As a professional portrait photographer in San Diego, one thing I’ve learned over the years is that not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera. Being nervous is a normal reaction…after all, not everyone is a professional model or Instagram selfie master! But never fear, as one of the aspects of my job that I take VERY seriously is to capture the natural essence of my clients, so I always give them these helpful tips before I start shooting!
First and foremost, never stand with your feet parallel to the camera lens, unless the photographer specifically asks you to. Standing parallel to the camera creates a very square composition, highlighting shoulder width and foot separation. In most cases, this look makes you look broad shouldered and wide, giving the impression of added weight. And let’s face it, NO ONE wants that! So always angle your feet to the camera lens, if even just slightly. Be sure to carry your weight on the foot furthest from the camera lens (don’t lean on that foot, just try to shift most of your weight to that foot). Doing this will avoid you leaning towards the camera, which again, gives the impression of added weight. You’ll see that this foot and weight positioning will give you a slimming effect in your photos! The only acception to this rule is if the photographer specifically asks you to stand square to the camera lens, and they can do this for any number of reasons. So trust your photographer, because they know what they’re doing!
Next, make sure that your shoulders are parallel to your feet. So, if your feet are at an angle to the camera lens, then your shoulders should be at the same angle. Again, doing this will give your photos a slimming effect. When I photograph my portrait clients, having their feet and shoulders parallel is always my starting point. Then I might have them slightly turn the angle of their shoulders to give me the look I want for their portraits.
Now that your feet and shoulders are set, what do you do with your arms?? This is probably the BIGGEST question and challenge that my portrait clients have. People usually take for granted what their arms are doing, so they don’t think about how they should be positioned during photos. But your arm position can make the difference between an ok photo, and an amazing portrait! NEVER have your arms straight down at the sides of your body, as this creates a big block of your body and arms, giving the impression of mass and weight (again, YUCK!). Instead, I recommend that ladies have their hands on their hips, or drape their arms over their partners, their own bodies or even crossed. For men, I usually have them place their hands in their pockets with a slight bend at their elbows, crossed or leaning. There’s a lot of different variations, but the important thing is that you don’t just leave your arms hanging straight down!
Lastly, I always ask my clients to never lift their chin. Lifting your chin seems to be a natural reaction for people to try and remove any unwanted, excess weight or double chin look from their photos. However, this is probably the worst thing you can do, as it looks super unnatural in portraits, and often results in a graphic upward shot of the inside of your nostrils (ewww!). Believe me, NOBODY wants to see that! Instead, I’ll have my portrait clients slightly lower their chins, and then poke it forward ever so slightly. This may seem funny and unnatural, but it looks great in portrait photos and helps eliminate that double chin!
Hope this information helps you achieve the best possible look for your photos and portraits, whether they be for engagement, graduation, family, wedding or professional purposes! Should you need any posing ideas, please feel free to click on any of the buttons below, as I also provide my clients with thousands of posing suggestions!
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