5 Tips to Pose Naturally in Portraits and Headshots (Even if You Think You’re Awkward)

If the thought of being in front of a camera makes your insides feel tight, you’re in the right place. I mean, who actually likes being photographed by a stranger? If you’re like the rest of us non-model people, probably not you.

But here’s the secret no one tells you:

Posing is just… Being.

Hi! I’m Cat, a Montreal-based portrait and headshot photographer who believes there is no such thing as a non-photogenic person. I work with a range of creatives and entrepreneurs, and I believe the best portraits come out when you feel comfortable to do just that: be.

Read on to discover 5 tips that I use in every session to help people feel comfortable enough to pose seamlessly. My wish is for you to feel better prepared (excited, even!) to move forward with your portrait session.

1. Think Feeling more than Looking

Most people come into a portrait session thinking that they have to pose a certain way, find their good angle and channel their inner Kate Moss.

Here’s a crazy thought:

What if you closed your eyes for a minute and instead of trying to look like Kate Moss, you tried to feel like her. I imagine your stance might widen a little, you might stand a little taller, and breathe a little deeper.

When you feel comfortable enough to try and embody different emotions (confident, bold, calm, approachable), your body, expression and energy naturally follow.

Before your session, take a moment to reflect:

• What is your personal intention with these portraits?

• What would you like people to feel when they see them?

Those questions about the intention of posing are much more powerful than finding your absolute best angle. Leave the rest up to the photographer!

2. Heat Up the Pan (Plan Enough Time)

I’ve gotten into the habit of comparing portrait and headshot sessions to making pancakes: although it happens, you just can’t expect the first one to be perfect. 

Posing naturally needs time and warmth. It needs connection and laughter. It needs all the buttery fluff a human being needs to feel at ease.

When planning your session:

• Avoid squeezing it in between two meetings.

• Give yourself time to arrive, to chat and to feel the space.

• Trust that you, like the pancake, are allowed to have a few weird-shaped results. 

You’ll be surprised how quickly you forget about the camera once you take some of that performance pressure off.

3. Think Bottom Up (Stand or Sit like You Would Normally)

Yes, in certain cases posing means placing your body in shapes that feel silly or exaggerated. In most cases, however, I would start with how you naturally carry yourself.

Think about that:

• How do you stand when you’re waiting in line at Starbucks?

• How do you sit when you’re chatting with a friend?

Start there. Not only will the poses look good and easeful, you will also feel natural. When you think of it that way, taking photos can feel like hanging out.

4. Find your Emotional Support Object (aka Do Something with Your Hands)

Not sure what to do with your hands? Join the club. It’s like walking past someone you want to impress. Suddenly, those 20+ years of training are out the window and you feel like Donald Duck.

Although I think there’s a bit of freaking out around leaving your arms to hang, it does feel comforting to do something with them. My friend Ashley called her empty (who needs to know!) mug her emotional support object during a portrait session, and I loved it!

Anything goes:

• Hold your glasses, your jacket or your favorite book.

• Hold your opposite arm.

• Play with your hair.

• Place your hands in your pockets.

Whatever it is, holding something or moving your body is a nice way to calm your nervous system and make you feel more like yourself, resulting in natural poses.

5. Pick the Right Photographer for You

Bonus points if you saw this one coming! This tip might be the most important tip of all.

It’s kind of like singing: you can Britney the hell out of your hair brush, but if your karaoke crowd is sh***y you probably won’t nail that Hit Me Baby One More Time.

In other words, you can practice posing, and it will help. But at the end of the day, if you don’t feel emotionally safe with your photographer, it’s gonna be that much harder to look natural.

The right photographer will:

• Take the time necessary to get to know you and your dreams for this portrait session.

• Get to know your brand, if that’s the purpose.

• Make you feel held and seen.

• Help you laugh the silly faces off (seriously, we all take “bad” pictures).

So as much as we all want to take the photos and be done with it, I encourage you to take some time to see if you can connect with the person who’s gonna be holding the camera before choosing them. The rest will unfold naturally!

Final Thoughts

Looking natural in portraits isn’t about knowing which side of your nose looks better (although it can help). It’s about knowing how to feel good in your skin, and to pick someone who will help you do that.

As a portrait and headshot photographer based in Montreal, I’m ready for all of you. I love discovering people’s quirks, and I see every portrait session as a glimpse into someone else’s life. Contact me to start heating up the pan!