Posing Do’s & Don’ts That Will Level Up Your Selfie Game
Most people have taken a bad picture in their life. Thankfully, Bonnie Rodriguez Krzywicki educates people on the inner workings of what it takes to capture the perfect selfie.
From elongating the body and perfecting lighting to putting one foot in front of the other for a bit of movement, these tips are sure to bring people's selfie game to the next level.
Sitting: Elongate The Body And Place Your Feet Just So
It might be more comfortable to slouch a bit while sitting down. Sadly, it doesn't make for a great photograph.
Instead, sit up straight, elongate the torso, and put one foot in front of the other on the ground. This not only gives the body a bit more shape, but it also shows confidence and the outfit!
Show Off That Back!
It is no secret that some people feel intimidated taking a picture in a bathing suit. No longer!
If a person is sitting, all they have to do to capture a stunning photo is fix their posture. By sitting up straight and putting their hands above their head, they're elongating the torso and giving their waist more definition.
Homie Squat But With More Attitude
The homie squat is a pose that has been around for quite some time. However, Bonnie shows how to give it a different flair, showing off her body instead of looking scrunched down into a ball.
All it takes is leaning on one knee, lifting to the toes of the other foot, and giving a nice smolder.
Show Off Those Curves!
When taking a mirror selfie, Bonnie advises straying away from looking straight at the mirror.
Instead, she insists all it takes to create an amazing mirror selfie, showing off those curves, is turning about 45 degrees and placing a hand on the hip.
Get Comfortable And Creative With Your Partner
There is nothing worse than an awkward picture with one's partner, especially when they're looking for something fun and cute.
Bonnie says the key to a key couple picture is simple, get comfortable and creative!
One Hand On The Hip So Clothing Doesn't 'Wear You"
When wearing something like an oversized blazer, the article of clothing can easily swallow a person and wear them instead of the person wearing the clothing.
So this doesn't happen, ditch the hands forward pose and place one hand on the hip, pushing the blazer back a bit. It will give the waist more definition and the body some shape.
Step Forward To Capture Movement
Instead of standing with feet together, looking straight at the camera, Bonnie recommends doing something a bit different.
To capture some movement and to give the body more shape, she says to put one foot in front of the other, making it look as though a person is actually walking.
One Leg In Front Of The Other = Long Legs
Standing directly in line with the camera lens can give a person a square shape, squat legs, and not a very flattering figure.
To give the illusion of longer legs, it is as simple as placing one leg in front of the other!
Work The Clothing
Unfortunately, maxi dresses can swallow a person up. So, make the clothing work with you, not against you.
Bonnie says a great way to work a maxi dress is by utilizing a leg slit, bunching up fabric, and even twirling to show a bit of skin, movement, and flow.
Strike A Confident Pose!
While Bonnie looks stunning in both photos, the image where she is turned to the side and not looking at the camera exudes confidence in a way the other does not.
Simply by playing with her shawl and standing on her toes, the photo goes from drab to fab real quick!
A Fun Flamingo Pose To Showcase That Amazing Outfit
If a person is wearing a cute and fun outfit, why not show it off? To do so, forgo the typical face-forward square with the camera pose.
Instead, channel that inner flamingo, turn sidewise, and pop that foot! Not only does it showcase the clothing, but the pose is fun and gives the photo a breath of fresh air.
Channel That Inner Wonder Woman
Stand up straight, chin up, and put those hands on those hips to channel that inner Wonder Woman.
While this pose is technically straightforward to the camera, the confidence of the lifted chin and the definition of the waist, thanks to the hands, make the Wonder Woman pose a great option!
Angles Are Everything
Sadly, the typical pose of standing parallel with the camera results in a square body that doesn't look too flattering.
An easy fix is angling the body slightly away, putting a hand on the hip, and exuding confidence with the angle of the head and chin.
When In Doubt, Try Something Totally New
There is nothing wrong with a go-to pose. The thing is, it can oversaturate content and become boring. So, change it up!
Instead of looking forward and putting a hand on the hip, Bonnie shows a fun photo leaning against a railing. By putting her leg up and angling away from the camera, her legs look a mile long!
