Help! What do I do with my hands?": The guide to stop looking stiff in your photos

The day of the session is coming up. Your outfit is on point, the location is beautiful, and everything seems perfect. But suddenly, you freeze up, and the number one intrusive thought everyone has in front of a camera kicks in:

"Look, I'm not a model. I freeze. What do I do? I'm going to look totally awkward!"

If you’ve said this to yourself in the mirror, take a deep breath. Ironically, the thing that stresses you out the most before a session is the only thing you don't need to know how to do: "Pose."

The Myth of the "Perfect Pose"

The problem is we think posing means freezing. We get nervous, hold our breath, and unintentionally turn into robots. We focus so much on "where do I put my foot?" or "does my belly show?" that we forget the most important thing: enjoying the moment.

When you get rigid, the photo loses life. But when you relax and "let go," magic happens.

You already know how to pose (even if you don't realize it)

I'll let you in on a secret: The best movements are the ones you make when no one is watching.

The way you fix your hair, how you walk comfortably, or that knowing look you give your partner... THOSE are the poses. What makes a photo look amazing and elegant isn't imitating a weird pose from Pinterest. It’s being YOU.

Here are two quick tricks to eliminate the two biggest fears:

Tip 1: The "Busy Hands" Trick (and the texture secret)

If your stress is "what do I do with my hands?", the solution isn't to let them hang there or hide them. The psychological trick is to give them a mission.

When you don't know what to do, interact with what you have nearby. But here is the secret to making it look natural:

Don't just place your hand, try to feel the texture.

Instead of thinking "I'm going to put my hand on my partner's shoulder," think "I'm going to feel the fabric of their shirt." Play gently with a button, adjust your watch, or touch your hair as if looking for a loose strand.

Why does this work? Because when your brain focuses on touch (feeling if something is soft or hard), it automatically relaxes the tension in your fingers, and goodbye "claw hand."

Tip 2: The "Hack" for Fear 1 (The Double Chin)

This is the classic: "Please, don't let my double chin show."

Often, a double chin appears in photos not because you have one, but because of posture. When we get nervous, we tend to pull our heads back, pressing the chin against the neck. Big mistake! That makes everything bunch up.

The Hack: Imagine you have a string on your forehead pulling you gently forward.

1. Push your forehead slightly forward (as if you wanted to hear a secret better).

2. Tilt your chin down slightly.

   
   

By unsticking your chin from your neck and bringing it forward, you create a shadow on your jawline that makes you look sharp and stylized instantly.

My job isn't to change you, it's to direct you

This is where I come in. You don't have to worry about remembering all of this; leave that to me.

My job is to observe those movements you make naturally and direct them subtly. I'm there to tell you: "Bring your face a little closer to me" or "Relax that hand." I watch the angles so you look spectacular; you just worry about living the experience.

Ready for a stress-free session?

If you're tired of stiff photos and want a session where you feel comfortable, look good, and where I make sure to capture your best angles, I'd love to help you.

Message me today and tell me your idea. Let's plan a session where you don't have to pretend, just enjoy.