There’s lots to be excited for during the holiday season – the food, the festive décor, the family gatherings. But what a lot of us don’t care for is the absurd amount of photo-taking that can come with it. Who wants their post-turkey glow documented for years to come? Definitely not I. The good thing is, there are tons of hacks you can leverage this holiday season to help the photo taking become a little less painful. We want you looking your best after all! Check out the tips below.
1. Know Your Good Side
The first thing you’re going to want to do is know your angles. Everyone has a good side (unless you’re Gisele Bündchen, then every angle is a good angle)! It’s definitely worth taking some time and figuring out what poses and angles make you feel your best.
2. Take Photos From a High Angle
If your family members are anything like mine, they aren’t winning any international photography awards any time soon. A quick fix you can suggest when someone is trying to capture a photo is to take the picture from a higher angle. This will help make your photos look more eye-catching and flattering for anyone who is sitting down. This would be a great suggestion for those gift-opening candid pictures we know mom’s all love to take.
3. Make Triangles
Creating triangles with your body will help your poses feel less staged and awkward – trust us. Since the triangle creates a visual interest, it keeps your eye moving around the photo as a whole. This is a must-try to level-up your selfie game this holiday season.
4. Keep Open Space Above Your Head
We know that capturing a picture around this time of year generally results in snapping quick pics but try slowing down and really focus on what you’re capturing in the photo. While how you look is important, often times we forget to look at the photo as a whole which can compromise the quality of the photo. Aim for keeping space above your head and whatever you do, try and keep the ground out of the frame.
5. Choose the Right Lighting
The right lighting can be essential to nailing the perfect photo. Although you may be tempted to stand right in the sun, overcast and clouds are actually the optimal photo-taking light. Even when you’re indoors, standing directly under light will not do you any favours. The key is to leverage any natural light you can find from windows.
6. Roll Your Shoulders Back
You’ll want to look as relaxed as possible in photos. One of the best ways to achieve this is to take a deep breath, relax, and roll your shoulders back. This is an instant confidence booster!
7. Occupy Your Hands
Trying to figure out what to do with your hands/arms in photos is always a struggle since they can enhance the nervousness or awkwardness you may feel. But don’t worry, we got you! Pretend you’re holding a cup of coffee or purse. You can also touch your face or hair if you feel confident enough.
8. Practice Makes Perfect!
Posing for pictures can certainly be an art. Trying to find your most flattering poses and smiles can be challenging, so if you want to become more photogenic, you’ll need to practice. Whether that’s in front of a mirror or even a camera, it’ll help you determine which poses you can easily recreate a moment’s notice and look flawless.
