Almost everyone says the same thing at the start of a shoot: I am not photogenic. Usually that is not true. What is true is that nobody ever told them what to do with their hands. These are the adjustments we use most often, and they work for anybody.
The Foundation: Stop Facing the Camera Square On
Standing straight towards the lens makes anyone look wider and flatter than they are. It is the default position and it is the wrong one.
Turn your body about forty five degrees away from the camera, then turn only your head back towards it. That single change slims the silhouette, adds depth, and makes the pose look considered rather than accidental. If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this.
What to Do With Your Hands
Hands are where most people struggle, and hanging straight down looks lifeless in almost every photograph. Give them a job:
- One hand in a pocket, thumb out
- Lightly holding the opposite wrist or forearm
- Resting on a hip — touch it, do not press into it
- Holding something: a dupatta, a bag, a cup, a book
- Adjusting a sleeve, cuff or collar
- For seated poses, resting one hand on the knee
Keep hands relaxed and slightly curved. Flat, tense hands look awkward, and turning the edge of the hand towards the camera rather than the back of it looks far better.
Chin Forward and Slightly Down
This feels wrong and looks right, which is why photographers keep asking for it.
Push your chin forward towards the camera, then lower it very slightly. It stretches the skin under the jaw and defines the jawline. Everyone feels ridiculous doing it. Nobody can tell in the photograph.
Weight on the Back Foot
Shift your weight onto the foot furthest from the camera and let the front knee bend slightly. It creates a natural curve through the body instead of a rigid vertical line, and it instantly looks less posed.
The Smile Problem
A held smile becomes a grimace within about three seconds. The eyes give it away every time — a genuine smile creases the corners of the eyes, a forced one does not.
The fix is to reset between frames. Look away, breathe out, drop the smile completely, then look back. Or think of something that genuinely amuses you. Good photographers time the shutter to the moment a laugh is fading, which is when the expression is warmest.
Posing With Someone Else
For couples and pairs, the mistake is standing side by side facing forward like a passport photo.
- Angle both bodies slightly towards each other
- Overlap — a gap between two people reads as distance
- Vary the heights: one seated, one standing, or one leaning
- Look at each other instead of the camera for some frames
- Do something: walk, talk, whisper. Motion beats stillness
Group Photographs
- Stagger heights rather than lining everyone up flat
- Stand close — groups always spread out more than they think
- Angle shoulders inwards slightly, towards the centre of the group
- Put taller people at the back and edges, not all along one side
- Everyone should be able to see the lens; if you cannot see it, it cannot see you
Seated Poses
Sit on the front third of the chair rather than back into it. Sitting back curves the spine and compresses everything. Perched forward, back straight, leaning very slightly towards the camera is the pose that works almost every time.
What Nobody Tells You
Almost every good photograph is taken in the moment between poses. The frame where you were laughing at something, or turning towards someone, or just about to move.
This is why we do not ask people to hold poses. We keep you moving with small instructions and shoot the in-between. It is also why you should not try to control your face for the whole session — the tension shows.
Two Minutes of Preparation
- Sleep properly the night before; tired eyes are the one thing retouching cannot fully fix
- Have a haircut a few days before, not the same day
- Bring solid colours rather than busy patterns
- Arrive a few minutes early so you are not out of breath
- Trust the photographer’s direction, even when it feels strange
Practice Beforehand
If you have an important shoot coming up, spend ten minutes in front of a mirror trying the forty-five degree turn, the chin adjustment and two or three hand positions. Find the angle you prefer. Knowing what works for your face takes most of the anxiety out of the session.
See our portrait photography page for how sessions are structured, or browse the gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to look better in photos?
Turn your body about forty five degrees away from the camera and turn only your head back towards it. It slims the silhouette and adds depth, and it is the single most effective adjustment.
What should I do with my hands in photographs?
Give them a job rather than letting them hang. A pocket, holding the opposite wrist, resting on a hip, or holding an object. Keep them relaxed and turn the edge of the hand towards the camera.
Why do my smiles look forced in photos?
A held smile becomes a grimace within a few seconds and the eyes give it away. Reset between frames by looking away, breathing out and dropping the smile completely before looking back.
How do I look natural if I am nervous in front of a camera?
Keep moving rather than holding poses. Good photographers direct you with small instructions and capture the moment in between, which is where almost every natural photograph comes from.
