Worried About Posing? Here’s How Portrait Photography Can Feel Natural
One of the concerns I hear most when people are considering a portrait photography session is
that they don’t know how to pose. People say, “I’m not photogenic,” or, “I don’t like the way I
look in photos,” or, “I don’t know what to do with my body.”
As a portrait photographer serving Milwaukee, WI and the surrounding Waukesha County area,
I want you to know something important: you do not need to know how to pose before your
session. Guiding you is part of my job.
Let me tell you a little secret: being photogenic isn’t a talent that you’re born with; it’s a skill you
can develop. The camera sees you differently than the human eye does, and you can learn to
see what the camera sees and to position your body in a way that will flatter the camera’s eye.
Why Professional Posing Guidance Matters
It might not shock you that this is difficult to do on your own. I’ve done some self-portraits over
the past few years, and it’s incredibly challenging to coach my own poses and expressions
when I can’t see what they look like (and I’ve had training!). That’s why it’s incredibly helpful to
have a trusted professional helping you, someone who not only has studied posing best
practices, but who also has practiced coaching people into positions and expressions that look
natural and flattering on camera.
Not all portrait photographers know how to do this. Countless people have regaled me with tales
of past photoshoots where they were instructed to “stand there” or “look professional.” It’s not
surprising that they haven’t been thrilled with the results. And while a pose might feel unnatural
when you’re doing it, it will look natural and flattering when you’re being guided into a position
that accentuates what you want people to focus on and hides things you don’t.
Posing Guidelines that Create Consistently Great Portraits
Here are a couple of posing “rules” that help you look your best in photos.
What’s closest to the camera will appear the largest.
In most cases, portrait photography is meant to showcase the most important part of a person –
their face! In order to help your face be the focal point, a simple trick is to hinge forward at your
hips ever so slightly. This will make your shoulders, bust, and waist all look smaller in
comparison, giving a slimming look that shows off the beauty of your face.
Be a turtle.
Even the slimmest of people have extra skin under their chin that can quickly start to look like
many chins in a photo. So, pair the hip hinge in tip #1 with what I call the “turtle neck.” Push
your chin toward the camera enough that it’s a little uncomfortable, then lower it down slightly so
your eyes are locked on the camera. Not only does it eliminate any double chin action, but it
also creates great engagement and intimacy in the photo.
Trust your body’s natural expression.
You don’t look like anyone else, and you don’t move like anyone else. Beautiful poses don’t
have to be stiff. Throughout the session, I guide my clients into natural movements that help
them move the way they normally move. We laugh, we dance, and we be just who we are. The
beauty is that we nail some, and not others, and that’s ok. You don’t have to look amazing in
every. single. photo. That’s just not realistic. But I’ve found that when you can be yourself, and
when your photographer makes space for you to feel comfortable, relaxed, and genuine, that
shows up in the photos in the best way.
A Portrait Photography Process Designed to Deliver the Best Photos
You might think that hiring a photographer who knows how to pose is enough to get you
beautiful portraits. And while they will probably be technically great photos, they still might not
feel like you. That’s why I’ve designed my process very specifically to bring out your best.
From the start, we connect over a discovery call where I learn more about you, your wants and
needs for the photoshoot, and why this is important to you. At our in-home consultation, we’ll
meet in person to build a rapport with each other. We’ll also choose outfits you feel great in and
that photograph well, which is another key to helping you look great in your portraits.
Professional hair and makeup is always included, and you’ll walk out of that chair and into the
photoshoot feeling like a queen. And, because we already know each other, we can dive right in
to an experience that feels safe, collaborative, encouraging, and fun. I’ll help you choose your
curated portfolio of images, and my careful retouching makes sure you are 100% happy with
every photo you walk out with.
Milwaukee Portrait Photographer
You don’t have to leave beautiful portraits up to chance. If you’re ready to work with a portrait
photographer who will care for every detail of your experience to give you images you’re
absolutely in love with, I’d love to hear from you.
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