How to Look Better in Pictures: Hands and Feet
Part 3 of this series, where I point out some common photo foibles, and give you advice on how to look better in snapshots.
What the heck do I do with these appendages?
Previously in “How to Look Better in Pictures”, we’ve discussed the dreaded Boob Necklace, as well as what should and should not be in your online profile photos.
For this installment, we’re just going to talk about what to do with your hands and feet for photos that show your whole body, from head to toe.
Tip: Don’t accidentally grab your crotch.
These two photos via Shine/ Yahoo.
Hands
A good way to learn what to do with your hands is to look at red carpet photos from the big awards shows.
The safest options for your hands are:
1 hand on hip, 1 hand relaxed at your side (it’s usually ok to hold onto your bag, so go ahead)
Both hands on hips is ok, although it is very “pose-y”, not so casual.
Too stiff.
both hands relaxed, not tight or stiff, at your sides
hands together just below your belly button with elbows slightly out
Too low.
One note on where exactly to place your hand—go for belly-button level or just under your ribs to emphasize your waist, or on the high hip (your hip bone, just below belly-button level), but not lower than that.
As always, turning your body to a 3/4 view in relation to the camera is always flattering:
Imagine you are standing in the center of a huge clock on the floor. If the camera is at 12 o’clock, turn your entire body to face 10 or 11 o’clock, or 1 or 2 o’clock, and keep your eyes and face on the camera.
Feet
Again, red carpet photos are great to mimic for feet placement.
Another reference is ballet: stick to a relaxed version of third, fourth, or fifth positions.
Photo via Encyclopedia Britannica.
one foot in front of the other, toes slightly out
ankles crossed, toes pointing forward
feet together, one knee bent, toes forward or slightly out
No.
Photo via Cuffington.
I hereby FORBID YOU to ever do the ragdoll pose: pigeon-toes with head tilted to the side.
You are a grown woman, not a child, and definitely not a ragdoll.
Do you have any questions or requests for advice on snapshot snafus? Send them my way, and I’ll solve your dilemma in a future post!
Red carpet photos from the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes, via Style.com.
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Oh gosh, thanks for this post! I especially hate the pigeon-toed look (though I have done it on occasion) because it just looks too submissive.
I like your hand suggestions. I have found that sticking one arm behind the back doesn't look too bad and can often look dramatic.
Hello.
Just wanted to comment, women are beautiful just as they are. The more confident they become the more natural their poses will be. If all of us are criticizing minutiae, we'll never get anything done. The reason that my poses are so beautiful is because I am at home in an art studio, as I am. Once you are confident and find inspiration you don't need DO's and DON'Ts you are yourself and that's all anyone should ask of you.
I totally agree. Which is why I started this mini-series with concrete advice on specific style questions that have been posed by real women. Sometimes, when you're working on developing big, difficult-to-define skills such as confidence, it helps to have some "training wheels" until you get more comfortable.