It is always fun to play around, use props to see what happens. There are countless variations on these themes.
(Far right person in photo at the top of the page.) They can also pretend to hold an invisible ball or deal an invisible deck of cards. So I have the subject point their hands at the camera with both hands and then pull them back. But if they are actually speaking during the portrait session, their mouth might be caught in the middle of making an “O” or other awkward looking sounds. One hand is usually partially hidden, I recommend having that hand closer to the camera so that the fully exposed hand does not appear too large.įor a more animated look in a wider portrait, I like to have the subject look like they are telling a story. By bringing both hands outside the arms, the subject appears open and confident. People tend to tuck one or both hands in behind their arms, this can look closed or guarded. On wider shots, like that of Brett Roberts (Third from left in photo at the top of the post), I recommend that both hands are visible. This results in a friendly expression where the subject is letting the viewer in on the secret. I encourage my subjects to lean toward the camera as if confiding a secret. Done incorrectly it can also be stand-offish or closed. Note how her hand is relaxed and the smallest part of the hand faces the camera.įolding the arms can often be very engaging in a photo. Martha Camarillo gets her hands into the action in this headshot.
Otherwise the face can appear pushed and distorted. When the hands touch the face, be sure to only lightly touch. See the photo of Martha Camarillo below for a great example. Otherwise it can appear very large in the photo. The side of the hand rather than the back of the hand should be pointed toward the camera. In a wider shot, the confidence really comes through and most subjects are very comfortable making this pose.įor a tighter shot, it is often fun to get the hands up near the face. The pose effects your attitude by boosting your testosterone and cortisol levels in your brain. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy did a famous TED talk discussing these poses. I can see it in the face even if the hands aren’t in the photo, like the photo of KaiYen above. (Second person from left in the photo at the top of the page.) This instantly creates an air of confidence. Even though they are out of the frame, her hands are on her hips, boosting her confidence.Īnother great hand position is to place the hands on the hips. KaiYen Mai CEO of Fusion Jerky at SRK Headshot Day shows a confidence in her headshot aided by her hand position.