How to Pose for Pictures
Posing for photos can be fun or nerve-wracking, depending on your personality type. Or, if you’re like many people, you may simply not like how you look in pictures, so much so that you avoid being in them at all costs. Wherever you stand on the issue, though, there is a way to look better when the camera shutter goes off. Here are some great tips if you want to learn how to pose for serious photos (and not so serious ones).
Figure Out What Needs to Be Improved When You’re Doing Photos
If you don’t like how you look in photos, grab a bunch of photos with you and study each one. This may make you uncomfortable, but it can be helpful to decide what you need to change. Is it the way you stand? Does your smile look fake? Take notes on what you’d like to change.
If you find a photo or two that you like, think about why this photo is different. Is it because your face is angled nicely, or is there a genuine smile on your face? Do you look strikingly slim? Knowing what you need to work on and what poses work for your body is a good starting point.
Practice Your Poses in Front of the Mirror
Next, practice posing in front of the mirror. Like with anything, getting better at posing and becoming more comfortable in front of a camera takes practice. Is your left or right side your better side? The left and right sides of our faces have slight differences, so decide which side you prefer. With regards to your body, take photos from all angles and pick the angles that stand out.
Nail Your Smile
Think about your smile. If you want expressive portraits, practice your smile. Some people look better with a slight smile, while others come alive with a full-on grin. How much you smile will depend on you. What you don’t want, however, is a fake smile that never connects with your eyes. Your smile should lighten up your face so that you’re fully engaging the viewer. Practice smiling in front of the mirror. You’ll start to feel the difference between a real smile and a fake one.
The Contrapposto “S” Curve: Shift Your Weight to One Leg
For a slightly more relaxed look, try shifting your weight to one leg instead of sharing the weight between both legs. This pose, known as the Contrapposto curve, elongates the body so you look more slender. Another reason to master this pose is that a straight-on stance may look rigid and a little unnatural.
A Pose to Slim Your Legs
If you’d like your legs to look slimmer, especially for your full-body photos, pose with your feet together. When you keep your feet together, you’ll create one vertical line that extends from your feet to your hips. Standing with your feet apart can make you look wider, especially in the hip and thigh area. By keeping your feet together, you can minimize this width.
Tilt Your Head Towards the Camera
Professional photographers often advise people to tilt their heads towards the camera as it can make their faces look slimmer and create a more interesting angle. A slight head tilt can also make a photo more dynamic and slim your jawline. Besides improving how you look, tilting your head towards the camera can evoke more emotion, too.
Lean Forward in a Chair
Leaning back in a chair can make your waistline look boxy and wide. Leaning forward, on the other hand, places the viewer’s focus on your upper body. Leaning forward feels more engaging and inviting, too. And for those concerned about their weight and that extra 10 pounds that the camera packs on, leaning forward can help you look thinner.
Awkward Hands? Put Them in Your Pockets
Not sure what to do with your hands when taking photos? A good solution is to simply put them in your pockets. Not only does this reduce your awkwardness, but it can also result in a more natural, relaxed pose. Not all photos call for this pose, though. If you’re taking formal family portraits, keeping your hands in your pockets won’t fit the context. However, if your environment is casual and even stylized, it can be a great way to exude confidence.
Lean Slightly Forward
Like leaning forward in a chair, leaning slightly forward while standing can have a slimming effect on your photos. By bringing your upper body closer to the camera, you’ll be making this part the focus of the photo, reducing the size of your waist and legs. It’s also a more engaging pose as it feels like you’re interacting with the viewer.
Don’t Slouch
One of the major disadvantages of slouching in photos is that you’ll look and feel less confident. Worse, it makes you look shorter. When posing for photos, maintain a good posture, lean in towards the camera, and actively engage with the viewer.
Avoid Facing the Camera Straight On
Facing the camera straight on can slightly distort your face, resulting in an unflattering photo. To minimize this lens compression, try to angle your face and body slightly so that you’re not staring straight at the camera. A 45-degree angle is usually standard and can create visual interest.
Use Props
If you’re still feeling awkward with your poses, consider bringing in a prop. Props can help you feel more relaxed, leading to more natural expressions. They can even add a little narrative to the photo.
Try Moving
Not every photo has to be static. Remember, professional photographers can capture dynamic motion by simply changing their shutter speed! Walking, dancing, or even jumping can be fun, and it can give you dynamic, natural shots. Plus, you’ll add energy and dynamism to the final portrait images.
Portrait Photography Can Bring Out the Best in You
If you practice your poses and find what works, a professional portrait photographer can bring out the best in you. Just remember that when taking photos, it’s important to look natural and feel confident. (This is where practice comes in.)
Interested in scheduling a professional portrait photoshoot? Contact Miami-based photographer Daria Koso.
