Ok, let's talk posture!
This is one of my favorite areas of photography, because I love empowering people with knowledge that helps them feel better about their image.
Even if you don't love posing and prefer candid-style photos instead, knowing these tips will help you any time your in front of the camera.
Let's get to it!
Posture Tip #1
Lean toward the camera and bend your front leg!
I can't stress enough how important this is! But don't take my word for it. Here are some pics of me to demonstrate.
No joke, I have a million photos of me leaning back like the first photo. Look at how much better I look by just leaning a bit and bending my leg! The photo of me leaning back makes me look 10 pounds heavier than I am.
Here's why. Whatever is closest to the camera looks biggest. So if you're leaning your belly and hips toward the camera, they are going to look bigger than your head or chest. Plus you'll collapse your jaw into your neck. Hmm, I don't want lumberjack neck! Do you?
I swear this is one of the big reasons that so many people think they aren't photogenic. It's a vicious cycle.
Cameras make you feel on the spot, so what happens? You pull away.
The resulting photo looks terrible because you've lost the definition in your jaw, your arms are smooshed against your chest, and your stomach/hips look disproportionately large.
Well that doesn't look good. So now you think you look terrible in photos. Next time the camera comes out the cycle starts again.
So muster that courage and lean toward the camera instead. Your photos will improve dramatically!
Posture Tip #2
Straighten your back from the base of the spine
The goal here is to have a straight back without pushing the chest out. You can tighten your abs to help, but don't suck in your gut. Make sure your shoulders are down and relaxed.
What you want to avoid here is falling into the leaning back trap from posture tip #1. Sometimes I overcorrect like the middle photo just so I can feel what's NOT good. Then I come back until I can tell my spine is straight.
Practice in front of the mirror and you'll have this in no time!
Posture Tip #3
Keep your hands soft and curvy
Yes, hands have posture!
For some reason when we get in front of the camera we get hand amnesia. What the hell do we normally do with our hands?
The result is that we straighten them unnaturally or clench them. Not usually a good look.
To get an ideal curve in your hands, do what my piano teacher taught me.
Pretend you're holding a bubble. Try it now. Now make sure they're relaxed or the bubble will break! See how much better that looks?
So Those are My Top 3 Posture Tips
Pretty simple, right? Keep these tips in mind for your next shoot and you're guaranteed to nail the shots.
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