Whatever we might tell others, the vast majority of us care what people think of us. Caring about our reputations is a very natural and human thing to do. So we want to look our best. Both in real-life and in photos. If we look good, we can impress others, and reap those sweet, sweet social rewards!
However, looking good in front of a camera is an art form in itself. Some of us have an instinct for how best to pose; some of us don’t. Fortunately, Chicago-based photography major Bonnie Rodríguez Krzywicki is here to swoop in like a flash and save the day—or rather the snap!
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She’s got a wonderful list of Dos and Don’ts for us to follow, so check them out below. As you’re scrolling down, upvote the tips that you found helpful. Need some more photogenic goodness? You’ll find Bored Panda’s earlier article about Bonnie right over here and her newest posts on her Instagram.
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#1
Show your curves.
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#3
Waist transformation in 1 move. Elongate.
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Bonnie has over 811k followers on Instagram and more than 28.6k fans on Facebook. One of the main draws for her followers is that she posts content very often. You’ll find updates and advice on how best to pose and what pitfalls to avoid almost every single day on her social media.
A lot of Bonnie’s tips have to do with being confident in front of the camera, showing off your most flattering aspects, as well as creating artistic and dynamic—rather than mundane or touristy—shots.
Professional photographer Dominic Sberna gave Bored Panda his take on looking photogenic in front of the camera. In his opinion, it’s difficult to find a clear-cut line between someone who is photogenic and who isn’t. “I don’t know if [being photogenic] is anything that can be learned, but I do believe that everyone can look good in a photo,” he said.
#4
We needed a swimsuit that shows our beauty and makes us feel powerful. With that in mind we designed a piece with large graphics to stylize and highlight.
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Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
#6
Get comfortable.
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“I think being photogenic is a matter of opinion to each viewer. Everyone can look good in a photo though, but again it’s a matter of opinion if said person does look good and/or photogenic. As far as models go, that’s something that is definitely a learned skill for some, but for others, it could be natural. Modeling is a whole other game and skill set,” the photographer shared with Bored Panda his opinion.
Dominic revealed that one piece of advice that was instilled in him is that “if it feels uncomfortable or awkward as far as posing, it probably looks good.” A lot of poses aren’t natural but they might look fantastic in a photo. “If someone has the natural ability to pose, it’s easier to work with that person because they sort of take the reins and the photographer can let them do their thing. That’s my opinion at least. I’m also not always comfortable posing someone as I don’t want them to be uncomfortable. It’s a double-edged sword in that regard.”
#7
Photo One: Flat with no rhythm.
Photo Two: One step foward and one step back to capture movement.
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#8
Steamy photo effect with beauty bar. Cover your shower glass with water and soap.
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#9
Pose to show your outfit. Flamingo pose.
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While you can take a lot of great shots by setting up the camera yourself or using a selfie stick, there are still some additional fundamental things that a photographer must know in order to go from merely ‘good’ to ‘great.’
In a couple of previous interviews, Bored Panda spoke with professional photographer Dominic about composition, timing, different styles of photography, patience, improving our skills as photographers, as well as certain stereotypes about photographers that some people have.
In Dominic’s professional opinion, timing—knowing when to take the picture—is an essential component in any photographer’s toolbox. However, its importance is determined by the style of photography that you focus on. While composition will always be near the top of the importance hierarchy for any professional.
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#12
From lost to diva!
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“Planning out a shot or scene (depending on your style) takes time. Composition is probably the most important in my mind though. One doesn’t have to necessarily follow the rules of composition, but how a photo is laid out is going to make or break a photo,” Dominic explained to Bored Panda.
“Some of the best photos in the world don’t necessarily follow the rules of composition because their layout is made that much better by breaking them in a way that challenges the norm,” the pro photographer added, pointing out that we have to be open to experimenting, bending (and breaking) the rules, as well as moving outside our comfort zones.
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Photo One: We tend to put our hands foward, losing shape.
