Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

How to Pose for a Photograph

Studies of common sensory have shown that as the festivity of holidays increases, the rate of photography follows a positive correlation.

Following is an introduction to posing for said photographs.  Each pose is engineered to be figure friendly.  Meaning, they shed the 10 lbs that camera flashes tend to adhere.  So charge your battery and clean off your memory card.  You and your holiday frock are going to look pretty as postcards this year.


one. tall elegance
click to enlarge
Ease and effortless efficiency combine to create this classic pose.  First, imagine there is silken cord suspended above your pretty head.  Your elegant neck extends long while your shoulders drop away from your ears.  Arch your back slightly bringing your chest forward and those arm rotators back.   Finally tuck in your tummy, but stop before you cross into visible ribs. 
two. hands on hips + crossed ankles
click to enlarge
Hands on Hips: Holding the arms away from the body keeps upper arm fleshies from flattening.  Placement of the hands will also draw attention back to a narrow waist or trim little hip. If you choose to execute this pose with only one arm, make sure to employ the arm angled toward the camera lens.

Other add-ons 
Waist Rotation: Turn your shoulders three-quarters toward the lens, rotating from your now visually narrowed waist. 

Asymmetry:  Doing something slightly different with each side of your figure will make your shot more interesting. Asymmetry can sprout from seeds as simple as a tilted hip, a dipping shoulder, or leg bent slightly more than the other.

Ankles Crossed: Crossing one foot in front of the other keeps your pose playful.  It reports the status: “ready to stay a while, weight shifting to accommodate lingering.” Either cross both feet flat on the ground for a lengthening effect, or advance your posing prowess by balancing the crossed foot on the toe.


three. pointed toe + pocketed hands
click to enlarge
Point & Turn: 
Like a prima ballerina, point and spin your front toe to add inches faster than toe slippers. Point your piggies toward the camera then rotate a quarter set of degrees away from your back foot (where the majority of your weight has been planted.)  Unlocking your knees and shifting your weight to the posterior heel will keep you from looking stiff.  

Hands in Pocket:  unless you promenading in a full skirt with ample pockets, it’s better to hint at hands in the pocket via thumbs or finger tips, rather than cramming your digits into a too tiny pant space.

four. profile > over the shoulder

click to enlarge
Profile: 
This position showcases the full silhouette, offering a two-dimensional image more curves and less width. Start by placing your feet perpendicular to the camera’s gaze.  Then give your neck a slight spin toward the shutter.  For optimal results, angle your head slightly down and point your nose away from the camera.  This will sculpt those neck muscles and allow you to showcase rather than flatten facial angles.  Experiment with tilting your face a little up or a touch down, a little left or to the right, but keep your gaze on that camera.
 

Advanced
Over the Shoulder:

Intermediate and above models can rotate their walkers an additional quarter set of degrees so that their back and shoulders are angled toward the photographer.  (This is a great pose if you’ve recently completed many sets of squats and upright rows.)  The head is then rotated into a profile view.  Turn your best side towards the photographer and smile coyly.  

five. seated

click to enlarge
Sitting:
Unless you see multiple chins as a sign of financial affluence, when cameras emerge, ensure that the lens never descends below your own line of sight.  When seated, lean fearlessly in towards the camera.  Very few cameras have been shown to have a biting disposition.
click to enlarge

Sitting Continued:
Although your shoulders are advancing forward, your weight should stay on your seat.  This will keep your thighs from squishy, squishing unnaturally.  And unless you aim to exhibit your inner dominatrix, keep your knees together. We’re not filming a movie for https://www.tubev.sex/?hl=ko after all.The feet can be slung apart, crossed at the ankle, draped to the side, but the knees…together.


freestyle extras

click to enlarge
Pigeon Toe:  
Commonly paired with eyes cast down, this pose adds an element of fragility.  It’s slightly awkward and ingenue.

Grip:  
If you’re wondering what to do with your hands, hold on.  Grip the bundle of your scarf, your jacket lapels, or other available fashion ornamentation.  A soft grip brings emphasis to individual elements and depending on the rest of your pose composition can convey any disposition from shy to confident.

