Models and celebrities seem to be able to pose for photos with ease, whether walking the red carpet or modeling for a new commercial. In fact, they really think hard in order to pose well. It takes a lot of time and effort to get the look, pose and angle just right. Luckily, with a lot of practice, posing for a photo will become much easier. Take some time to practice, and your photos will look great.
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Part 1 of 3: Photoshoot Preparation
Step 1. Clean your body
Body cleansing includes basic things like bathing, shampooing, and brushing teeth. When you shower, make sure you wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner so that your hair is soft and manageable. When you're done, dry your hair with a towel. Comb your hair at least 20 to 30 times, starting from the roots to the tips.
- If you want to style your hair in a certain way, do it after you've dried your hair. You can braid your hair, style it with hair spray or gel, or straighten it. There are many choices you can make for your hair, depending on your preferences.
- Professional modeling agencies usually have their own stylists who can help you style your hair at the shooting location.
- It is important that you brush your teeth. If you have stains on your teeth, you will need to use a whitening product (for example, whitening strips). Although you can edit your photo to make your teeth appear whiter, it will still look less natural.
Step 2. Shave or trim your body hair
For women who are going to do a photo shoot, you will need to shave your legs, armpits, and trim your eyelashes. For men, shaving facial hair is the most important thing. You will also need to shave or trim your thin mustache and sideburns. If you're going to take a photo without a t-shirt or shirt, you'll need to shave your chest hair.
For men or women who will do a special photo shoot for swimwear or a sexy pose, make sure you shave the hair around your intimate organs. To avoid irritation or problems with your skin, make sure you shave in the direction of hair growth
Step 3. Apply lotion to your skin
As much as possible make sure your skin looks healthy and shiny. First, apply moisturizer to your hands. Make sure you moisten the skin of your hands with water first. After you apply moisturizer, apply a special lotion that can give the effect of glowing skin. These lotions usually contain oil or glitter powder.
Make sure you apply only a light lotion to your skin. Don't let the lotion you use look too thick on your skin. In addition, by applying just a thin layer, the application of makeup will be easier to do
Step 4. Apply makeup
You can use the makeup as you would use it on a daily basis, or change it according to your needs. Make sure you use lipstick, mascara, and eyeshadow. Your make-up will change depending on the type of shoot you are taking. If you need to have a cheerful, fun look, you can use shadows in festive colors like yellowish green or teal. For a more serious-themed shoot, you can use darker colors, such as black or brown (colors that suit your eyes).
- Use make-up to cover or disguise any marks on your skin that you don't want to show in your photos. These signs can include moles, pimples, or scars.
- Make your cheeks more rosy and prominent by using foundation and powder. Apply foundation and powder using a soft brush so that your skin does not get irritated.
Step 5. Choose the right clothes
The clothes worn will depend on the purpose of the shoot. If you work in a modeling agency, of course you will wear the clothes prepared by your agency. The agency will usually help you put on the clothes that you must wear before taking pictures at the shooting location. If you're just doing a casual photoshoot for yourself, choose clothes that reflect what you want to express.
- You can focus on the theme of the shoot. For example, if you're doing a Christmas-themed photo shoot for a greeting card, wear a sweater, trousers, leggings, and the like. With these clothes, you can show warmth and serenity in a Christmas atmosphere. If you're doing a summer themed shoot, wear a cool shirt or sleeveless dress. Show the spirit and joy of summer through these clothes.
- In addition to focusing on the theme of the shoot, you can also focus on the atmosphere you want to show. If you want your photos to have a serious atmosphere, wear clothes in dark colors and that cover your skin. Shorts and clothes with bright colors are more suitable for photo shoots with a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
- If you need to do a full body pose, make sure you choose shoes that match the theme of the shoot.
Part 2 of 3: Learning the Art of Posing
Step 1. Keep your posture good
Keep your body straight and pose confidently, unless your photographer asks you to pose like the weird mannequins displayed in clothing store windows. If your back is straight and your shoulders are out, you will appear taller and slimmer. Also, regardless of your size, press your stomach to make your sixpack stand out more.
In an avant-garde (experimental) shoot, you may not need to show an upright posture. If you're shooting different concepts (for example, photography about rejecting the existing concept of beauty), you can try showing different postures. Your photographer may ask you to pose in strange or unusual poses
Step 2. Think about what you do or want to say
It is important that you know exactly how you position your body. In photos, you will rely a lot on nonverbal communication. Whatever pose or image you display, there is still a message that you will convey through your photos.
- As a model, you have to look natural and this is what you need to practice. The key is that you need to keep your arms and legs relaxed. Since in everyday life you don't constantly keep your legs and arms straight (not bent), don't let your legs or arms look bent (eg, bend your knees).
- Also pay attention to the effect of light displayed on your body. The more angles that result from your body position, the more shadows will appear.
Step 3. Communicate with the people around you
As a model, you will feel more comfortable if you are able to create a relationship with your photographer or stylist. Apart from making photo shoots more fun, you will also gain the confidence to express your ideas and, of course, help you seize opportunities in the world of modeling in the future.
Apart from making shooting more fun, the staff on duty will like you more. The more they like you, the more likely they are to remember you for other photoshoot projects. In addition, there is also the possibility that they will recommend you to another company or agency
Step 4. Keep the 'S' shape as you pose
When standing, keep your weight on one leg, unless your photographer tells you to pose in another pose. This way, your body will appear to form the letter 'S' naturally.