Photo two: Show your waist by placing your hands inside the blazer.
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#15
Photo One: Visually wider waist.
Photo Two: Defined waist.
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The timing of the shutter is vital in sports photography while the opposite is often true in landscape photography. Meanwhile, nature photography is a mix of both. Dominic added that luck is also a factor that can make or break an image: whether or not we’re quick to react to the opportunities that life presents us is another question entirely.
#16
Reflection Technique.
Use a window to play with the reflection. Use your hands to add drama.
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#17
Take adventage of the dress you wear in your photos. The dress in this photo is cute. But we can’t see the things that make it really attractive. If your dress has an opening, show it. It will give more visual definition to your body.
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“Timing means something different to everyone, but it is of utmost importance. Some will say it’s luck, some will say it’s skill, but at the end of the day, I truly believe it is a bit of both combined with experience and the ability to learn from your previous work,” he said.
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#21
1. Make curves.
2. No open hands. Close fingers.
3. Soft touch.
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For Dominic, repetition and effort are the keys to success. So if you ever find yourself missing out on perfect shots or messing up your photos, keep at it. “Keep trying and it’ll pay off eventually. Maybe not as fast as you would like it to, but like anything, if you work at it enough, it will come to you in time.”
#22
Photo One: The wrong lighting makes us look different.
Photo Two: While correct lighting avoids unwanted shadows.
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#23
Photo secret:
Experiment with levels.
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We also chatted to Dominic about the stereotype floating out there that boyfriends are supposedly ‘bad’ at taking photos. In his opinion, this probably has more to do with social media and how easy it is to pick up a camera than anyone’s actual skill level. “It seems like at a quick glance, there are young females choosing to pick up a camera one day and pursue photography. Whether this is accurate or just my perception of what I’ve seen, who knows.”
Photographer Dominic has been at the receiving end of the stereotype, with someone preferring that a woman take a picture instead of him who was studying to become a pro. Whether or not guys or gals take better pictures depends on each individual’s skill level. As well as their personalities, too! For instance, Dominic takes silly pictures of his wife, even though they can both take good photos of each other.
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#26
Photo One: Let’s transform this photo. Ready?
Photo Two: Let’s start with a simple white dress. The will be the centerpiece. Hat and glasses to give it a little drama.
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One thing that Dominic believes is missing in our fast-paced modern world is patience. There’s an unholy amount of pressure on us to do things very quickly which means that patience is in short supply and often overlooked. “Sometimes, it’s hard not to feel rushed, whether it’s on vacation or photographing a family, it does happen. I’m the kind of person that needs to take my time and work into the setting,” the photographer shared.
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#29
Use your scarf for movement.
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#30
Cute shirt knot to accentuate your curves.
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“My first few shots of any scene, aren’t typically my best. I think the biggest thing to remember is to take your time and focus on what you like to take pictures of. We live in such a fast-paced world. But with art, it can’t be rushed. We all want to rush (myself included), but it creates lesser work at the end of the day,” Dominic said. “Focus on what you want to take pictures of, and if others like it too, that’s an added bonus! As long as you’re true to yourself, you’ll be okay. Not every photo will be great or gather the praise you feel it deserves, but the important thing is to always be true to yourself in your art and in life.”
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#32
Photo One: Back light. Less skin glow. Less photo quality.
Photo Two: Frontal light. More skin glow. Better photo quality.
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#34
Add movement.
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#41
Open pose. Face up. Can you see the difference?
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#42
Avoid pressure to make arms look better.
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#43
Photo One: Selfie mistake. If the light comes from behind you:
1. You lose detail.
2. Your skin and face doesn’t glow.
3. It is more difficult to edit.
Photo Two: When the light comes from the front:
1. Return your natural shine.
2. It is easy to edit.
3. The photo has more quality.
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#44
Photo One: No shape.
Photo Two: Emphasize your silhouette.
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#45
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#46
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#47
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#48
Definition at the waist.
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#49
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Source: boredpanda.com