I know what are the best angles of my face. I know what colors look good on me. One would think, being a dancer, I even know how to move. I have some pretty good action shots. But apparently, I don't know how to freeze in normal life and look humanly natural. What makes a pose look natural? Some say, "look confident", but my theory is - unless you already look confident, attempting to look confident will make you look stupid. And how can one look confident or not confident by just standing or sitting there? Any advise?
2007-09-14 22:21:58 · 10 answers · asked by Snowflake 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
Umm, I don't think my face is weird looking. LOL.
2007-09-14 22:34:33 · update #1
You're a dancer, dancers are usually confident in most of their movements. Practice those movements slow-motion style in front of a mirror. Freezeframing each move to see how it looks. Repeat your favorite ones for perfection. It's no different than when you practiced your smile or even your hair as a teenager in a mirror. Being a dancer you're very comfortable with your movements in a mirror just slow them down and stop at the right points, imagine it on a cover or in a magazine. If you are familiar with dance magazines then you are familiar with the fact that some frozen movements can look rather funny/weird/hard, etc. I used to practice being a model in the mirror, practicing being a dancer in a mirror is no different, don't let the camera make you feel awkward, look slightly past the camera like its a mere object. Concentrate on 'the mirror' whether one is there or not - the confidence is there. You don't necessarily have to "look" confident but serious about those moves just like models are serious about what they are modeling.
Practice dance in a mirror, practice dance in front of a camera, theres not much difference. No one sees the pictures unless you want them to.
2007-09-15 02:26:44 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My sister used to look really awkward in photos and then she learned how to take photos more naturally, and now every photo she takes is just beautiful! She told me it's something about being relaxed. Look at the camera like you're glancing at a good friend, if that makes sense. Be casual about it - don't "try" to do anything. And don't try to freeze your face. Just glance up, or over, or whatever, and smile like you'd be greeting a close friend or relative.
Anyway, I hope that helps! Getting in front of the camera a whole lot might also help. Have your mom or friend or someone start taking a lot of pictures of you for like a week or something, constantly, doing normal things. It sounds silly but worked for my sister. Just ask your mom to help you by taking photos quick of you while y'all go shopping or eat dinner or whatever normal stuff you're doing. At random points she can just grab the camera and say "hey, smile!" and take a quick, impromptu picture. Sounds silly but it might get you used to the camera so that in your mind it's no big deal. Hope that helps!
2007-09-15 05:38:59 · answer #2 · answered by Iris 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is all about being natural. Being relaxed. I've seen plenty of people say they don't look good in pictures. So what I used to do is to take the first roll as "relaxation" roll. I've even took 36 shots of nothing (no film) just to relax the people. Eventually people have no choice to but become natural in front of the camera (as they become used to sitting in front of the camera).
Then there are people who are not normally photogenic but yet considered "pretty" no matter what. Devon Aoki comes to mind:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Devon+Aoki&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
I just don't think she is pretty (look carefully and her face is all out of proportion). But she photographs really well. And it is because (a) she is made up (b) she is relaxed (c) she feels comfortable.
Try working in front of the large mirror. Look at poses from fashion magazines. Try to emulate them.
Know this one fact: It may look goofy in person, but that's what it takes to make the pose "look" good. I don't often do professional models. But I was one time watching a fashion model at a photoshoot and she was doing all these "goofy" poses sticking her butt out and puckering. It looked goofy when I was watching her. But they look real sexy in the pictures.
And you need a professional model who isn't going to laugh but encourage you do be your best. Don't bring family (maybe a girlfriend who won't laugh).
Good Luck.
2007-09-15 06:00:45 · answer #3 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yr right , the easiest way is to not make a face , act natural and it shows , pictures convey the moment , so if u look natural u look confident , dont try at all , just look at the camera asif its nothing but a wall
2007-09-15 05:51:57 · answer #4 · answered by likeminded 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can practice smiling in front of a mirror, trying to look natural quickly so you're ready for the camera.
2007-09-15 05:30:17 · answer #5 · answered by B. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find the best way for me is to NOT know when the picture is being taken.
2007-09-15 05:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
don't smile when someone holding the camera says 'ready'..give your big smile a second before the camera flashes.....in that way you get a fresh and true smile in your photo.
2007-09-15 05:35:28 · answer #7 · answered by jareah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take pictures your self then you'll get a feel of what posses you like best
2007-09-15 16:52:55 · answer #8 · answered by ellie.smiles 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just try not to think the person is taking the pic.
2007-09-15 11:51:50 · answer #9 · answered by little.miss.woods*comma*elle❀ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you cant try to be photogenic, some people just have a naturally weird looking face, and can't change it just for a photo.
2007-09-15 05:26:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