We’ve all been there. Once you notice you have hands while being photographed, you can’t un-notice that you have hands. Then, all you’re thinking about is your hands and why it feels weird to just let them do nothing. The phrase “ act natural” is running through your head, but the practice of that phrase just goes right out the window.
Don’t worry, I’m here to help.
Hopefully, your photographer in any case will help you through posing. I know not all photographers do, though. Or maybe, you just want to OWN that photoshoot and loose the awkward “ hand panic.” I get it.
Here are 5 tips to make your “hand thoughts” disappear.
Use Your
Surroundings
Tip #1
When in doubt, touch stuff.
Touch the walls, the grass, a tree, that leaf, whatever you can get your hands on! This may seem like a simple tip, and that’s because it is. It can make a great photo 9/10 times, so just feel around! If you can, you can try grabbing and picking stuff up also. Stuff like a big leaf or a pretty flower, the world is your oyster.
Never forget your environment, it can be a useful tool to giving your hands a purpose!
Play With
Your Hair
Tip #2
Simple Elegance. Even if you have short hair, running your fingers through can just add a little pzaz to any situation. It really is the secret weapon. You can do a whole photoshoot of just doing different things with your hands through your hair and every photo will have the potential to be interesting and different.
Whether you run your fingers from root to ends, you throw it around, or you act like your washing your hair, it’s always worth giving a shot when you run out of walls and flowers to grab.
Use Your
Outfit
Tip #3
Use what you have on your body! There are numerous clothing options that will give you things to play around with during your shoot. For example : Hats. Pictured above is a model I shot who used her hat to her advantage with hand placement.
Removable props can be great. Things like glasses, sun glasses, hats necklaces, bracelets, etc. can all be the focus of keeping your hands busy by touching, holding, or grabbing them. Alternately, you can grab the collar of a sweater, the bottom hem of a T-shirt, or the belt loops on your pants. You can put your hands in jacket and jean pockets, or you can fling out soft fabrics like dresses or cardigans with your hands, also. The possibilities are really endless!
You Always
Have Yourself
Tip #4
I know what you’re thinking, “ Okay, sure. But what if you’re bald, butt naked, and in a huge vast of emptiness?” No worries! Because, you always have yourself! Even without hair, or clothes, or environment there are still plenty of places on your own body to place your hands.
Some examples: Touch your face, hug yourself, loosely cross your arms , uses one hand to grab the opposite arm, touch your neck, when sitting touch your legs, etc. Play around with the idea of having nothing but your own body. You don’t have to let your arms just hang there limply, don’t think to hard about it and just move around!
Practice In
The Mirror
Tip #5
Before you go on your photoshoot, put on the planned outfit for your photos and look at your fine self in the mirror. Think of the center of the mirror as the camera, and start moving. Look at how your body/ face looks when you twist certain ways, when you move your head up down and around, and when you make certain expressions . Most importantly look at how it looks to put your hands in different locations. Nothing you can do with your hands in necessarily wrong, so try EVERYTHING that has been mentioned and then some!
If you like how you look in your mirror you’ll love how you look in professional photographs doing the same things! This practice will help you gain confidence in your movements during the day of the shoot!
Remember: Don’t Think Too Hard About It.
And Always HAVE FUN!!