Expert Advice on Posing for Perfect Photos

Building Confidence: Stephanie Yeboah’s Journey

Stephanie Yeboah spent her teenage years avoiding cameras, rarely seeing her body type in fashion magazines. As she grew, her confidence soared, leading her to become a model and author of Fattily Ever After: A Black Fat Girl’s Guide to Living Life Unapologetically. “I’m always going to be fat,” she declares, using her presence to make a statement through eye-catching poses inspired by Vogue covers.

Training Your Photogenic Skills: Insights from David Suh

David Suh, a posing coach with over 4.5 million TikTok followers, emphasizes training to be photogenic. Focus on connecting with your body and using body language to communicate effectively.

Practical Posing Tips for Better Photos

Suh and Yeboah offer techniques to feel comfortable in front of the camera:

Step 1: Choose Your Photo Vibe

“How do you want to look in your photos?”

Identify emotions you wish to convey such as power or joy. Select three words to embody during your session. This practice fosters deeper self-awareness.

Step 2: Achieving Balance

Balance is key to maintaining a pose. Suh offers exercises to enhance posture:

• Adopt a military stance to center yourself.
• Shift weight casually, as if waiting for a bus.
• Relax joints and avoid curling up to appear approachable.

Step 3: Classic Poses to Try

Explore these proven poses:

• The hand-on-hip pose: Cross your legs and place your hand at the top of your butt for an authoritative stance.
• Magazine model pose: Distort your body creatively for unique images.
• Power pose: Stand wide to create a bold presence.
• Catch-me-in-action: Introduce movement like crouching or jumping.

Step 4: Experiment with Facial Expressions

Vary facial angles to enhance portraits:

• Adjust your chin to express emotions like power or sweetness.
• Subtly cup or graze your hands around your face.
• Avoid direct camera stares by focusing on nearby objects.

Practice these techniques to improve. Posing is a skill that strengthens with time.

Feedback and Further Exploration

Suh suggests acknowledging awkward feelings as part of the exploration process. “Talk to yourself,” he advises, “and accept the foreignness to enhance your creativity.”

NPR encourages readers to share their successful photos using these tips. Send feedback to [email protected], and you might be featured on NPR.org.

The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib, with visuals by Beck Harlan.

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