5 Ways to Pose More Naturally for Your Senior Photos

Anyone who hasn’t been in front of a professional camera before or simply doesn’t like photos can end up looking a bit stiff when posing.

It’s completely natural to feel nervous before your senior photoshoot, but you still want your images to look natural and highlight your personality and style.

Here are a few ways that you can pose more naturally and enjoy your upcoming session.

1. Keep It Light-Hearted

One way to feel more relaxed throughout your session is to talk to your photographer. Get comfortable, be a little silly, and have some fun. The result is photos that look more authentic. Your photographer is there to get to know you and make sure you enjoy yourself. If you haven’t found a photographer yet, make sure you choose someone you feel comfortable with.

2. Lean Back Slightly

This is a very slight lean and should be done from your waist. This minor movement stops your body from tensing, making you look more natural in your photos. Yes, it’s going to feel weird at first but don’t overthink it.

3. Lean Into the Frame

Another way to make your poses more natural is to lean into the frame. Again, this needs to be very slight, almost as if you’re leaning in to listen to someone telling a story. If you had to try doing this right now, you would immediately see how your posture and demeanor changes.

4. Keep Your Hands Busy

It’s only until you’re standing in front of a camera that you realize your arms and hands aren’t doing anything. To stop your poses from becoming awkward, keep your hands busy. Place your hands in your pockets, twirl a finger around a lock of hair, or use some props. What you do with your hands depends on the photo style and story you’ve decided on.

5. Get Moving

Not every photo needs to be posed, you also have the freedom to move around and have some fun. Walk, spin, laugh, lay on the grass, do whatever makes you feel most like yourself. If you’re not sure what to do, ask your photographer for some guidance – they are there to help.

It’s important not to overthink your session. When you get too nervous about doing the right thing, the anxiety will automatically affect how you look in your photos. Do something that will help you feel more relaxed before your session and let your photographer help you with the rest.