Hands Above:
Whether fidgeting with hair locks or petting the neck, this pose has the same slenderizing effect as hands on hip but adds a coy, indirect, feminine appeal.

Hop, Skip, Spin:
Let yourself feel pretty and you will look pretty.

Jolly photography developments to you and your kin!

Allow Cardigan Empire to style your kin for their next Family Photo. Click here to book a family-sized virtual shopping session.




Feed me fashionably fresh

Comments

  1. Thank you for the tips! I love everything you’re wearing also and of course Coco is ADORABLE! Definitely the best dressed toddler out there!

  2. I think you are so very pretty pregnant! Of course you are beautiful always! The photos turned out fabulous, and will be a fun documentation of baby Billie, too!
    xoxo
    love you

  3. Ohmy goodness Racquel. You look amazing. Seriously, can a pregnant lady be hotter!! And Im loving Miss C’s jacket!!! Soooooooooo IRINA!!!!
    Luvs

  4. Thanks for sharing the tips. We are taking our Christmas pics this weekend.

  5. These are all super cute and helpful! Your pregnant tummy looks so adorable and so does little coco.
    P.s. love everything you are wearing in these pictures.

    -Tessa
    http://www.totallytessa.com

  6. Where did you get the stunning white dress and grey dress?

  7. Helen,

    The gray/blue tweed dress was borrowed from a sweet friend. The brand is Motherhood.

    The white dress is actually a top and skirt. The skirt is from Old Navy and the top’s brand is Egg Maternity (Egg-Baby.com) and was purchased from Expected Maternity (www.expectedmaternity.com/).

  8. Reachel!! You look positively radiant! I can’t wait to see your new bundle of joy!

    pst.. if Coco goes missing, you just might have to drive to Portland to pick her up! 🙂

  9. Thank you! I really needed that tutorial. I love love love your blog. It has positively changed my external life in more ways than one.

  10. I think Mister Bagley may have bribed you ladies to say such nice things about me. In truth while I am deliriously excited to meet this baby, I feel like I resemble a certain Frosty Snowman.

    And an especial gracious notice to Starr. That’s why I do this whole thing.

    Merry Wishes Ladies!

  11. I’m loving the step by step tutorial on posing. Totally made me laugh! and I love the effort with all the pics! ah-mazing

  13. Many thanks to you for this post – it was so helpful! I am also expecting, and appreciate the tips – with the holidays coming up and all the photo sessions that are sure to come of them! Hopefully now my best angles will be preserved for my posterity, instead of the usual unflattering ones it seems the camera happens to catch! 🙂

    Also, could you please tell me where you found the boots that you wore in the pictures of this post (both pairs)? I adore both of them, and find myself wearing boots very frequently lately – they keep me sure of footing while trying to balance my new dimensions! 🙂

  15. You look amazing! This was such a fun series..I am looking forward to putting together outfits for our family pictures!

    Love all of your outfits, thanks for letting us know your sources..would you mind telling where you found the floral blouses?

  17. Thanks for all the wonderful tips!I’m going to have use them for my holiday pictures. Can you please tell where you go the blue sweater with the white flowers? I’m thinking it’s Anthropologie

  19. You look so pretty in all of these pictures! I am wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing your beauty secrets… like what color lipstick do you wear? It looks so natural and pretty. And I love the darker red lipstick you wore in one of the other pics. AND also do you put glitter on the outside of your eyes? I want to copy your exact makeup please 🙂

  20. Kate,

    You are so sweet. My lip gloss is buxom lips by Bare Minerals (http://budurl.com/buxom). I love it for everyday wear. My red lipstick is Dubonnet with Sheena Gloss on top. Both are by Mac Cosmetics. The eye shimmer is also by Mac.

  21. Thanks so much for responding… I realize you have more important things to do- like HAVING A BABY!! But if you get a free minute will you let me know the shade of the buxom gloss and eye shimmer. Thank you so much.