This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
Elongate Your Body While Sitting
When you take pictures while sitting, it can feel awkward because we tend to slouch, and sometimes an outfit doesn't look good while sitting. However, playing with your leg positions can change the entire photograph to make you look better.
By putting one leg forward, she shows off her outfit more and uses the opening in her jacket to make her body look longer. Instead of covering herself up, she is showing off her shoes and tights to give people a better look at what she is wearing.
Waist Transformation In One Move
Taking pictures in a bathing suit can be very intimidating. Sometimes we don't feel the most confident, and the pictures don't always turn out how we thought they would. However, changing your posture can make a world of difference.
In the left picture, she shows what it looks like to sit hunched forward, and it doesn't show off her waist. In the second photo, she is sitting up straighter, and putting her hands above her head. All that gives her more waist definition even while sitting.
Show Off Your Swimsuit And Feel Confident
When you buy a new swimsuit that makes you feel confident, you probably want to show it off. The swimsuit she is showing has big graphics, but when she is sitting normally, you can't really see all the cool geometric shapes.
When she is on her knees, you can see all the different shapes and how the bathing suit hugs her curves. While in the second photo you can still see her confidence once she changed her pose.
Squatting Never Looked So Good
While it might seem strange to squat for a photo, there are ways to make it look more flattering. Although it scrunches your body down, squatting in a picture can give you a cool shape and add a creative twist rather than standing to pose.
Instead of squatting straight towards the camera, try leaning on one knee and moving onto your toes with the other leg. It looks casual but still relaxed without trying too hard. It is the perfect way to show off a new pair of sneakers like hers.
Show Off Your Curves
While some people feel comfortable standing straight towards the camera, others might feel like it doesn't do anything for their bodies. If you are trying to spice up your mirror selfies, try this posing hack to show off your curves.
Instead of standing straight towards the mirror, turn about 45 degrees and put your hand on your hip. Even if you don't have noticeable curves, it gives the eye a path to follow and creates the illusion of curves.
Get Comfortable With Your Partner
Sometimes, couple photos can seem forced or feel awkward to take. However, you should feel comfortable with your partner, and there are ways to show that in a picture. One way could be lying down on the couch and starring into each other's eyes.
One rule of thumb that Bonnie says to follow is to create triangles with your body. In this case, she is making a triangle with her legs, which elongates her body even while lying down. The second photo also shows their connection more.
Show Off Your Waist By Placing Your Hand On Your Hip
Over-sized blazers made a big fashion comeback last year, and they are a staple in our closets. However, they can sometimes look like they are swallowing us up in pictures. There is actually a simple way to take photos in the blazer without losing your shape.
When people stand straight-forward in photos, they naturally put their hands forward. Instead, try placing one hand on your hip inside the blazer to show off your waist. It no longer looks like the blazer is wearing her, and you can see more of the outfit.
A Step Forward Can Capture More Movement
While some of us have never thought this much about our pictures, these slight movements can really change the vibe in any photograph. The first photo is flat with no activity, and our eyes automatically look at the strange hand placement.
In the second photo, she took a step forward and a step back to capture her movement in the picture. She is also slightly off-center, which gives the illusion of her walking as well. She also looks much more confident in the second picture.
Putting One Leg Forward Gives Your Body More Shape
While we can't stop staring at this Cher-inspired outfit from Clueless, we noticed how much more flattering it looks in the second photo. The first photo makes her look very square, and it shortens her legs.
Instead of standing with your legs locked, put one leg in front of the other because it not only creates a curve in your body but also elongates your legs to make you seem taller. You can immediately see the change in how much longer her leg looks.
Take Advantage Of The Dress You Are Wearing
Maxi dresses are great for many different occasions and seasons; however, they can make you feel like you are drowning in the fabric when you take a photo. Instead, take advantage of the dress you are wearing like this one.
The dress alone is beautiful, but we can't see anything that makes us say, "wow!" If your maxi dress has a slit, show off a little leg to give more definition to your body. A little more skin also makes the picture more appealing.
