“I’m Not Photogenic…”
The Non-Model’s Guide to Effortless Posing
This might be a controversial opinion among photographers but, I hate posing. Unless you’re a model and you’ve dedicated your career to studying the minute intricacies needed to make a pose look incredible, chances are you are going to wind up looking over-posed, and feeling awkward. And that energy is going to show in your pictures. It’s far more important to feel confident and to enjoy taking pictures, than it is to create a picture perfect pose. Hear me out!
Let’s face it, if you’re not in front of the camera all of the time, taking pictures can feel scary. For most, the experience is anything but fun. So next time you’re taking photos, instead of trying to remember the cheat sheet of poses you saw on Instagram, try these fun tips instead!
Create a Pinterest board of photos you love. You can reference this list whenever you find yourself in a situation where you need to take photos. And you can always tweak any poses or ideas to make them your own.
If you’re going to be in a situation where pictures will be taken, wear clothes that make you feel amazing! And keep these simple tips in mind: no thin stripes (they don’t photograph well), keep your brand colors in mind, no baggy or boxy clothes, nothing too bright or busy, avoid logos, and avoid anything sleeveless if you’re at all self conscious about your arms.
Get your nails done! You’d be surprised how often your hands will sneak into photos.
Stand up straight with your chest out and your shoulders pulled down to the floor. There! Right there!! You just grew 2 inches and gained a whole new level of confidence. Boom!
Move! This is my absolute, number 1 biggest tip! Throw posing out the window completely and just move. I have said it 1000 times and I’ll say it again. Motion = emotion. What emotion are you trying to convey with your brand? Keep that in mind, and move accordingly. Laugh, dance, walk, run, jump, twirl, cheers: photography is more about acting than you might imagine.
If you must pose, find something to do with your hands. Hold a coffee, play with your purse, put your hands in your pockets, twirl your skirt, play with your hair, hug a friend. Because the second most people get in front of a camera, it turns into Talladega Nights and they find themselves suddenly quoting Ricky Bobby: “I’m not sure what to do with my hands.” Don’t get me wrong - I’m not making fun of anyone here! I’m guilty of this too! When give our hands have purpose and placement, everything else seems to magically fall into place.
Keep your lighting in mind. And keep it simple - for clean, even lighting that will make your skin look amazing, all you have to do is fill in the shadows. The easiest way to do that is to make sure that your lighting is coming from in front of you, instead of on top of you. If you’re in a situation where you can’t turn off the overhead lights or stand in front of a window or open door, this is where a ring light comes in handy because it overpowers the bad lights that cast unflattering shadows on your face.
Give these tips a try at your next photoshoot, networking event, or if you ever just find yourself in a beautiful place and want a nice picture to show it off!
And if you’re looking to take your photos to the next level and create professional, branded photos for your marketing, let’s chat!