Don't Cover Too Much Of Your Body
Sitting poses can be a bit tricky. They have a tendency to cover way too much of the body, making a person look smaller than they probably are.
By doing something as simple as putting one leg down, Bonnie opens more space around her body, making her look more comfortable and confident.
It's All About Hand Placement
When a person sits and places their feet on the ground with their hands at their sides, it can showcase a lot of flaws.
An easy way to make a sitting picture look good is placing each hand between the legs and going on tippy-toes. The simple alteration makes the legs appear more toned and gives the photo a more casual feel.
Buckle That Coat!
Having an open coat flowing in the wind is doing nothing but asking for a person to look a bit wider in photos.
By buckling, tying, or zipping up a coat, gives the waist more definition.
There Is Nothing Wrong With Being Candid
Striking the same pose again and again with the same smile or facial expression can get a bit boring.
So, keep in mind there is nothing wrong with getting a little candid, laughing, leaning forward, or even in the middle of talking to a friend. It looks way more natural anyway!
Keep In Mind The "Golden Hour"
Knowing what poses flatter you is important when it comes to a great photo, but so is one other thing -- lighting!
A person doesn't want shadows or dark spots across their face! Keeping in mind lighting, especially during the golden hour the sun is going down, is a great way to ensure a fantastic shot. It makes a person look as though they are glowing!
Add A Little Bit Of Sass And Switch It Up
When it comes to posing for a picture, especially a selfie, there is no harm in showing a bit of sass and changing it up.
Snap a photo, see what works and what doesn't, and then think about moving an arm here, a leg there, and maybe tilting your chin in a certain direction. It's all about playing around!
Accessories Are Meant To Be Utilized
Bonnie shows that accessories aren't meant to hang limply by a person's side, around their neck, or on their body. They're meant to be utilized in a photo!
For example, instead of having a scarf bunch around her face, Bonnie whips it over her shoulder, giving the photo a bit of movement and dimension.
Get Creative When Sitting In A Chair
Next time you take a picture in a chair, don't sit normally. Bonnie shows that by placing her feet on a handrail (this also works with an ottoman or bookcase) and leaning back, her legs become that much longer.
Pro tip from the pro: throw your hands in the air to give the photo a bit of fun.
The Light Should Be In Your Face, Not Behind
While it isn't ideal since a lot of people squint when light is in their eyes, it does make for a very good picture.
Having light shining on your face gives your skin a healthy glow and doesn't shadow any features, as light shining from behind has a tendency to do.
Play With Levels And Take Up Space
When posing with a partner, switch it up from the typical standing side-by-side pose.
Instead, play with some levels and take up the space around you. It makes for a more interesting and dynamic photo.
A Squat But Extend One Leg
Bonnie seems to be the queen of all things squat-related. Here, she shows another variation of the pose, with one leg extending out in front of her.
This gives her body more dimension, shape, long legs, and even better posture!
Place That Elbow Behind The Hip
Sometimes, when placing a hand on the hip, people's bodies can look a bit distorted. To ensure there are no awkward body parts, try this little trick.
Turn sideways and place the elbow a bit behind the hip. The slight move makes a huge difference, giving the body more shape while elongating the torso and legs.
Take Over That Step
Sitting on a step is a great way to scrunch up the body. The thing is, no one wants that in a picture!
So, extend one leg and place an arm out to the side -- take over the step!
Relax Those Shoulders
Bunching up those shoulders can make a person look very tense in a photograph, something most people want to avoid.
Here is some advice for releasing tension: take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy posing for the photo. By releasing all of that pent-up tension, Bonnie looks more confident and less serious.
Make Your Own Curves
Keep her legs locked together and her arm down by her side, Bonnie's first image is kind of boring, too straight, and has no dimension.
A quick fix of popping her knee, moving her arm, and angling her chin makes all of the difference. Turning a boring photo into something more dynamic a free-moving.
Create Some Lines
For those who are a bit camera shy, there is nothing wrong with turning a bit to the side and not looking straight at the camera.
In fact, by doing so, you'll be creating lines, something that looks a lot more flattering in a photograph.