Taylor Johnson Photography

It never fails—I hear it from nearly every client: “I hate how I look in photos,” or “I’ve never liked how I look in my pictures.” These are actually my favorite clients because I get the opportunity to show them just how beautiful they truly are and boost their confidence. Often, it’s not that they dislike themselves or their appearance—they simply haven’t been posed correctly. Or they’re not wearing flattering clothes (even if it’s their favorite outfit ever – it might not be flattering in photos).

For this post, I had Ariel come into my studio to show why proper posing matters. I gave her a series of basic prompts without guiding her, then adjusted her pose step-by-step. Below are four ways to master your look for branding success!

1. Angle your body

When posing from the side, angle your body so your back hip remains in the frame, and bring your front leg forward—even if it won’t be visible in the photo. This approach works for both thin and curvy figures.

• Slenderizing Trick: Angling your body side-on helps de-emphasize the tummy area.
• Taking Up More Space: If you’d like to fill more of the frame, simply position more of your body toward the camera.

Also, be sure to bring your back shoulder around so it’s visible and angle your arms into a triangle shape with space between your arms and torso. The negative space highlights your natural curves and the smallest part of your waist.

2. Straighten Your Back and Roll Your Shoulders

A strong, confident posture is key to great branding photos. Keep your back straight, roll your shoulders back, and relax them downward. Lean your front shoulder down, away from your neck. This will help:

• Slenderize Broad Shoulders: Pulling shoulders back creates a more streamlined look.
• Convey Confidence: Good posture instantly boosts your presence in a photo.

3. Push Your Chin Out – Not Up

In our digital age, we’re constantly looking down at phones and computers, which can create the dreaded double chin. Always lift your chin to avoid this:

• Project Forward: Pull your face and chin outward (not upward).
• Straighten Your Face: When you straighten up your face, you aren’t smooshing your chin down to your neck, creating the double chin effect.
• Lean In: Slightly lean forward so the position feels more natural.

This simple move often solves the double chin issue.

4. Sit Up Straight

In the images above, you can see how a guided pose makes all the difference. Ariel’s initial prompt was just to sit in a chair, but with a few adjustments, the result changed dramatically:

• Sit at the Edge: This helps eliminate slouching and keeps your torso upright.
• Angle Your Body: Shift slightly to one side, lifting the leg closest to the camera.
• Use Your Arms: Rest your arms on your raised leg for a relaxed yet polished pose.

You can also switch legs or shift onto one hip for an even slimmer effect. With just a few small tweaks, we created a more flattering image of Ariel.

End Results

By applying these simple posing tips—angling your body, straightening your back, lifting your chin, and sitting upright—you’ll notice an immediate difference in how you appear in photos. Proper posing highlights your best features and helps you feel confident and radiant. Whether you’re a professional model or simply snapping pictures with friends, remember that a few intentional adjustments can go a long way in capturing the beautiful, authentic you.

If you don’t care to learn all about proper posing or don’t know how to get started, let’s talk about how we can make you feel confident and beautiful in your photos, regardless of what you use them for!