Regardless of your body shape, the shape of the letter 'S' can reflect the hourglass body shape (body shape with more pronounced curves). By pushing your hips slightly outward, you'll get the right curve. Always consider the curves and angles of the model
Step 5. Leave some space between your arms and your body
This way, the focus can shift to your waist (in a good way, of course), regardless of your waist size. If possible, make sure your arms are apart (not folded), slightly bent.
If you put your arms and legs together, you'll look like one of those nutcrackers, so your pose will seem unnatural. Therefore, always use the space that is around your body so that the resulting photo looks more alive
Step 6. Show only the side of your hand
Don't show your entire palm or the back of your hand. This pose is a classic photography pose that, until now, is still often used in photo shoots.
It is more appropriate to shoot from the side when the model is photographed from the side or a certain angle. Take a careful side-by-side shot and make sure that the line of the arm continues to extend up to the hand when the wrist is bent
Step 7. Keep practicing
Find out more about the poses of the models in the magazine, then try to imitate and practice the poses. When the next photo shoot arrives, you will feel more confident after practicing. Also, seek advice from a stylist you've worked with in the past so you know what type of posture and body position best suits your body.
As you get used to it, you'll know what aspects of your photos the staff wants to emphasize. Think of yourself as a machine that displays the beauty of the image, and find out if you want to emphasize the outfit, makeup, or feel of the photo. What can you do to make the photos more cohesive? Emphasize yourself and imagine what you can do
Part 3 of 3: Posing in a Different Way
Step 1. Experiment with different facial expressions
When your face is in focus in a photo, make sure there are several photos with a variety of facial expressions. Take photos when you are facing the camera directly, looking the other way, or with a smiling and serious expression. Also, try not to blink while the photo is being taken.
You don't have to follow the nuances of the shooting location. For example, if the weather at the shooting location is quite sunny (or there are pictures or sunlight in the background), you can still show sadness through your facial expressions. If the shooting location has a dark atmosphere with the moon property, you can still show a smile. This way, you can create a bigger dynamic and message
Step 2. Try a pose with a focus on the upper body
Your photographer might crop the photo to get a close-up shot, or you could use something to cover the lower half of the body to focus the photo on the upper half only. There are many ways you can show focus on your upper body.
- Turn around and look back, through one of your sides. Although simple, poses like this can be a charming pose.
- Show your hand and place it near your shoulder or face. However, remember to show only the outside of your hand. The outer side of your hand makes the outline of your arm appear to extend down to your hand, making your arm appear longer and slimmer.
- Slightly lean your body forward. If done correctly, this pose can make it look as if the photo was taken discreetly and accentuate your curves. Since you don't always have a body shape that can create an 'S' shape, try leaning slightly forward and with an interesting expression to make the 'S' shape more visible.
Step 3. Master the full body pose
When your whole body is in the frame, there will be many choices of poses that you can do. Ask your stylist what he wants and, from the ideas he pours out, pick a pose you can pull off.
- Turn your body slightly and put your hands in the back pockets of your pants. If your pants don't have back pockets, just position your hands as if there were pockets in your pants. This pose can also help provide space between your body and your arms.
- Lean your body against the wall. Lift your foot closest to the camera and stick it to the wall. However, don't lift your other leg. Let your outer thighs show, not your inner thighs.
- Move your hands up and down and slowly rotate them from side to side. Full-body poses are quite difficult to do and you still need to maintain your natural curves and curves. For a more sensual pose, try raising your arms above your head.
Step 4. Try posing on the ground
Just like when you pose while standing, you also have many pose options when you do it on the ground (for example, lying on the grass). In addition, poses like this may also make you feel more comfortable.
- Place your hands behind your back while lying on the ground and spread your legs apart with one leg slightly bent. Turn your head slightly to the side. With a pose like this, your body lines will create beautiful angles and shapes.
- Sit cross-legged, but raise one leg until the knee touches your chest. Hug those knees with your arms and slightly rotate your shoulders and neck. Bring your hands together in the direction of the camera.
- Sit on the ground, but sideways. Place one hand to one side of the body and support one arm with a bent knee. Place your other foot near the heel of the bent leg.
Step 5. Shoot for sexy photos
In photo shoots like this, women usually wear bikinis or underwear, and men usually wear swimsuits or only underwear. The key to sexy photos is to attract and excite the audience. Place your hands in areas that feel sensitive, such as on the chest, or on the front of the hips, near the groin.
- You need to lower your eyelids slightly as you look directly at the camera.
- Turn your head and back slightly to the left or right to show off your neckline.
- You can also emphasize certain aspects of your body. For example, male models can tone their muscles by slightly pressing their stomachs while protruding their shoulders. Female models can slightly rotate their bodies to show their breasts and buttocks. Bend your knees while arching your back slightly to make your breasts appear more prominent.
Tips
- Don't forget to breathe. While this may sound like a definite must, it's important to remember this, especially if you're feeling nervous. Don't hold your breath while the photo is being taken. When you hold your breath, the expression will reflect on the photo and make it look unnatural.
- Show your appearance as natural as possible. Of course you don't want your photos to look unnatural, with 'forced' poses or backgrounds. For example, don't do a photo shoot wearing only underwear in the middle of the forest. In addition, do not pose or position your body in poses that actually make you uncomfortable.
- Get enough sleep before shooting. You need a lot of energy for shooting. Also, of course you don't want your eye bags to be obvious in the photo.
Warning
- Be careful with overusing photo editing apps. Professional photographers often use photo-editing applications (such as Photoshop), and by using these applications, any imperfections or marks on the body that you might like (such as birthmarks or moles) can be removed.
- Look for a real photographer. Find out about the photographer you want to hire on the internet before you hire his services. Who knows he is a con artist trying to promise you a chance to work in the modeling world.
