In our final chapter of our Headshot series we discuss How to Pose for Dynamic Headshots. This is easily the part of getting headshots done that makes people the most nervous. The moment a camera appears, people tend to tense up and try to look natural rather than just being natural. I know that is easier said than done, but one of the best tips I can give someone is to just relax. Hopefully reading the couple of key points below will make you feel more confident when getting your photo taken so that you can relax more during the process.
Posing Tip #1: Motion is Your Friend
One of the best things you can do for yourself(and for your photographer) is to not be afraid to move. Oftentimes people get very stiff and try to hold a pose for too long. This results in unnatural and uncomfortable looking photos. Let yourself move a little, it will keep your body and mind more relaxed. Think of any time you have seen a model photoshoot(even if just in the movies), the model moves after almost every shutter click. Nothing wrong with doing the same!
Posing Tip #2: Talk
Talk with your photographer before the shoot to discuss any parts of yourself that you are not super comfortable with. They will be able to assist you with directions to highlight the features you like best and to minimize those you don’t love. For instance, most people try to hide a double chin by tilting down to hide it or extending their neck out, but this could actually accentuate it. Be communicative!
Posing Tip #3: Keep Good Posture!
Don’t slouch! Do I sound like one of your former grade school teachers? Turns out, they were on to something! Keeping good posture will help keep everything else in a good position when posing and keep you looking and feeling confident during the shoot. So while you are moving and posing keep in mind “Shoulders Back”.
Posing Tip #4: Cross Your Arms
One of my favorite tips is to cross your arms across your chest. This can help give good posture and also promote a strong confident feeling. This can create a dynamic and powerful look whether you are sitting, standing and facing the camera straight on, or facing slightly angled.
There are obviously lots of nuances to posing and getting the angles just right, but these couple of tips are easy to practice at home before your shoot so that you are ahead of the game and your photographer has a good base to build from. They might even be impressed with your modelling skills!
Need some new headshots? Reach out to schedule a consultation today! We will come to you.