I remember feeling really nervous the first time I ever took photos of myself for a fashion post.

Nervous, awkward, and uncomfortable.

In the age of the Internet, the idea of taking photos of oneself seems normal thing. But in practice, it can be a bit unnerving. As you watch the light of your camera begin to frantically blink, it’s hard for you to not clam up or feel shy. Your mind goes completely blank. And before you can even figure out what to do or how to pose, the photo has been snapped.

Posing for photos is definitely an aspect of blogging that has taken some getting used to for me. I used to be terrible at it. Like, the absolute worst. As time has gone on, I’ve gotten better (not phenomenal, but I can proudly say that I am able to take a photo of myself without totally looking like a deer caught in headlights). And one of the things that has helped me improve has been establishing a series of go-to poses.

Having your poses figured out in advance is the best thing you can do for yourself. It takes away the awkwardness of scrambling for a pose right as the camera is about to go off and ultimately helps you achieve better looking photos a lot faster. Today I will be sharing ten of my most frequently used poses in the hope that it will help assist if you’re struggling with your own.

Before I get into this, I should say that the most important thing to do if you want to pose like a fashion blogger is practice. Practice, practice, and practice again. It’s taken me a long time to feel comfortable in front of the camera, and it never would have happened if it weren’t for the fact that I am constantly taking photos and experimenting with various poses. You have to keep going with it until you figure out what works for you personally (and what works for you might not be the same as what works for everyone else). It’s a lot of trial and (mostly) error, but it’s the only way for you to get better.

Without further ado, here are ten of my favorite poses!

#1: THE HAIR TUCK

A simple pose to start with is the “hair tuck.” What makes this such a great beginner pose is that it is something you probably already do on a regular basis, so it will feel very natural. Come to think of it, that’s actually a good rule of thumb to apply to all your poses. The more natural it feels, the more natural it looks. That being said, the “hair tuck” is so natural that it’s easy to get right.

As you’re waiting for the camera to flash, start tucking a stray piece of hair behind your ear or holding a large chunk of it back. If you’re new to posing, this won’t feel super awkward. Overall, it’s a fantastic place to begin.

#2: THE ACTION SHOT

Another posing technique I use is the action shot. I tend to reserve my action shots for outfits that contain flowy pieces or fabrics just because I think it creates the coolest effect. There’s something really fascinating about seeing the twirl of a skirt or the bounce of a strand of hair in a photograph. And while these shots can be difficult to achieve if you’re shooting by yourself using a tripod, the results are definitely worth it.

#3: THE SKIRT HOLD

I like this pose for a couple of different reasons: 1). it’s a good way to mix things up and 2). it allows you to show off the pattern of your skirt. I usually do at least one photo like this when I’m wearing a circle strong with a strong print like this one. I  think it’s both cute and functional.

#4: THE DRAMATIC STARE

Ah, the dramatic stare. Arguably the most common blogger pose, the dramatic stare is one of the best poses to go with if your goal is to look natural and casual, especially when you’re first starting out. All you have to do is figure out which direction you want to look, and act as though you’re gazing at something. Remember not to gaze too intently though. There’s a thin line between the dramatic stare and the death stare. And if you’re too focused, you will end up looking like you’re glaring at someone instead of being casual. Trust me. I’ve had it happen to me dozens of times.

#5: THE GROUND EXAMINER

Another pretty common pose is one I call the “ground examiner.” All you have to do is hold a piece of your hair back and look down at the ground. Basically every blogger has done this at least once. It’s a good one to try if you aren’t fond of smiling or looking into the camera.

#6: THE HAIR TWIST

I’ve always said one of the hardest things about blog photography is figuring out what to do with your hands during shots. If you’re already feeling awkward about the concept of taking pictures of yourself, let me be the first to tell you that your hands will make things a 1000 times more awkward as you start shooting. If you don’t have them strategically positioned, your hands usually end up dangling at your sides, making your discomfort apparent to any onlooker. Which is why I love this pose so much. It gives you something to do with your hands that looks both natural and relaxed. So, even if you aren’t feeling particularly confident, no one will be able to tell.

Twist the ends of one side of your hair between your fingers and allow your other hand to hang loosely at your side. Just about any expression works with this pose, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different smiles, laughs, and gazes.

#7: THE BORED STARE

Sometimes it’s the basic poses that are the most effective. When I’m feeling totally lost with posing, I like to keep things simple and just look right into the camera. That might not sound like a great strategy, but I promise it’s an awesome place to start if you’re stuck. Throw on your favorite pair of sunglasses and give the camera your best I-don’t-know-what’s-going-on-but-I-couldn’t-care-less look. The more bored you look, the better.

#8: THE JUDGMENTAL LIBRARIAN

I’m not trying to call librarians judgmental with this title, but I have a strong image of a librarian tilting her reading glasses down the bridge of her nose and saying “shh” to a group of school kids in my head when I see this pose. You know what I’m talking about? That thing that always happens on T.V. shows? Or I guess I should say that thing that only happens on T.V. shows. Tell me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think librarians actually do that…

Anyway, this is a great pose to try if you’re looking to mix things up and you’re into sunglasses. Just tilt your sunglasses and look down at the camera. And if you really want to make things dramatic, stand with your feet about shoulder-length apart.

#9: THE SLIGHT SMILE

This one is kind of like the “ground examiner” but with a smile. I usually do this at least once when I shoot blog photos just because it’s almost impossible to mess up. Simply glance down at your feet and smile slightly. If you’re wearing sunglasses, you can also grab the side of them.

#10: THE ‘WHERE AM I?’

This pose is by far the vaguest of the bunch, so it’s really up to you as to how to interpret it. While each photo categorized under the “where am I?” pose has a slightly different look to it, they all have the same general idea. There’s a sense of confusion in all of them that I think makes for an interesting pose.

Anyway, I hope this post was helpful to you! Whether you’re new to fashion blogging or you’re just looking to change things up, figuring out how to pose can be a real struggle. The most important thing to remember is that with practice it will become easier. Have fun, be yourself, and relax!

MORE POSTS LIKE THIS:

Let’s Talk: Blog Photo Poses

7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging

My Best Blogging Advice

What are some ways that you like to pose for photos? 

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