(うつ)り映(ば)えがいい: to be photogenic; to look good in photos
写(うつ)り映(ば)えがする: to be visually striking in photos
写(うつ)り映(ば)えを気(き)にする: to care about how one looks in photos
写(うつ)り映(ば)えを意識(いしき)する: to be conscious of photogenic appeal

Similar words

インスタ映(ば)え: Instagrammable — specifically for social media
見(み)栄(ば)え: visual appearance; outward show — how something looks in general, not limited to photos
写(うつ)り具合(ぐあい): how something comes out in a photo — more neutral, describing the result rather than the appeal

Related Words

Compare: 見栄(みば)え (visual appearance)

Compare: 写(うつ)り具合(ぐあい) (how something comes out in a photo)

general

Added 2026.4.30 21:12 · Revised 2026.9.9 0:23

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