HowToStrikeAPose

How to Strike a Pose.

The key to a good photo is the killer pose. The pose is what makes a model striking and a picture memorable. Read on after the jump for more details.

1. Look for inspiration. If you can do this beforehand, flip through a magazine or search the internet and see how their models are posing. If you don't have much time, look around and study your surroundings. Let them enthuse you. For example, if your taking photos outside, you may see the sky and be inspired to look up as you are being photographed. Or sit on a tree limb or in a flower garden.

2. Be photogenic, let the camera see your good side. If it's a photo shoot, ask the photographer for some advice on how to pose. If it's a casual event, look around and see what others are doing and just let it come to you.

3. Get a little creative. Start dancing around (if its appropriate at the time), or make a big doe-eyed expression. Don't limit yourself to a smile. :) :)

#HowToStrikeAPose
WARNING!!

Do not be shy. After all people are just people, people who you will probably never see again and even if you did, whats the worst that can happen? They call you stuck up? Who cares?
Don't overdo it. Make sure your pose is suitable, and won't offend anyone.
People will notice if you try too hard, and it may make you seem overly eager to please. Make it look as if it all comes naturally, even if it doesn't.

HOW TO STRIKE A POSE?

(like a model)

Looking like a model is one thing, but models don't get paid to just sit there and look pretty. Their success in the business comes down to how well they can pose and give the photographer interesting and marketable shots. Whether you want to enhance your career as a model or just be more photogenic, the following tips will help add new dimensions to your shots.

1.Slouch a little, but hold your head high. There are a few times when you'll need to throw your shoulders back for a shot, but generally, a little slouch makes your pose look natural and relaxed. That doesn't mean you should hunch over (although this will work with some high fashion shots), however. If you're standing, put uneven weight on your feet, and the leg with less weight will naturally bend a little. You'll look more comfortable and your posture will appear more natural.

Don't slouch so much, though, that it makes your stomach look bigger.

By "slouch," we mean "be natural." Most people aren't aware they're slouching when they are, so don't take your natural slouch and multiply it. Think casually, but with your head high. You want to elongate your neck as much as possible. Imagine a string holding up your forehead.

2. Be strong from head to toe. Your entire body needs to have life to it. Think of a dancer -- not a single part of her body isn't engaged while she's dancing, even if she's standing in position. No part of you should be a limp noodle!

Start by engaging your core (this will help suck you in, too) and then engage your limbs. "Strong" doesn't mean aggressive or masculine in this context -- it just means with conviction or with energy. You want to convey a feeling through the camera, after all!

3. Be asymmetrical. For a more interesting shot, make sure that you're doing something different with each side of your body. You can be dramatic and do something totally different with each of your limbs and tilt your head to the side, if it matches the feel of the shoot. Being asymmetrical can be as simple as dipping one shoulder or hip, making sure that your arms are at different heights, or bending one leg a little (or a lot) more than the other.

Remember: You're part of a picture. This photo isn't about how gosh dang pretty you are -- it's about the aestheticism of the photo. Even with the best make-up and hair in the world, if you don't create pleasing angles, the photo won't be as stellar as it could be.

4. Point your nose away from the camera. Looking at the camera straight on can work in some dramatic shots, but generally it's better to put your face at an angle, and look at the camera from that angle. Tilt your nose a little up or down, a little left or right, but keep your gaze on that camera. .

Learn which angles flatter your face the most. Do you have a great jawline? Tilt your head up and to the side a little. Experiment in front of a mirror or with your own camera to see which angles make the most interesting shots on your face.
Know which direction the light is coming from. Remember that light will cast shadows, and even if they are slight, they will affect the appearance of your face. If light is coming from the top, tilting your nose down may cause your browbone to cast a shadow over your eyes, which is good if you're going for a sinister shot, but not good if you're trying to look friendly.

5. Look everywhere. While an interesting shot can be had by looking at the camera, you have many more options if you look elsewhere. What's going on over there? Is she staring in the mirror? Does she see a leprechaun? Is she talking to the Queen of England? Everyone will want to know.

Be careful of the cliché staring-off-into-the-distance look. At best you'll look existential and at worse you'll look like you're trying to be existential by staring off into the distance. Use this gaze minimally

6. Quarter out. Kinda like that last tip just eluded to, quartering out will make you look as slim as possible. Is she facing forward? Is she facing to the side? Just how wide is her waist? NO ONE WILL KNOW. Stick to a 3/4 angle to appear the slimmest.

Going head on into anything will make you the most vulnerable and exposed (that goes for real life, too!). If you quarter out, which side is your good side? Emphasize that one for the best photo

7. Remember your hands. Possibly the most awkward part of modeling is knowing what to do with your hands. They're just there hanging awkwardly. If you stay engaged head to toe, though, hopefully you'll find poses that feel right, that make sense. The only thing you should not do, is put them around your face. Hello, bad 1980s glamour shot!

A good rule of thumb is to show the side of your hand. This creates the longest, thinnest line extending from your arm. It also avoids the are-my-hands-aging fear and the do-my-palms-look-funny worry.

Also Guys and Gals Have the "perfect smile".

There is an art to posing with a perfect smile and most good models know how to do this naturally. It is a smile that is halfway between the biggest smile you can make and no smile at all. The lips are slightly parted and only the upper teeth are showing. The smile is considered a "gentle smile." The result should look pleasant and relaxed.

Generally, smiling will lift the cheeks and narrow the eyes. So, try to relax your eyes so that the eyes are open and the whites are showing. This may take some practice in front of a mirror to isolate the different muscle groups; however, it will be worth the effort. Whether you are a model or someone just looking to improve your portraits, mastering the perfect smile can make major improvements to your shots.