How To Make Your Prom Pictures Look Amazing
Prom pictures can be stressful! However, having a few posing tips under your belt can make all of the difference. Here are some basic tips that I use with my clients to make portraits look amazing!
The first tip is to avoid claw hands: when the hand is stretched out to look like a claw. Though it is a small change, it will make your pictures look more refined and elegant. In order to avoid this simply put your fingers together. In these pictures done during a Senior portrait session, you can see the difference in her hands and the overall look from the first picture to the second.
The next tip, specifically for group photos, is to not have your arms showing on the other side of each other. Instead, rest your hands on their back tucked away from the camera. It is also better to keep your arms lower on the back because it prevents the clothes form pulling, this is especially important to keep in mind when wearing a jacket (like on a tuxedo). Though the portraits featured below are not of prom, they are good examples of arm placement.
When taking pictures in front of a wall, if possible, step a few feet from the wall (this will prevent the "mug shot" look). Another alternative is to take the picture of the wall at an angle as shown in the portrait below.
Something we have all been conditioned to do since the rise of the selfie is to keep your chin up, however this is not flattering when the picture is being taken by another person. Since this is a habit, periodically remind yourself "chin down" and the photos will come out much better, and it will make the jawline look more defined aswell. The portraits below show the difference between when the chin is up and when it is brought down even the smallest bit.
Calling all those with long hair! Hair can be tricky in Prom pictures but not to worry, there are a few tips to follow. For hair that is down, a common distraction in pictures is fly away hair resting on top of the shoulders. To prevent this, either separate it in the back and put both sections forward or gather the hair behind your shoulders. You can also do one section in the front and one section behind, but keep in mind for whatever side of the face is towards the camera to leave that section behind as it allows more light on the face and prevents weird shadows. For the same reason, if the hair is styled to the side, have the side of the face without the hair towards the camera. Lastly, avoid putting hair behind the ears as it is less unflattering. This would also be good to periodically remember to untuck the hair because it is a habit among people with longer hair to tuck it behind the ears. In the portraits pictured below, they show the different ways to position hair whist leaving the ears covered.
A tip for a more flattering pose for women is to put the weight on the back foot. Also, point the toe of the front foot towards whoever is taking the photo, and if possible slightly bend the knee of the front leg. This keeps the majority of the weight away from the camera as it will emphasize what is closer to it.
For men, it is more flattering to stand with the weight evenly distributed between both feet and, if possible, place the feet shoulder width apart. When not sure what to do with the hands, place them in your pockets (but avoid putting them in as fists).
For Women, float the elbows out so that there is a little space between the torso and the arm which is a more flattering look.
For both Men and Women, avoid crossing your hands in front of you. It is understandable that in photos people do not know what to do with their hands so a simple solution for this would be to put your hands in your tuxedo pockets. However, it is important to note that there should not be a fist in your pocket a it looks bulky. If you decide to put your hands in your pant pockets, either solely put your thumbs in, or leave your thumbs out. If there are no pockets, which is common for most Prom dresses, hold the wrist with one hand off to the side. Another option would be to do the "wedding ring" technique: hold your ring finger as if there is a wedding ring there (this will make for a more dainty look).
In addition, give the arms a slight bend as shown below.
The last tip is to have fun and live in the moment! Prom is a special night and it goes by quickly. As you can see, Prom pictures is a stress-free experience with these posing tips. Crane Song Photography wishes you an amazing Prom!
0 Comments