Fix closed eyes in a game day photo

Eyes shut mid-laugh in your tailgate or game day photo? Check for another frame, or open your eyes in the photo you have. The stadium, the crowd and your laugh stay the same.

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Before: A tailgate photo outside the stadium with the eyes shut mid-laugh, then opened with the Eyes dial. The laugh, the hoodie and the crowd stay the same. The person is AI-generated. — A tailgate photo outside the stadium with the eyes shut mid-laugh, then opened with the Eyes dial. The laugh, the hoodie and the crowd stay the same. The person is AI-generated.

After: A tailgate photo outside the stadium with the eyes shut mid-laugh, then opened with the Eyes dial. The laugh, the hoodie and the crowd stay the same. The person is AI-generated. — A tailgate photo outside the stadium with the eyes shut mid-laugh, then opened with the Eyes dial. The laugh, the hoodie and the crowd stay the same. The person is AI-generated.

Game day photos happen fast: someone yells "picture!", everyone is laughing, and there's wind, a bright gray sky and a crowd moving behind you. You get one or two tries, and the one with the best energy is often the one where your eyes are shut. Here's what to try.

1. Check for another frame (free)

Your phone may have kept more than one moment.

iPhone: if the photo says Live, tap Edit, then the Live Photo button, and slide to a frame where your eyes are open. Tap Make Key Photo. See choosing a Live Photo key photo.
Android: with Motion Photo on, open the photo in Google Photos, swipe up, tap View all under the shots in this photo and save a better frame. See the Android guide.

2. Ask your friends (free)

At a tailgate, several people usually take the same photo. Ask for theirs before you edit.

3. Open your eyes with Glowly

If every frame has the blink, retouch the one you like.

Open app.glow.ly and choose the photo. It works in any phone or computer browser.
Auto runs first. If your eyes are still closed, tap Eyes and turn the dial toward Open.
Press and hold the photo to compare with the original, then save it.

Only your eyes and the skin around them change. Your laugh, your hoodie and the stadium behind you stay as they were. Glowly retouches one face per edit; for a photo where several friends blinked, see closed eyes in a group photo. Our guide on closed eyes when laughing covers photos where a big laugh closes your eyes.

Avoid the blink at the next game

Take a few photos in a row, or hold the shutter for a burst.
Face away from the brightest part of the sky.
Laugh first, then look at the lens; the second shot usually has your eyes open.

More tips in how to stop blinking in photos.

Can I fix closed eyes in a game day photo for free?

Yes, if your phone saved more than one frame: a Live Photo on iPhone or a motion photo on Android. If every frame has the blink, you need a retouch.

Will my laugh change?

No. Glowly opens your eyes and leaves your smile, your face and the background as they were.

Does it work on photos taken in a crowd?

Yes, as long as your face is reasonably sharp and large enough in the frame. Glowly retouches one face per edit.

How much does it cost?

Previews in the web editor cost nothing. 3 full-size saves cost $1.99. In the iPhone app your first 2 saves are free.

What happens to my photo?

Your original is never changed. Originals and unsaved edits are deleted from our servers after 7 days. See the privacy policy.

How to stop blinking in photosWhy you always seem to blink in photos, what photographers do about it, and how to fix a blink in a photo you already have.
How to fix closed eyes in a photoSomeone blinked in the one photo where everything else is right. Here are the ways to fix closed eyes on iPhone, from Live Photos to AI retouching, and what to avoid.
How to pick a different frame from a Live Photo on iPhoneBlinked or looked away in a Live Photo? Choose a better frame as the key photo in a few taps, and know when that trick isn't enough.

Fix something else

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