How to look your best for your photography session
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to look back at my engagement or wedding gallery and see images that look tense, robotic or lacking in the expression department. Photography sessions should be fun and exciting and the previous sentence described nothing like that. Below are some tips and tricks to help your session go smoothly and allow you to relax in front of the camera.
Relax as much as possible - Stand or sit comfortably with your shoulders down and your arms relaxed by your sides. Better yet, try placing one hand in your pocket or at your waist or maybe even cross your arms in front of you. We move around a lot in our daily lives and not typically in a symmetrical fashion. Don’t be afraid to try different things and experiment with your photographer.
Angle your body - As expressed in the above tip, we typically treat the right and left sides of our bodies separately in day to day life. Rather than stand stiff legged try putting more weight on one side (Contrapposto). Lean into your poses and angle your torso to get a variety of natural looks.
Straighten up - Remember being told that slouching was bad, they were right. Pulling your shoulders back can help you look taller, more confident and more attentive. Good posture goes a long way when it comes to body language.
Chin out - If you’re worried about how your neck will look I suggest stretching your neck out toward the camera. It may seem a little strange at first but if directed toward the camera it will produce a slimming effect to the neck.
Truly smile - Nothing says “Awkward” more than the “Say Cheese!” portraits of the old days. Instead, try to be expressive with your face - whatever that means to you. Big grins full of teeth aren’t the only way to get a feeling across in an image. Think about what the session is representing to you and let those feelings come through.
Be true to yourself - There are lots of ways to look or feel awkward and one of them is to pretend to be someone you’re not. We’re all different and our personalities say a lot about who we are as people. Be sure to let your photographer know if anything doesn’t fit who you are. Advocate and make sure the session doesn’t take you in an opposing direction.
Practice makes perfect - A few days before your session I suggest looking into a full length mirror and practicing some of these tips. Take note of which ones seem helpful and which ones don’t. Try variations to see what you can come up with before your session arrives.
Remember, the most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. Don't worry too much about looking perfect - it doesn’t exist. Have fun with your photographer and don’t be shy about sharing any concerns with them before the session begins. We certainly want you to be happy with the end result so, by all means, keep us in the loop.
P.S. If you have any other helpful tips to add please mention them in the comments below. I know this list doesn’t cover everything and I’d love to flesh it out as time goes on.