Step in front of the camera for the first time, and you’ll feel like you’ve shown up to a test without doing any prep work. But, there’s good news. With just a handful of solid foundation poses, you can look super confident in front of just about any camera.
Here are five all-around poses that will work just as well whether you’re doing commercial, editorial, or portrait photography – and they’re actually pretty versatile.
The Three-Quarter Turn Trick
Instead of facing the camera head-on, try standing at about a 45-degree angle to it. That simple tweak will slim out your silhouette and add some depth to the photo. Just keep most of your weight on your back foot and let your front shoulder drop down a bit towards the camera.
The Hand on the Hip Thing
Place one hand on your hip with your elbow cocked back a bit, rather than straight out. This creates some space between your arm and your torso, and defines your waist. Plus, it gives your hands something to do. This solves the “what do I do with my arms?” problem right off the bat.
The Lean
Whether you’re leaning against a wall, a railing, or just a piece of furniture, leaning in a relaxed way can give you that super cool, editorial-style shot. Just shift your weight onto one side and let your body follow a natural curve. Avoid stiff, straight lines at all costs. And as an added bonus, leaning forward a bit will catch the camera’s eye and sharpen up your jawline.
The Walk It Out
Mid-stride shots are great for capturing some movement and energy. Try walking slowly towards the camera with one foot crossing slightly in front of the other, and keep your arms nice and relaxed, swinging naturally as you go. Photographers often take a bunch of shots while you’re walking to catch that one perfect moment.
The Seated Pose
Sit at the edge of a chair and angle your knees to one side, rather than pointing them directly at the camera. Sit up nice and tall through your spine, roll those shoulders back, and keep your chin up a bit. And if you cross your ankles, it will make your legs look a lot longer.
Think about practicing these at home.
Stand in front of a mirror and work your way through each of these poses. Pay attention to how just a little tweak here and there can make a huge difference. Like tilting your chin, adjusting your shoulders, or shifting your weight distribution a bit. And just to confirm, take some phone selfies and see how these poses look on camera.
These five poses are basically the foundation of almost every modelling shot out there. Master them, and you’ll walk into any shoot feeling super confident and ready to go from the very start.
