Self Portrait Poses: How To Pose Like A Pro

If you’ve taken self-portraits before, you’ve probably noticed that getting self-portrait poses right is REALLY HARD.

No wonder brands mostly use professional models who know how to strike visually interesting poses.

I think that posing is, in fact, a very underrated skill and not something that comes naturally to most people–self-portrait photographers included.

However, you can easily improve your photography self-portrait poses with a few tips and tricks.

Read on to learn how to become a posing pro!

1. Basics First: The Rules of Posing

There are actually a few basics of posing that every professional model knows in their sleep.

The following tips will help you take better self-portraits by using shapes and lines created with your body.

This is important because photographs are two-dimensional (as opposed to our three dimensional bodies), and the camera only “sees” flat planes rather than a 3D human. 

Therefore, it helps to intentionally create angles and lines to make your face and body appear more three-dimensional (and thus more interesting) in your self-portraits.

Here are some ways you can do this:

Sit/Stand at an Angle

Generally, when standing straight to the camera, you will appear very flat and mannequin-like.

Instead, it’s always good to sit or stand at an angle to the lens to create a bit more dimension.

Create Curves

When posing sideways at an angle, it helps to create a curved line with your body rather than standing or sitting straight (especially for women). 

Think about the classic pin-up or boudoir pose, in which the chest, curved spine, and bum create a beautiful S-curve.

Example of a Model Creating Curves with her Body. Image Credit: Thiago Gonçalves.

In some of my more feminine self-portraits, I tend to stick my bum out a little to overextend the spine.

It feels very uncomfortable, but it looks super pretty in photos. 

In the same way, if you’re standing facing the camera, push one of your hips or shoulders out to the side to accentuate the lateral curve of your body. 

Keep Your Posture in Mind

Unless you want to play with body language, which I will talk about later in this article, you probably want to keep good posture for your self-portrait. 

Tip: Most people will forcefully pull the shoulders back to stand up straight.

However, I find that a better internal cue to do this is to imagine that you’re pulling your shoulder blades together towards your spine.

This looks a bit more natural and prevents you from pulling your shoulders up too much, creating tension.

Create Shapes with Arms and Legs

Try to avoid bending your arm or leg with the lower part facing away from the camera:

From the front, this makes it look like part of your limb is missing. 

Instead, turn the arm or leg to the side so that the whole part of the limb is visible. 

When posing with your arms hanging down, try to keep some air between them and your torso.

Otherwise, your arms may look squished and tense. 

If you’re seated, try bending one or both knees and separating your legs to create interesting shapes.

Model Creating Shapes with her Arm and Leg. Image Credit: Sirio.

Keep Your Hands Natural

Hands are often forgotten in photos, but they express a lot, so consider how you pose them. 

Try to always keep them slightly curled, the way they would naturally rest in your lap when sitting and relaxing. 

Flipping your hand slightly backwards can make it look very elegant and give your self-portrait a painterly look.

Generally, hands look better if you twist them slightly at the wrist, as it makes them appear a bit more graceful.

Also, avoid holding your fingers tightly together or posing with your hands in fists—both can make you look very tense.

More Posing Tips

Posing is definitely not something you either CAN or CAN’T do.

It’s a skill that can be honed like any other, especially if you spend a bit of time studying and researching poses.

There are a few ways you can do this; here are some tips:

Look at Paintings

One of my favourite ways to improve my self-portrait poses is to go to museums and look at paintings of women, especially by classical painters such as Vermeer, Ingres, da Vinci or Raphael.

Famous artists used to be very intentional about how they posed their models.

They would arrange them in different ways according to the meaning they wanted to convey in their painting.

Also, they knew how to create a flattering pose because they wanted the model to look as good as possible (especially if the artwork was a commissioned portrait).

Hence, most classical painting poses will make you look great!

Next time you visit an art museum, look for painted portraits and take photos or notes for reference.

Graceful Pose in a Painting. Look at the Gorgeous Hands!

Make a Moodboard on Pinterest

Next, I highly recommend you start a self-portrait poses moodboard on Pinterest.

Search for terms like “women’s portrait pose,” “elegant pose,” “full-body pose,” “painterly pose,” etc., and add images of poses you like to your moodboard. 

If you have a very specific idea for your self-portrait, you can use more targeted keywords, such as “fragile portrait pose” or “happy portrait pose.” 

For almost all of my self-portraits, I do a quick Pinterest research to get a general idea of what I want to do.

Then, I pick the pose I like the most and try to recreate it in my photograph.  

I may still use a different pose in the end, but having something to work with at the beginning of the shoot helps me get into the flow and not feel overwhelmed.

Practice in the Mirror

This is a basic tip, but it really does help!

Take a few moments before your shoot to try out some poses in the mirror.

Study what happens to your body when you change the angle of your head, shoulders, hips, and so on, and keep a mental record of the angles that work for you.

Also, you will probably notice that one side of your face looks better; this is the case for almost everyone.

For example, I usually prefer photographing the left side of my face.

By the way: Mirrors are also a great prop you can incorporate in your self portrait! Check out my related post here.