From Lost To Diva In One Movement
While there is nothing terribly wrong with the first picture, she just looks a bit lost and bored. It probably feels more natural to stand like in the first photo, but the second one makes her look longer and more confident.
By standing on her toes and throwing the shall behind her, it makes it look like she is floating. This is such an easy pose that anyone can master because it is just standing on your tippy-toes and turning sideways from the camera.
A Flamingo Pose Can Show Off More Of Your Outfit
When you stand straight towards the camera, you might miss some of the cute details in your outfit. Instead, try the flamingo pose by popping one leg up and turning to the side slightly. This way you can show off your shoes too.
Popping your foot up also gives a playful sense to the picture and makes it feel like you are having fun taking the pictures rather than feeling uncomfortable in front of the lens. It also creates the triangle that should be in well-posed pictures.
When In Doubt Pose Like Wonder Woman
If there is anything we can learn from Wonder Woman, it is her pure sense of confidence and girl power. Therefore, when you can't think of a cute pose for a picture, just stand like Wonder Woman, and you will instantly feel more confident.
She also lifted her chin to make her seem more confident. Can you see the difference? Even though she isn't showing off more skin or angling her body, she is still defining her waist with her hands, and she looks like a boss babe.
What's On Your Camera Roll Vs. The Picture Posted To Instagram
When your boyfriend takes a photo of you versus when your friend takes the picture. The lighting and pose are off in the first picture because her eyes are closed, you can't see her face, and the light draws your eye to the dock instead of her face.
You can see her cute bathing suit in the improved photo, her curves, and the light is drawing the focus to her instead of the boat. When taking photos, lighting is everything because it can make a picture so much better.
A Creative Twist On The Group Beach Picture
While it's a little hard to tell that they are spelling out "Love," it does show a different twist on the typical group picture. The first picture is nice, but we have seen it before. The bottom photo gives a slight nod to back in the late 2000s when we were all about peace, love, and happiness.
If you are going to recreate this picture with your friends, see if the letters look correct when you snap the photograph. The only downside is that you can't see your friend's faces when looking back on these memories.
Instead Of Looking Like A Square, Angle Your Body For A Different Shape
When taking pictures, finding the right angle to capture an outfit isn't always easy. If you aren't sure what to do, an easy default is turning 45 degrees, putting your hand on your hip, and putting one leg in front of the other.
You can instantly see the confidence shift in her face and posture once she made those minor adjustments. You don't have to be a professional model to master a simple pose like this one.
Get Out Of The Repetitive Poses And Try Something New
While having a go-to pose is good when you are trying to take a quick picture, sometimes it's fun to spice things up and add a little flair to your photos. Instead of posing with your hand on your hip, try out this one when the location is right.
She decided to lean against the railing and put her foot up as well. The angle makes her legs look longer, and it seems like someone candidly snapped a photo of her rather than it feeling too posed.
Avoid Covering Your Body
When you take a photo while sitting, it is better not to cover up your body because it makes you look all scrunched up. Although it is a triangular pose, her body language seems insecure and uncomfortable.
In the second photo, she created a more open pose with a double triangle shape, and she looks much more confident. It also seems more relaxed than the first pose like she is comfortable taking pictures.
Create A Steamy Effect By Rubbing A Bar Of Soap On The Shower Glass
Have you ever tried to take a sultry picture in the shower, but it just didn't have the exact effect you wanted? While these might not be the pictures you are posting on social media, it's always nice to make yourself feel confident with a steamy photoshoot.
There is actually a trick to get that desired steamy effect on the shower door. All you need to do is rub a bar of soap on the glass, and it will help keep the beads of water on the glass. It adds that extra detail to the photo to give it an even more sultry look.
Show Off Your Legs With Confidence
When we take pictures while sitting, it can sometimes make us hyperfocused on all of our flaws. We look at how we are sitting, if we are sitting up straight enough, and how our body looks in this position. However, this one simple trick can change those awkward sitting pictures.
