Fix closed eyes in a ski trip photo

Eyes shut against the snow glare in your best photo from the mountain? Check for another frame, or open your eyes in the photo you have. The snow, the lifts and your smile stay the same.

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Before: A ski trip photo by the lift with the eyes shut against the snow, then opened with the Eyes dial. The smile, the hat and the mountains stay the same; the skin comes out a little softer. The person is AI-generated. — A ski trip photo by the lift with the eyes shut against the snow, then opened with the Eyes dial. The smile, the hat and the mountains stay the same; the skin comes out a little softer. The person is AI-generated.

After: A ski trip photo by the lift with the eyes shut against the snow, then opened with the Eyes dial. The smile, the hat and the mountains stay the same; the skin comes out a little softer. The person is AI-generated. — A ski trip photo by the lift with the eyes shut against the snow, then opened with the Eyes dial. The smile, the hat and the mountains stay the same; the skin comes out a little softer. The person is AI-generated.

Snow reflects most of the light that hits it, so on the mountain you squint or blink the moment you take your goggles off for a photo. Add cold wind and a friend counting down with gloves on, and the one photo where the view and your smile are right often has your eyes shut. Here's how to save it.

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. Check your friends' photos (free)

Group trips produce a lot of photos of the same spot. Ask the others for theirs from the same stop 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 smile, your hat and the mountains behind you stay as they were. If you were squinting rather than blinking, see squinting in the sun.

Avoid the blink on the next run

Keep your sunglasses or goggles on until the count of three, then lift them.
Turn so the sun is to your side, not behind the camera.
Close your eyes for a second, then open them on "go".

More tips in how to stop blinking in photos.

Why do I always blink in snow photos?

Snow is very bright, so your eyes squint and blink to protect themselves, especially right after you take off goggles or sunglasses.

Can I fix it 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 face change?

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

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.

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