The funny thing about photography is there’s SO much more that goes into getting a great photo than the gear you use, the settings you choose, or the light you’re working with.

No matter how technically perfect a photograph is, it just doesn’t look good if the people in the photo look stiff, awkward or uncomfortable, right?

Our clients trust us to make them look their very best on camera, and there’s a lot of strategy that goes into helping regular people look comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.

Amy has a background in competitive dance, which gave us a “leg up” (so to speak) in the posing department.

One thing that’s true in both dance and photography is that small changes in the way somebody holds their body can make a huge difference.

Whether you’re a professional who’s taking images of paying clients or a hobbyist who’s taking taking photos of your family and friends for fun, this SIMPLE posing trick will instantly make your photos look warmer and more comfortable.

As we always tell our Posing Course students, one of our most important posing goals is to make sure our subjects look comfortable and close.

(That’s always a little easier when we’re posing more editorially.)

But what about traditional (look at the camera and smile) portraits?

The photos of two people just looking at the camera and smiling are the photos that every client wants for…

– Updated profile pics
– Frames in their home
– Save-the-dates
– Christmas cards
– Thank you notes
– Hanging on the wall

But these traditional portraits are the photos that can also look the most stiff.

So here’s a super simple posing tip that can make a big difference.

Instruct Them to Touch (or Tilt) Their Heads Together

Most people instinctively do the opposite of touching their heads together. Instead, they usually leave a lot of space between their heads, like this. This portrait is okay, but it’s not as warm as it could be.

If you scroll through your phone right now or flip through a family photo album, you’ll probably find lots of examples where you (or others) left space between your heads.

This space between a couple’s heads immediately makes a portrait look a lot less warm, even when the couple really loves each other!

Amy still has to remind Jordan every time we take photos to bring our heads closer together — and we teach this stuff for a living!

So if you’ve ever posed that way, just know that you’re not alone!

But look how much warmer and more comfortable it looks when their heads are touching!

As photographers, and just as humans in general, we recognize that the closer two people are in a photograph, the more close and intimate it feels.

Right?

So, when we’re taking portraits of people in love (couples) or who love each other (family or friends) we like to take an extra second to get their heads closer together so the warmth they have for each other is translated in the image.

We just love how much warmer this easy posing trick makes the photo feel!

So, the next time you’re taking someone else’s picture — or someone is taking a picture of you — whether it’s a professional camera or your phone, use this quick posing trick to get a warmer, more comfortable looking portrait.

FREE POSING CLASS

Want more FREE posing secrets? We have a free online posing training just for you! Click here to learn how to pose with confidence and make every client look their best!