Ok...ok... Here it is. The blog on how to pose in everyday photos. We seem to be having our photos taken more and more these days. EVERYONE has a camera phone and uploading to Facebook before you can say "...but I have 11 chins!". Well fear not my cyber friends, because I'm here to reduce your chins to just one!
If you have ever had a portrait session with me you will have heard me say things like "weight on back foot", "reset", "chin down and forward", "chin to shoulder", "smile with the eyes", "arms away from your body", "shoulder energy". It may all sounds strange so let me elaborate to help you look your best in any photo.
In return for this free advice I ask one thing: "Like " my Facebook page and share your best poses by posting pictures practicing these posing techniques. Let's have some fun with it.
This post starts with the basics - how to stand. We'll cover chins and arms in the next post. My very accommodating sister-in-law, Fiona has selflessly volunteered to be my model for this series so THANK YOU FIONA! some of these images are not particularly flattering but she is taking it on the chin (again, in some images, chins), for the sisterhood.
Look at these images below. Fi is standing front on, arms by her side and her feet together. In this pose, there is no shape to her body, she look chunky (which she is not), and it is downright unflattering. This seems to be a fairly common way to pose in everyday photographs.
Learn From Fiona, STOP IT NOW! See below for how to do right.
The great standing pose:
1) Always angle your body about 45 degrees to camera. Exactly how far to angle your body will depend on your body shape. Practise in the mirror to find the best angle for your shape.
2) Check bust and tummy to make sure you look hot. Too side on and you will accentuate your bust line but also any tummy bulge. Too front on and you just look like a brick.
3) Standing at 45 degrees, place one foot backwards, away from your front foot about half a step.
4) Put all your weight on the back foot, and go up on your front toes so there is a bend in your front knee.
5) Finally, throw your hip out a bit (stick your bottom backwards). Think, gum-chewing attitude and Pinky Tuscadero!
We get shape from the bend in the front leg and the angle of our body, giving us what's know as an "S" curve. We should always be aiming for the "S" curve.
Happy posing.
Lisa