Do you ever wish you felt less awkward in front of the camera? Does your body tense up and your thoughts go blank when you think about where to put your hands? Keep reading to find 3 simple tips to feel less awkward in front of the camera and some poses you can practice right now!
Imagine this: you are at the beach or at lunch with your friend, and your friend tells you that you look so cute and they want to take a pic of you. You look over and suddenly you don’t know where to put your hands and you’re wondering if you’re tilting your head just the right amount to get your good angle in.
I get it, posing in front of the camera can be an awkward experience! From hand placement to posing, there’s a lot to consider when the camera shutter clicks. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be awkward and it can be as easy as 1, 2, 3.
You Need to Ask Yourself Why You Want to Look Confident in Front of the Camera
Here’s the thing, in order to get comfortable in front of the camera and be photo-ready every time, it needs to start with confidence and a little preparation.
Unfortunately, so many people don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera because it isn’t something they do all the time. Do you remember the first time you started doing something? I remember the first time I rode a bike. I was terrified of falling and bruising my knees.
My fear was coming from a place of doubt and inexperience. The awkwardness you feel in front of the camera can share those same feelings. However, with some practice and these 3 simple tips to look less awkward in front of the camera, you will be camera confident in no time!
Practice Positive Self-Talk
When I would scroll through magazines and Instagram, I would look at models and think, “Wow, it must be nice to look that good so effortlessly. I could never do that.” I would sigh at myself and put my head down in shame with how uncomfortable I felt with myself.
That way of thinking was causing me to inadvertently put myself down. I was making myself smaller because I saw myself and my abilities as small.
Reframe Your Thinking
Beauty is subjective and the only opinion you will ever need in order to feel confident in front of the camera was your own! I didn’t need to hold myself to an obscure standard based on what I saw on the internet.
Instead of thinking, “I could never do that,” I switched my thinking to, “I can do that too.” Remember, another person’s beauty does not replace your own.
I know what you’re thinking, “that sounds great and all, but how exactly am I supposed to do that? This isn’t going to be another self-help article on ‘believing’ in myself is it?”
By practicing positive self-talk, you build confidence and create a stronger relationship with yourself. Allow your beauty to show from the inside out.
There are also a number of benefits to positive self-talk! You can find some benefits from Healthline here.
If you are interested in an article on how you can speak to yourself more positively, let me know in the comments! Or drop me a note on Instagram @soyleaf.
Seek Inspiration From Poses You Like in Advance
Seeing the beautiful models in magazines and on the internet then became my source of inspiration to learn how they pose. While beauty and art are subjective, there are a few technical things you can follow to look more natural and poised in front of the camera.
I save posts on Instagram and create boards on Pinterest to reference poses and shoots I like. Seeing how others do it help me get a sense of what works for me and the looks I want to achieve.
Don’t have time to look at poses right now? I got you, here are two super easy poses you can practice right now:
Put Your Best Foot Forward (Literally)
For full-body and outfit shots, I like to take some photos with one foot in front of the other. Usually, my front foot is pointing towards the camera. This pose makes my body appear longer and adds dimension to the photo. By adding more shape within the frame, the photos look more interesting and the subject (i.e. model in frame) doesn’t appear flat in the photo.
Make Triangles with Your Body
If you are not sure what to do with your hands, then see how you can make triangles with your body. Triangles also add dimension to the photo and overall can catch the eye to look more interesting.
When I pose for a full-body photo, I try to put my hands on my hips or belt-line to make triangles with my arms. Making triangles with your arms also works for upper body photos and sitting down photos.
Practice in Front of the Mirror
Now that you’ve got your poses saved in advance, it’s time to strut your stuff! The quickest way to get comfortable in front of a camera and other people is to get comfortable with yourself first; this is where the practice comes in.
Set Time Aside This Week To Practice That Pose
Confidence is earned through consistent practice and intentional effort. In order to get clarity on your camera confidence, you need to set time aside to practice the poses you like and master the angles you feel most comfortable in.
I suggest choosing 2 poses you really like and committing at least 30 minutes this week to understand why the pose works for you and mimicking those poses in front of the mirror. Pay attention to the subject’s hand placement and how their body and head are angled. Remember that those poses are a guide, so feel free to adjust with what makes you feel most comfortable. Listen to how your body responds to the poses and approach the practice with kindness and curiosity.
Get Ready For Your Close Up
Like any new practice, posing in front of the camera can feel uncomfortable and awkward. There are a lot of steps to consider and a lot of elements to account for before the shutter clicks. However, by cultivating a stronger relationship with yourself, seeking poses that inspire you, and practicing those poses in front of the mirror, you will be ready in front of the camera in no time! Need extra help? Find me on Instagram to read more topics on body positivity, confidence, and photography.
Remember, you got this.
Always,
Mary
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