Instead of leaving your arms at your sides, try putting resting them on the inside of your thighs. Also, to give your legs an instant toned look, go on your tippy-toes. It might seem weird to do while your sitting, but the photo will look so much better.
Spice Up Your Couple Photos
Although standing next to your partner for a photo is a default pose, it can sometimes look boring or forced. Instead of always wrapping your arms around each other, try playing with different poses in photos like this one.
To keep your poses interesting, try sitting while your partner stands. It gives the photo different levels and makes the regular picture more exciting. You can also have fun with it and try different variations.
Define Your Waist With A Belted Coat
One of the latest trends for spring and fall is a classic trench coat. It has been a timeless piece, but it doesn't always look good in photographs. Fortunately, there is a way to show off your curves and the fabulous coat just by belting it.
When you tie the coat at your waist or belt it, you can see your curves more because the shape is more defined. When you wear it open in a picture, it makes anyone look visually wider. So grab that fabulous coat and show off that body-ody-ody.
Let Yourself Be Candid
It's safe to say that taking pictures isn't the most natural thing to do for most people. Unless you were born to model, it can sometimes feel awkward standing in front of the camera lens, especially with your partner.
While it is normal to feel nervous, let yourself be candid. It's ok not to pose all the time because the photos will turn out more natural when you are just having fun. It also helps to make each other laugh because capturing those memories is more special than any other kind of photo.
Lighting Is Everything
Have you ever seen a behind-the-scenes look of a professional photoshoot? Whether it's in the studio or outside, they have devices to make the lighting look perfect all the time because bad lighting can ruin a photo.
When you have someone take your picture, just remember to check the lighting because shadows can make you look different. The best time to take photos is during "golden hour" because the sun is going down, and it makes you look like you are glowing.
Add A Bit Of Sass And Slay Those Selfies
Taking photos for social media or just for yourself should be fun. When you start snapping those mirror selfies, don't forget to add a little bit of attitude. Be your sassy self, and show that off to the camera.
Instead of hunching over, try turning your body in different ways and changing up your leg positions. In this one, she demonstrated an alternative to looking straight at the camera, but it still looks natural.
Use Your Accessories To Create Movement
Do you ever feel like you always do the same pose in every picture? We tend to rely on our normal poses because they feel comfortable and have looked cute in previous pictures. However, why not try something a bit different to change up your feed.
If you have accessories like a scarf on, try playing with movement in your pictures. Throw the scarf over your shoulder to capture the action and make it look like a more exciting picture. It also gives the opportunity to show off those cute accessories.
When Sitting In A Chair, You Can Still Look Elongated
Have you ever wanted to show off your cute weekend lounge outfit, but the pose never does it justice? Well, Bonnie has the perfect weekend pose that you have been missing, and it gives us those weekend relaxation vibes.
Instead of sitting in a chair like a normal person, try propping your legs up on the railing on a balcony and sitting back into your chair. All you need is a glass of wine in your hand, and you are ready to share this weekend post with all your followers.
Make Sure The Light Is Shining On Your Face When You Take A Selfie
Have you ever taken a selfie, and you look really good in it, but the lighting is bad? The key to a great selfie is good lighting, and the best lighting is natural light. Try standing in front of a window to get those rays of sunshine on your face instead of having the light behind you.
Another trick influencers use to get good lighting is a ring light. It makes you look flawless no matter what time of day it is, and you can always have perfect lighting with one of those.
Experiment With Different Levels
When you take a picture with someone else, it might be hard to find a pose where you both feel comfortable. Instead of standing next to each other, try playing with different levels to make the picture more dynamic.
They look like models straight out of a fashion magazine in the second photo, and they are making better use of the space around them. It adds a different feel to the photo and makes it seem more professional.
Add Different Patterns And Fabrics For A Unique Fall Look
While wearing mostly black is a go-to for us, the fall season is a great time to experiment with different fashion styles. While there is nothing wrong with the first outfit, the second one pops better in this space, and it could be things you already have in your closet.
Try combining and layering things you wouldn't normally put together. Whatever season it may be, don't be afraid to try out different outfits. As long as you are confident in your outfit, it is going to look good on you.
