Whether it’s from ladies preparing to take their own photos or they are nervous for an upcoming professional shoot, one of the biggest questions I have come across is “How do I pose better?” In boudoir photography, your body is the main focus of the photo you are working to create. Knowing how to place it in ways that bring out its best qualities can be intimidating but learning to pose will help you produce the best images possible.
Here are some of my tips do just that.
Relax and Breathe
Head Placement
Facial Expressions
Create Separation in the Arms and Legs
Pose with the Whole Body
Add Movement
Practice
Relax and Breathe
The more relaxed you are, the better your photos will turn out. If you are nervous during your shoot it will show in the final images. Breathing out through your mouth will help soften your face and reduce tension. To create a soft sensual look, relax your lips slightly and gently touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. You don’t have to do this for every pose, but it is an important skill to learn.
Head Placement
As you might imagine, head placement is crucial. How many selfies have you tried to take that end up with the dreaded double chin? Most of us know that moving the camera up a bit gets rid of this problem but in photography that won’t always be practical. You’ll want to take photos in a variety of positions--- sometimes straight on---so try these tips to keep you looking your best.
Extending your head forward a touch will stretch out the skin under your chin and accentuate your jawline at the same time. Next think about creating length in your spine. If you’ve been to a yoga class this may come easily for you. The goal is to move the top of your head towards the sky while keeping your hips and tailbone down. This helps prevent slouching and lifts your head to a more confident position.
Facial Expressions
You’ll also want to switch up your expression for variety and interest. Go ahead and throw in a sexy smile when you are feeling it. Giving a flirty smirk, looking to the corner of your eyes, or a genuine laugh---this works best if you have a partner behind the camera that can say or do something funny---will make your photos more fun and engaging.
Create Separation in the Arms and Legs
In photography, because you are taking a three dimensional object (your body) and rendering it into a two dimensional shape (a photo) problems occur. Having both of your legs together on a side pose can make it look like one giant leg. This is where having a little separation between your legs or your arms and body helps. For example, moving your arms away from your waist slightly helps to create separation from your torso and prevents your limbs from blending into your body. It also keeps the muscles from flattening out when they are pressed up against your side which can make your arms look larger. If you can see a little day light or background between your arm and your waist, that is what you are looking for. Getting back to the first example of the side pose, you can fix that issue by bending one leg until you have some separation between them.
Pose with the Whole Body
Remember to pose with your whole body. We tend to pay the most attention to what our face, head, and torso are doing but the hands and feet are just as important.
Exaggerating the arch in your lower back helps to accentuate your curves and creates an “S” shape that looks great in photos. This may feel a little uncomfortable at first but the quality of the final image is worth a little momentary discomfort.
Doing something with your hands adds action and life to your pictures. Run your hands through your hair, play with your clothing, or use them to draw attention to a specific body part. Keep them soft and loose when possible resting them gently against your skin and separate your fingers slightly when appropriate.
With so many things to consider, it’s easy to forget about the feet. Pointing your toes creates a touch of elegance to your shots. It also lengthens the appearance of your legs and slims your calves at the same time. If this is difficult for you, a pair of sexy heels is a fabulous alternative. It’s a total win-win.
Add Movement
While you’ll want to remain still for many of your shots, it is also possible to add some occasional movement to your posing. You can move a little bit and still get a great photo. Try rocking from side to side, slowly walking towards or away from the camera, or flipping your hair.
Practice
Now give it a try!
Practicing head and body positions, and expressions in the mirror will allow you to visualize how you’ll look on camera and help you feel more comfortable when it is time to put all this into action. Arch your back to different degrees and play with the locations of your arms and legs to learn what it feels like and which position work best for you. Taking a few test shots is a great way to see where you need to make adjustments. You may find that some poses don’t work well for you while discovering others that make you look and feel fabulous when you see the final image yourself.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot to remember, but knowing these tips will help you greatly when it comes to your posing. However, don’t forget to enjoy yourself a little too. Put on some of your favorite music, grab a drink, take a few deep breathes, and most of all have fun!
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