How to Look Great in Photos - Easy Tips from the Photographer at Chicago Boudoir Photography

When you come to the boudoir studio for a photo shoot, I’m going to tell you exactly how to pose, how to stand, what to do with your face, hands and feet.  You’re not even going to have to think about it - I’m going to be very hands-on with you and demonstrate everything you need to do.

But I can’t be with you every time someone whips out their phone to take a photo, and I want you to look great ALL THE TIME!  

So here are a couple of tips so that you look great EVERY time you’re on camera, no matter what!  And these easy tips work for EVERYONE, no matter your height or shape!

1. Picture a Clock

Think of your space as a clock and the person holding the camera is at 12:00.  Instead of pointing your hips straight at 12:00,, you’re going to want to angle your hips so one hip is at 1:00 and the other is at 7:00. Easy, right? But it makes all the difference!

2. Place Your Weight

Rock your weight to your back leg and bend your front knee.  No matter what body shape you’re rocking, this is an easy way to look great on camera.

3. Place Your Arms

Wondering where your arms go? Try this tip: place your arm that’s closest to the camera on your hip, give or take 2 inches. You can also put fingers or thumb in a pocket, if you’ve got one.

4. Position Your Face

A great smile is worth a million words, right? What most people don’t think of is how your face position can make or break that million. Move your face slightly towards the camera, pull your chin forward like a turtle, and then lower your chin ever so slightly.  Relax your forehead and smile naturally!

5. Relax your Shoulders 

Roll your shoulders back and down. Most of us hold tension in our shoulders and it shows in photos.  Take a load off, and let those shoulders down.

Here’s a simple cell phone pic to demonstrate these tips. See the difference between the left and the right? These photos were taken only seconds apart! In the image on the left, you can see that I’m square to the camera, with my arms directly beside my body.  In the image on the right, I separated my arm from my body, shifted my weight to my back leg and pushed my face forward slightly. Easy tweaks make for a much better photo!