DRESS: Free People (wearing size XS) // HAT: Lack of Color // BAG: Hat Attack // SANDALS: Amazon (similar here) // SUNNIES: Ray Ban // BANGLES: Budha Girl // WATCH STRAP: Casetify // EXTENSIONS: Barefoot Blonde Hair (color beige blonde) // TRIPOD: Amazon
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It’s been over 5 years since I started blogging (omg!) and it’s been A LOT of trial and error! I’ve learned so much over the years and one of the main things is how to pose for an Instagrammable photo. It sounds silly, but it’s so true! There’s much more that goes on for getting that ONE GOOD PHOTO than you would imagine. It’s definitely a work in progress but I’m hoping that sharing what I’ve learned by being in front of the camera, will help you pose + create better Instagram or blog photos too!
Let’s start off by talking about how many photos are on my phone… 101,300!! (SOS: if anyone knows the best place to store these besides the cloud, LET ME KNOW!). My point in saying how many photos I have is that you need to understand it takes A LOT of photos to get 1 or 2 good options that are Instagrammable. Sometimes I take around 100 photos in one outfit, just to get 1 for Instagram and 5 for the blog. You have to be patient: patient with yourself, patient with your photographer, just patient… trust me! I started my blog with my mom taking my photos for years, and then my boyfriend would hop in here and there and they have both been AMAZING! Definitely couldn’t have done it without them. However, as time went on, I felt bad relying on someone else, and wanted to take photos at my own time, when lighting was good, when I had a free moment in the day, if I was out and about and spotted a good location, etc. So this prompted me to purchase a tripod! I’ve gone through about 5 Amazon tripods, but my favorite one yet is this $25 tripod! It comes with a bluetooth clicker, is super lightweight, can fold up super small which makes it nice for travel:
Now let’s talk about some tips that I utilize while taking the best Instagram photos + how to pose properly to get all the right angles and look your best:
- Have the photographer (or tripod) down on their knees at a lower angle. This helps you look taller, elongate your legs, and is a much more flattering angle than you’d think. Sometimes I’ll have the photographer stand where I want to stand, and take a photo of them to show them the exact angle + exactly what I want in the background of the photo. This way it’s already staged and all they have to do is emulate your photo.
- Know your good side for a photo and work it.
- Make slight adjustments for every photo you take. So chin down in one, arm on hip for one, smiling in one, looking to the side in another, etc. This way you have options and every photo doesn’t come out looking the same.
- I always think putting one leg forward is the best, pop your booty slightly back, and chin down. It helps to step in front and then rock back and forth to emulate what it would look like if you’re walking.
- Do some smiling photos, but to avoid a fake smile, I always “fake laugh”. It does the trick every time and really gives you a true facial expression that’s cute.
- Make sure the lighting is even throughout your photo. So I tend to like cloudy days, or photos always in the shade. The sun is pretty harsh, and when there’s shadows it never really turns out.
- Get creative + take at different angles, take some close ups (I call these “knees to nose”), and take some farther away photos. Variety is best and that way you’ll. have lots of options! The photos in this blog post really clearly depict this.
I hope this blog post on posing + taking Instagrammable photos was super helpful! If you are wanting a one-click edit so your photos look streamlined on Instagram, I have my exact edit I use on every single photo for purchase HERE. It’s so easy to edit using my preset + makes for a cohesive Instagram feed that you can create from your phone!
