7 Simple Posing Ideas for Headshots

Clients featured in order of appearance: Caitlin Brooks Craig, Martina Williams, Amy L Bradley Ph.D.

Posing for Your Headshots Can Be Simple and Easy.

It's no small thing to feel comfortable in front of a camera. It's my job to help you feel seen and cared for, providing you with a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment to set your mind and body at ease. Posing is just one of the many tools I bring to the creative process. Having a time-tested starting place that helps you feel present and relaxed will result in images that feel more natural and sincere.

These are some of my go-to poses that are utilized at many of my headshot sessions. If done well, these ideas can look perfectly natural. The best part? They are SIMPLE. So simple. Yes, of course, body shapes and sizes, personality types, comfort levels, and methods of physical and energetic engagement are as different as the individual, but these easy ideas can work for just about everyone.

1) STANDING - HANDS IN POCKETS OR AT WAIST

I usually start my clients in a standing position, and to make them feel comfortable from the start, I have them put their hands at their waist or, if available, have them put their hands in their pockets. This instantly gives you something to do with your hands while also helping you feel grounded and more at ease. Hands in pockets conveys a more casual, comfortable energy, softening the shoulders, communicating that you feel accessible to the viewer. Setting hands on the hips can bring a certain lengthening to the spine and an air of confidence while also elongating the torso and accentuating the curve at the waist. I like to try one hand and both just to see the different effects we can achieve.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Natalya Wallin, Anny Gaul, Alyssa Phillips, Rebecca Travers, Natalya Wallin, Brooke Hofsess

2) STANDING/ARMS CROSSED

Cross your arms. Go ahead. Take a nice deep breath. Now don’t you feel more grounded and present? This pose can bring an air of calm confidence and a sense that you are not only secure with yourself but but others. I believe strongly that this pose can create a wide range of effects, from compassionate engagement to earned accomplishment. Varying the position of the hands, tucking them in or letting them show, playing with one arm or both, or even holding one hand up can all say different things about you and how you wish to be seen.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Brooke Hofsess, Anny Gaul, Hilary McVicker, Tom Metcalf , Jen Aly, Travis Schultz , Abbey Howell, Linda Azar, Caitlin Brooks Craig

3) SEATED - THE FORWARD LEAN

Many people think headshots need to be formal. I ask you to shift that perspective. I honestly think it’s best to invite a little ease into every single session. Who wants to look stuff in their photos? No one. That’s where this pose comes in. When you are in a seated position and lean forward, allowing your arms to rest on your lap, legs, or on a surface you are instantly creating a spirit of connection and intimacy. The energy shifts into a place of engagement, particularly when you welcome direct eye contact that has a spark of sincere connection. This is a great pose to give your audience the sense that they are really “meeting” you through your image.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Jessica Bobbitt Robert de Vos Devine, Natalya Wallin, Sarah Addy Howell, Anny Gaul, Rebecca Travers, Amy L Bradley Ph.D., Cameron Corbett, Sarah Addy Howell, Eliza Meadows, Alyssa Phillips, Tom Metcalf

4) SEATED - SHOW THOSE HANDS

I have always loved featuring hands in my images. In portrait and headshot work hands can serve as a powerful visual tool to convey a wide range of moods and characteristics. Think about the last time you had an engaging conversation with someone where you wanted to convey a spirit of engagement, trust, and camaraderie. If you have a need to communicate that you are a great listener, creative collaborator, or amicable personality these poses bring a palpable feeling of mutual investment. I like to try various approaches, from one or both hands positioned at the chin or simply held to the side in a playful or artful manner. It’s also a great way to show off your personal style with a pop of a favorite watch or piece of jewelry.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Brooke Hofsess, Amy L Bradley Ph.D., Jessica Bobbitt, Alyssa Phillips, Nicolette Baglio-Bahar, Eliza Meadows, George Awad, Sarah Addy Howell, Marcos Harkness, Ranpreet Kaur, Martina Williams, Natalie Micale

5) TABLE WORK

Providing a prominent posing surface welcomes a range of postures that can let your audience know that you’re “at the table together,” you’re on their team, and you are a fully capable person that others can look to for valued knowledge and skills. The energy here can be a refined “I can be taken seriously” vibe that works well in corporate and executive environment or a more relaxed “I’m here with you” space. Having a minimal accent to play off with various arm positions, shoulder angles can provide additional visual interest to let your personality shine.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Karolina Drózdz, Amy L Bradley, Ph.D., Natalie Micale, Martina Williams, Linda Azar, Rebecca Travers, Courtney Edwards, Linda Azar, Ky Delaney

6) CHAIR WORK

Similarly to table work, engaging with a chair or couch provides added opportunities to maneuver your body into postures and angles that can serve your narrative intention. I like to try lots of different positions—sitting facing forward, allowing your body to sit high with confidence or slouch with ease, angling sideways to encourage a deep lean, flipping the chair backward to encourage creative arm angles—to see what might work best for your body and the energy you wish to convey. Using a clean, minimal piece keeps the focus entirely on you. Bringing in the welcoming softness of upholstered surfaces can make your audience feel immediately at ease. Play is part of the process to getting the right shots.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Anny Gaul, Robert de Vos Devine, Cameron Corbett, Abbey Howell, Emily Strang Ph.D., Abbey Howell, Gabi Brennesholtz, Hannah Dietz DACM, Natalya Wallin

7) POSING WITH PROPS

Sometimes it’s important to communicate something about the nature of your work or your personality that is facilitated the introduction of props. What tools do you use in your creative process? What products do you offer? Are there elements that you use in your services or practices that could be conveyed simply? Is there an ordinary but relatable object that can show more about your personality and demeanor? My approach is usually to keep it simple and unfussy, as the focus should still be on you.

Clients featured in order of appearance: Abbey Howell, Dove Winter, Amanda Plyler, Hannah Dietz DACM, Jessie Dean, Eliza Meadows, Hannah Cole, Rebecca Porche, Kelcey Loomer

A FEW MORE WORDS OF ADVICE

Your headshots should be as unique as you are! While this pose features some of my standard posing prompts, I assure you that every single session explores options well beyond what you see here. These ideas are intended to be starting points to help every person find comfort and confidence in their body and release into the experience of being photographed and celebrated. A photo session is a blank creative canvas for us to color in together to provide you with images that best showcase you and tell your unique story. A big part of the magic happens in the little unexpected moments, informed by the energy in the room and the rapport created between photographer and client.

If you need some added encouragement for why you should update YOUR headshots check out my previous blog post, Top Reasons to Update Your Headshots. And curious about what to wear to your session? Check out my tips at my post 5 Tips for Your Headshots Wardrobe.

Feeling like it might be time to freshen up your own image library with an experience that feels warm, empowering, and tailored completely to YOU? Please reach out. I’d love to work with you!