It’s funny really - that the make or break part of your photo really comes down to what your hands are doing.

And you will ask your photographer (preferably ME ::grin::) — “what should I do with my hands?”

Here’s the real answer — relax.  Once you relax your hands will naturally start doing the things they do when you aren’t getting your photograph taken…essentially…being natural.

But.  If that sounds like “Oh whatver Tam, easier said than done” — here are a couple of things to think about:

Hold something.  Go back to my original post about props to see what I’m talking about.  If you’re holding something you’re not thinking about your hands.  They have a job to do and they do it.  Easy.  Natural.  Comfortable.

Lean on something.

Thumbs in your front pockets.  A favorite of mine because it naturally relaxes your body and pulls your shoulders down.

Shake your hands out then try again.  If you’re feeling stiff, “shake it out” works great.

Hide them.  Put them in your back pockets or lean against them.  Don’t show them at all.

Look at magazines.  Look at what models are doing with their hands.  You’ll start to see a pattern in what they do — copy it.  It works.

When I photographed Riley — she was so natural at posing that she settled into poses as if she did it every single day.  Look at her picture below.  See how she’s using the “lean against something and hold something” techniques..in the SAME pose?

How you pose your hands shouldn’t be stressful.  Use these suggestions — they work.  And most importantly have FUN!

And call me if you’re even THINKING of having your senior pics done at Light Crayon.  It’s getting late and I’m almost booked solid.