5 Tips to Inspire Your Best Photo Experience

No matter where you fall on the confidence spectrum, from hating having your photo taken to "Babe, I was born for the lens”, these preparatory tips are sure to help you feel your best on set.

Whenever a client joins us for a shoot, we expect to do a little coaching to help ensure the greatest outcome possible. Naturally, some clients arrive at the studio knowing exactly what’s needed of them, but most do require a healthy dose of hand-holding — which we’re more than happy to offer. Have an upcoming appointment to shoot with our team? Keep these ideas in your back pocket to optimize your studio session and you’ll show up ready to rock. (We’ll help with the rest.)

1. Study yourself in photos.

First, look at photos of yourself, both ones you love and ones you don’t, and determine exactly what you like and don’t like about how you look in them. Try to be neutral and objective. Having this patience with yourself can slow you down and help you realize it may just be the styling of your outﬁt, or your posture or pose — all things that don’t deﬁne you, but instead are easily changeable and have nothing (seriously, nothing) to do with your self worth. Be observant and kind. Once you take note of what stirs up your own personal feelings of confidence or lack thereof, take note and find ways to maximize what’s working, or make adjustments to anything that’s not.

2. Nail your wardrobe.

We all know a gorgeous outfit has the power to make us feel amazing. We say take your time with yours. Explore your closet or work with a stylist (like the one TRIS Studio provides) to pull together a few varying looks that both flatter your figure and represent your unique personal style. Professional tailoring also can make a big difference in how a piece fits your body.

3. Know your (tri)angles.

If you’re not a seasoned model, and few of our clients are, a photo session with a professional photographer can feel overwhelming. In that moment, the natural response is to shrink ourselves. We just want it over as quick as possible. This usually results in bad posture and looking uncomfortable for the camera. The good news is a little thoughtfulness goes a long way.

Here’s our magic formula for a great photo:

Put a hand on your natural waist (not hip) and bend into it!

Open your feet so there is at least a foot of space between your ankles.

Keep your shoulders relaxed and roll them back, but intentionally keep your posture straight and strong.

Make sure to bring your chin forward instead of tucking it back into your neck.

And then of course...…

4. Smile! With your eyes.

Every celebrity and professional model’s secret. Here’s how it’s done:

Be natural, don’t force it.

Relax your face and jaw muscles.

Engage your eyes, and think about something or someone that makes you happy.

5. Practice makes perfect.

Practice smiling and posing in the mirror before getting in front of the lens. Play with poses and how you take up space in the mirror at home. Then the next time you go to take a picture, put that practice into work.

Don’t get discouraged if your images don’t look exactly how you want them to the first time you go through the vulnerable process of having your photo taken. Just make sure to put in the effort, be kind to yourself, and communicate with your photographer about any hesitations you still have. All the tips and tricks in the world can’t always guarantee a portrait that you’ll love, but when done correctly and with poise and calm they can take you fabulously far.