How To Pose For Pictures

“Dear Susan, Will you do a post about posing for family pictures. I always feel like a deer in headlights. I don’t know where to look or how to place my hands. You make it look so easy!”

Today I will share a few tips to help you look your best in family photos. When I traveled to Los Angeles to model for Covered Perfectly in the past, I often worked with women who had never been in front of a camera professionally. The first question was always, “What do I do with my hands?”

When you stand straight with your arms at your sides and your feet together, your body looks its largest on camera. Shifting your weight to your back foot and turning your body at the waist before smiling at the camera are the best tips for looking more slender. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with your weight mostly on your left foot. Point your right toe away from your body so that your right leg is at a little different angle from your left leg and closest to the camera. Turn from your waist slightly away from the camera, then turn your face toward the camera looking above or beside the camera. Resting your hands just on the tops of your thighs and pointing one toe slightly in front and to the side gives you angles rather than having your full body face the camera straight on.

Holding something slightly in front of or to the side of your body breaks up the width and gives your hands something to do.

Placing your hand on the hip tilted away from the camera helps to define your waist. (I call this the Sorority Girl pose.) When you create a space between your arms and your body, it makes you look less wide. Note all of the angles I have created with my body.

Even a very slight turn away from the camera with the lower part of your body and then turning the top half of your body toward the camera helps make you look less wide.

Posture is essential all the time but especially when you are being photographed. Stand tall with your head erect and your neck long with your shoulders back. Try not to sink into your shoulders. This makes you look insecure and also larger. Whatever is closest to the camera looks largest, so the best angle is when the photographer stands a few feet away from you and holds the camera about chest high. When you are part of a group shot, make sure you are standing next to the people who are about the same size as you.

I wore this to have lunch with Mr. Mickey on a sweltering Sunday afternoon. The top was a gift from Covered Perfectly. I love the soft flowing bell sleeves and V-neck. The banded hemline defines my waist a little and keeps me from looking like I am wearing a tent. Us busty gals have to think about that when we wear shorter tops. The white ankle jeans are by Chico’s. The metallic sandals are by Sofft Shoes via Dillard’s. The bag is by Michael Kors.

When you shop with Covered Perfectly, tell them I sent you to get a 20% discount on up to two items. Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out. There are many great styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special.

Here’s looking at you, kid.