Think about Body Language

Another interesting aspect to remember when planning your photography self-portrait poses is body language, i.e. what emotions you are portraying through the way you hold your body.

For example, you’ve probably heard of the “power pose,” in which one stands upright, legs apart, and hands on hips to feel more confident.

In contrast, think of somebody who is sad or upset:

They would have a lowered or hunched posture, look downward, or turn their head away.

When deciding on a pose for your photo shoot, always consider which emotion you want to portray and how your body language could convey that emotion.

This helps you underscore what you want to express in your photograph. 

By the way…if you like taking self-portraits, check out my free ebook below:

OK, but now back to the blog post!

2. Practical Examples: Self Portrait Poses to Try

Next, I wanted to give you concrete examples of poses you can strike in your self-portraits.

Many of them are classical portrait poses that have become popular because they are very flattering and/or create visually interesting shapes.

You can practice the poses in the mirror to determine which ones you like and then refer to this list whenever you need inspiration for your self-portrait shoots.

Looking over Your Shoulder

I love this pose and use it all the time – here’s an example:

Image Credit: Gabriel Silvério

It’s a very painterly pose that is great for fine art self-portraits. 

You can either look straight into the lens to create a sense of intimacy or gaze into the distance for a more detached, pensive look.

Hands on Face

For your next self-portrait, try touching your face with one or two hands like in the examples below:

Image Credit: Oladimeji Odunsi

Image Credit: Zulmaury Saavedra

Image Credit: Caique Nascimento.

The hands act as a frame and direct the viewer’s eyes to your face, emphasising your facial expression.

These poses also give your self-portraits a delicate and tender look, which I love.

Lying on Back, Face to Camera

This is a really classic pose you will find in a lot of paintings.

It’s also been used extensively in boudoir photo shoots because it creates a soft, feminine look and can appear very dreamy:

Image Credit: inna mykytas.

Seated with Bent Knee(s)

Try any variation seated with one or both knees bent.

This creates interesting angles and gives you many options to rest your arms on the propped-up knee(s). 

Try different angles of the head, like looking down, looking up or turning the head so it’s in profile.

Image Credit: Brooke Cagle.

Image Credit: Julia Caesar.

“Hugging Yourself” Pose

This is another classic that you can try different variations of, like hugging your torso, sitting down and hugging your knees, etc – see examples here:

Image Credit: Pexels.

Image Credit: Olena Bohovyk.

Leaning Backwards, Resting on Hand(s)

This is another lovely pose you will find in a lot paintings.

It’s great if you want to look dreamy or sensual. 

To pull this off, make sure you’re seated sideways to the camera and lean backwards slightly, resting your weight on one or both hands. 

Image Credit: Chu Viết Đôn from Pixabay

¾ Pose, Facing the Front

This is a pose I use quite often.

It’s very simple, but incredibly beautiful:

Image Credit: JJ Jordan.

Since you’re not completely facing the camera but are seated at an angle, you make the face and body appear more three-dimensional and thus more visually interesting.

At the same time, it’s a very simple pose that evokes a calm mood.

You may recognise this pose from a lot of classical paintings!

Seated or Standing with Shoulders Hunched Forwards

Another favourite of mine!

I like to use this pose when I want to look vulnerable or fragile.

However, it can also give your self-portraits an edgy, editorial look reminiscent of fashion magazines.

Here’s an example:

Image Credit: Olena Bohovyk.

Profile Shot

This is a really interesting pose because, by its very nature, you avoid eye contact with the camera, which can make you appear more mysterious or aloof.

Try sitting or standing at a 90° angle to the camera to create the perfect profile shot.

You can keep the eyes open or close them for a more dreamy vibe:

Image Credit: Mathilde Langevin.

Chin up, Looking Straight into the Lens

Use this pose if you want to come across as assertive or seductive in your self-portrait.

Tilting the chin up slightly will make you look more confident, an effect you can emphasise with a strong gaze directly into the camera lens:

Image Credit: Lance Reis.

These are just a few examples, as mentioned, make sure you conduct some visual research by looking at art and collecting poses you like on Pinterest or Google.

Bonus Tip: Think About the Camera Angle

One last tip that’s quite important when taking self portraits: always consider the angle you’re shooting from.

For example, if you place your camera below your face and tilt it upwards, you will look taller, slimmer and more intimidating/powerful.

In contrast, if you place the camera above you and tilt it downwards, you will appear smaller and more vulnerable/fragile.

For the most natural and un-distorted angle, set your camera up at eye level and use a 50 mm lens which is pretty close to how the human eye would see.

Next Steps

If you’re serious about improving your self-portrait posing, you can get one of the following books, which discuss posing in a lot more detail.

I highly recommend them if you want to learn more about how to position your body in front of the camera.

(Just so you know: There are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases).

Take Your Selfie Seriously: The Advanced Selfie and Self-Portrait Handbook

Photographing Women: Posing, Lighting, and Shooting Techniques for Portrait and Fashion Photography

You can also get my own ebook, which teaches you how to take pro-level self-portraits:

P.S.: If there’s any particular pose you love that I haven’t included here, let me know in the comments!