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Posing in the picture

A lot of time can be spent on the topic of posing, but still the best way to learn is to experiment and trying it out. None the less, there are a few things you might want to consider, before starting the photo session.

Your eyes are important. Your eyes are the “mirror of the soul” (sorry for the cliché), and how they look in the picture, will very much affect the outcome. The viewer will automatically look for your eyes first – so make sure they are fully in focus and really sharp in the picture. Also, try to look into your camera with your eyes, even if your head is slightly tilted or turned. Of course, sometimes you might want to look away from the camera – for example if you want to create a specific mood in the picture.

Try to make sure your shoulders and head are not facing the camera straight-on, they should be ever so slightly turned or tilted.

In fact, turning would apply to your whole body. If you are turned at a 45 degree angle towards the camera, this will provide a slimmer look, making you look more attractive. Alternatively, you could plant yore legs at the 45 degree angle, but turn your body back towards the camera a little bit. If you need a more powerful, stocky and masculine look, then you should have most of the body facing the camera – but still not straight into it.

It was already mentioned that you should turn your head towards the light. Of course, there are other options as well. For example, if you want the light to come from one side of the face – then you need to consider the impact you could make by turning your head slightly. If you turn your head so that the side towards the camera is more in the shadow, your face will look thinner and more dramatic. If you turn your head so that the side towards the camera is more in the light, then your face will look rounder – but it will also provide a more powerful picture if you are wearing exciting makeup, for example.

One additional thing you might want to consider when turning your body or tilting your head. This invariably makes one shoulder to look higher, or closer to the camera. As a man, tilt your head towards the shoulder which appears lower – this provides a more masculine look. As a woman, tilt your head towards either shoulder, but tilting the head towards the higher one will provide a more flirtatious and feminine look.

There are really two very simple ways of positioning your body towards the camera, which will help you look more attractive. One – show your best features, and two – hide your less attractive ones.

For example - if you have large, expressive eyes, make sure those are well captured. Or, as a woman, if you have a nice flat stomach, long legs or other shapely body parts, show those off in the picture – don’t be shy! As a man – well groomed face, nice abs or good muscles – no need to hide those! The basic rule should be – if you’ve got it, flaunt it!

Another consideration – your body will look much better if the muscles are slightly tensed. So for example, don’t just stand with your legs flat on ground, make sure at least one leg is slightly lifted off the ground or only touching it with a toe, or at least brought a bit forward from the other leg. For women, high heels help too. This also applies when sitting – get some tension in the leg muscles.

Also, when including your arms in the picture, turn or twist them slightly - the muscles will become tense and this will look better in the picture. That said – don’t just stand in the picture, flexing the muscles – overdoing this will make look you silly, or at least unnatural.

If you are worried about some body parts not looking good, then choose a position which hides those. For example: worried about the chin – just lift your head a bit or have the camera take the shot from slightly higher position. Don’t like your stomach – lie in the bed, facing the camera. Experiment a little bit and see what works for you.

Sometimes people feel their hands are a problem in the photos. The problem usually comes from the fact that the hands are closer to the camera than the face or rest of the body, and optical distortion makes the hands look larger than they are. It helps if you position your hands so that only the profile shows, rather than the back of the hand. Open hands, but with slightly curled fingers look more feminine, fists and back of hands provide a more masculine look.

When doing a professional photo shoot, the photographer might ask you to smile, or to pout or to assume any other specific expression. When taking the photos together with your friends, you might not have that sort of direction – if you don’t come up with anything better, just give the camera a cheerful smile. Or you can go for a sexy pout, or the blasé “I don’t care for anything” look – but this might not always work out.

When posing for a portrait, it might sense to include other items in it – something that reflects your personality. For example your favourite pet, music instrument, sports equipment – whatever makes sense. This adds flavour and also communicates your personality and interests. But don’t overdo it!

As mentioned before, the best way to learn about the posing is to experiment. Get a fashion magazine and try to replicate the poses found there. With a digital camera, it’s easy to shoot a picture and then to adjust your posing. For a more daring look, get a lads magazine, such as FHM and try out the poses. And finally, if you want to spend some money on this, you can always get a book with posing examples from a bookstore. It is really easier to learn from the pictures than from a text.

Oh, and final words regarding posing: sex sells! Yet another cliché, but very true indeed!

Affecting an enticing pose with lots of flesh showing will definitely make others take notice of you. Of course, there are distinctions between sexy and classy and embarrassing and indecent… Before making those sorts of photos, think about how you’d feel if the wrong people saw those pictures of you! If that's not a problem, go ahead and strut your stuff!!