Why Most People Feel They "Don't Take Good Photos"
The vast majority of people who feel uncomfortable or awkward in photos have never been taught how to work with a camera. Professional models and actors spend years learning to be photographed — and even they have off days. The good news is that most of the improvements in how you photograph come from a handful of simple, learnable adjustments to posture, expression, and mindset.
These tips work equally well for professional headshots, wedding portraits, family sessions, and any other context where you want to look and feel your best in front of a camera.
Posture: The Single Biggest Lever
Good posture dramatically improves portrait photos. Most people, when asked to "pose" for a photo, stand stiffly, square-on to the camera, and immediately look uncomfortable. Instead:
- Stand at a slight angle to the camera — turning your body 10–20 degrees creates depth and looks more natural than a dead-on stance
- Extend your neck slightly and tilt your chin down just a touch — this sharpens the jawline and prevents the camera-from-below double chin effect
- Relax your shoulders down and back — tension in the shoulders reads as anxiety in a photo
- Shift your weight slightly — standing with equal weight on both feet looks rigid; a slight weight shift creates a more natural, relaxed look
- Keep your arms slightly away from your body — arms pressed flat against sides flatten and widen them in photos
Eyes: Where Your Portrait Lives
In portrait photography, the eyes are everything. Viewers look at the eyes first, and the emotional quality of the eyes determines whether a photo feels alive or flat. A few techniques:
- Look just slightly above the lens — not into the lens itself, but just above it. This creates a more flattering eye angle and often results in a warmer, more open expression.
- Squint your eyes very slightly — Tyra Banks famously called this "smizing." A very slight squint creates warmth and expression that wide-open eyes often lack.
- Blink and reset before shots — blinking away photo anxiety and starting with fresh eyes helps prevent the glazed look of someone staring at a lens.
- Think about something genuine — imagine something you love, something that makes you laugh, or someone you're happy to see. Genuine emotion registers in the eyes before it shows in the mouth.
Photographer's tip: Tell your photographer something that genuinely makes you laugh — a story, a ridiculous memory. The expression right after real laughter settles is often the most natural and flattering you'll produce in a session.
What to Do With Your Hands
Hands are the second most photographed part of a portrait after the face — and the thing people feel most awkward about. A few guidelines:
- Avoid clenched fists — they read as tension and aggression
- Lightly resting one hand on the other, or one hand touching the face or jaw, looks natural and intentional
- Keep fingers gently curved rather than straight and stiff
- For business portraits: clasped hands in front of you (standing or seated) is classic and appropriate
- Let your photographer direct your hands — most experienced portrait photographers have specific go-to hand positions that work well for their style
Facial Expression: The Goldilocks Problem
The challenge with expressions in portraits is that they need to be natural — but "natural" is hard to achieve when you're consciously thinking about your face. The two common failure modes are:
- Too serious — the "blank stare" that reads as unfriendly or unapproachable
- Over-smiling — a forced grin that doesn't reach the eyes and reads as performative
The solution is usually to work toward a genuine expression rather than manufacturing one. Engage with your photographer in actual conversation during the shoot. The more you're genuinely responding to a real interaction, the more natural your expressions will be.
Practical Preparation Before Your Session
- Get enough sleep — fatigue shows around the eyes more than almost anywhere else
- Moisturize your face the evening before (not morning of — fresh moisturizer can look shiny)
- Wear comfortable clothing that fits well and feels "like you"
- Do a light workout if that helps you feel energized and confident — but allow time to cool down before the shoot
- Arrive a few minutes early to decompress rather than rushing in stressed
- Communicate openly with your photographer about what you're self-conscious about — they can work with and around specific concerns
Finding the Right Portrait Photographer
A great portrait photographer does half the work of making you look great — through their lighting, direction, and ability to create a comfortable environment. Browse portrait photographers on ProShoot and look for consistent, natural-looking results in their portfolio. When subjects in a photographer's work look genuinely comfortable and expressive, that's a sign of a photographer who can bring out the best in their subjects.