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!
