How to Pose Your Hands in Photos, No More Awkwardness! | Boston Brand Photographer
What do I do with my hands?! Is prob the most common question when anyone steps in front of the camera. When we FEEL comfortable, we LOOK comfortable. There are a million things you could do with your hands, but what to do and how to make small adjustments makes all the difference between a rigid pose, and a relaxed, natural one. Here are my tried and true, most used things to do with your hands during headshots, lifestyle, or a full brand shoot:
Hold something.
Hold anything that would make sense for you to be holding. It is a misconception that incorporating props into your brand photoshoot will look staged. Subtle prop placement can show off our brand colors, hint at personality traits, or just make you look more relaxed, as if you’re not just standing there posing. We don’t have to hold up a prop in front of the camera for it to be effective or send a message. (photos of subtle props - pen, notebook, coffee, etc)
2. Show your hands.
Did you know that body language experts say that showing our hands makes us more trustworthy? It’s not always easy to use our hands and make it look natural, but often if we talk with our hands, that is the best place to start (photo of someone talking with hands). Even just a hand on your hair or under your chin can be very effective in showing a little vulnerability.
3. Lean on something
You can lean using your hands or your body. Leaning allows our body to look at ease, and if we look at ease, we will often feel that way too. Clients will often hear me say “lean forward”, which comes off as engaged and present, “I’m ready to listen to you”.
4. Hands in pockets.
Tried and true, a very simple, yet effective solution to making our whole body look and feel more relaxed.
Ultimately, the key to natural, effortless photos is to feel comfortable—and your hands play a big role in that! Try out these tips and notice how much more relaxed and confident you feel. With a little guidance, your hands will enhance your photos rather than feel like a challenge!
What does a typical day look like at a brand shoot? | Boston Photographer
As a personal branding photographer in Boston, I can help elevate your business by highlighting your values, personality, and style. As a small business owner, it's essential to have high-quality photos that showcase your brand and products. Having on-brand photos spread across your website and social media has the ability to draw in prospective clients and customers. A branding session can be anywhere from one hour to a full day. That's where a personal brand photographer comes in. We plan, we prepare, we find the perfect location, we book hair and makeup, we choose amazing on-brand outfits, but what does the day of our brand shoot actually look like?
In this blog post, we'll give you a sneak peek into the process. From scouting locations to setting up equipment and directing poses, you'll get an inside look at the steps involved in creating stunning images that capture your brand's essence. So if you're considering hiring a personal brand photographer or simply curious about what goes into a photoshoot, keep reading! Here is exactly what to expect, broken down into 6 steps:
1. If you’ve booked hair and makeup, they will arrive first, about two hours before our scheduled start time. Now is the time to communicate and show them any inspiration images, and your outfits for the photo shoot.
2. We’re here! Emily and her assistant will arrive at the time we’ve scheduled for arrival. We’ll spend about 20 minutes scouting the location and setting up lighting if necessary. Once you’re ready, we’ll go over your wardrobe and come up with a plan for which outfit to shoot in front of which backdrop. In addition, we’ll chat about the feel you want to capture in each image and how to best direct you during the shoot.
3. We’ll start shooting. During the shoot, Emily will give direction on how to pose, where to look, and what kind of energy to bring. We may try several different positions and angles until we get just the right shot. And don’t worry if you feel a little awkward at first – it’s completely normal! The important thing is to relax. You don’t need to know what to do in front of the camera, Emily will direct you, and no matter how “unphotogenic” you are, you will start to loosen up and even have fun in front of the camera… and it will show in the photos!
4. There’s no rush. Emily will have her shot list and timeline, which we’ve outlined ahead of time, with plenty of wiggle room for breaks, wardrobe mishaps, hair and makeup touchups, etc.
5. We’ll shoot a lot. A lot. Of images. We’ll stick to the shot list, but also leave a lot of room for spontaneity and creativity (after all, isn’t that why you hired us in the first place?). Headshots, lifestyle, process... We’ll also usually try to capture as much behind the scenes photo and video content as possible, we know you’ll want to post all about the day (the glam and… not-so-glam moments).
6. We may finish early. We may finish a little late. There are so many variables that contribute to our timeline - weather, lighting, comfort level, did a squirrel eat our perfectly styled prop bowl of nuts? We try to stick to our schedule, but being flexible is always a good idea.
That’s it! Of course, each shoot is different, with varying elements, but that’s the gist of the day of our photoshoot. As your Boston personal brand photographer, I will work with you to capture the feel you want in each image, directing you on how to pose and bringing an energetic vibe to your photo shoot. There's no need to worry if you feel a little awkward at first - I'll guide you through it! We'll follow our shot list and timeline, but also leave room for creativity and spontaneity. And don't forget, we'll capture behind-the-scenes moments too! Let's have some fun and create next level images for your website, social media, and promotional materials. Bottom line, if we are prepared (and we will be) it’s low pressure, and lots of fun.