Put One Leg Forward When Squatting For A Better Shape
Like she has demonstrated in other photos, squatting can be a cool way to change up your regular posing style, but knowing how to squat is essential. In the left image, she shows the way most people would get low because it seems the most natural.
Instead of squatting like normal, try putting one leg in front of the other, like she is doing in the right picture. It makes her legs look longer, and her posture elongates her torso instead of being scrunched into a ball.
Placing An Elbow In A Weird Position Can Cause Distortion
While it may be hard to spot the difference in these photos, she switched something that made her look a little more natural. Sometimes placing a hand on our hip can be an easy way to do something with our hands, but there are better ways to place it without looking weird.
By moving her elbow behind her, it created a better shape with her body that didn't distort her figure. She also put her other hand on her head to show different angles, and it draws the eye to a certain point.
Instead Of Scrunching Up, Take Over The Space
In the first photo, her legs are tucked into her body, making her look timid and uncomfortable. Her body language is less-flattering because she looks nervous, and it hides her whole outfit.
By opening herself up, you can now see her dress, and her whole body is elongated. You can also see that she looks more confident in the second photo. Therefore, when you take a photo, try opening yourself up instead of tucking into a ball.
Create Levels By Placing One Leg Forward
Something that Bonnie always talks about in her photo tips is creating different levels and angles. On the left, her body language is closed off, and she looks uncomfortable. However, in the second photo, she made some minor adjustments that made the picture better.
By putting one leg in front of the other, she created different levels for the eye to look at. It makes her legs look longer, and you can easily try this too. She opened up her body, making her elongated so that she really becomes the focal point of the picture.
Try Relaxing Your Shoulders When Sitting
When we don't feel fully comfortable in front of the camera, we tend to generate pressure in our arms. Whether we are sticking them at our sides or placing them in an uncomfortable position tends to make the picture look forced.
So what is the solution? Try taking a deep breath and relax. It's just a picture, so it shouldn't be that serious. By eliminating pressure in our arms, we look more elegant and secure. It's such a simple and easy fix to make the photo look even better.
Step Back To Add Rhythm
Remember those awkward first day of school pictures you took as children? What if we took those photos and elevated them to look like the adult version of back-to-school season, even when you are just headed to your first day of a new job?
In the first photo, she isn't showing off her backpack or style. However, with the second pose, she is creating movement, and you can see all the details of her look. It also seems like she is the center of attention in the second photo instead of being swallowed by the background.
If You Are Camera Shy, Turn Away From The Camera
It's always fun to play with different angles when taking a photo, especially for bathing suit pictures. Some of us are more camera shy than others, and there are ways to make you feel less uncomfortable.
If you feel camera-shy, try turning away from the lens so it doesn't feel like someone is really taking your picture. She also changed the angle, and it now shows more of the background as well.
Make Curves For A Dynamic Appeal
One of the main goals with camera posing is to make curves with your body that give you a more dynamic and attractive appeal. Instead of locking your legs together and holding your arms tight to your side, try relaxing your body a little.
By popping one knee forward and moving her arm forward, she created better curves. She looks more relaxed and natural in the second picture because it is a pose you would do when you aren't thinking about the camera.
A Smile Can Go A Long Way
If you are wearing something baggy like a robe, it can swallow you up in pictures. This yellow robe looks comfortable, but in the left photo, she just looks like a ball of fabric because there are no curves in the picture.
Instead, try moving your body to create a curve for people to follow. She moved her elbow back and made her hip pop so that you can follow the line from her head to her toes. Her smile exudes confidence in the second picture, and the robe is no longer wearing her.
If You Feel Uncomfortable, Turn Side Ways To Create Lines With Your Body
Some days, we don't always feel our best. If you are feeling bloated, we understand the feeling, and there are ways to make you feel better in front of the camera. It's best to avoid frontal photos and turn to the side instead.
By angling your body, you create lines, and it is much more flattering than standing straight on. While she looks good in both pictures, she seems more at ease in the second picture.