Every now and then, Visit Brookfield lucks out- I mean realllly lucks out.  Cue Jill Emmer of Shine On Photography

We met Jill a few years ago when we were featured in Brookfield Living Magazine. Know this…we are an office of confident, accomplished, professional individuals. Until a camera comes out.  Then we don’t know how to stand, where to put our hands, and all sorts of school picture day trauma surfaces.  (Don’t lie- you’ve been there too.)  Jill put us at ease and made us look amazing!  So while we can’t send Jill to take photos for everyone in Brookfield, we could (and did) reach out to her for some tips and tricks so you can look amazing in photos too.  Take it away Jill!

Well, it’s that busy time of year for us photographers and I get asked a lot for tips on how to look your best in photos. Whether it’s a headshot or a family session I have a few tips to share!

1. Lighting! Always consider the lighting when taking a photo or having your photo taken. If you are working with a professional, they should have this part covered but here are the basics. Bright light like direct sun at noon is typically not flattering. It creates dark shadows on the face (from hair, nose, depth of eyes, etc.) A much more desirable lighting would be in the open shade. Where the light is positioned is also very important. Keep the light source (most of the time that’s the sun) to your back. If the camera is used facing the sun it will create silhouettes.
2. Posture! To look your best in photos, always think about your posture. I like to tell my clients to pretend that I am pulling a string that’s coming from the top of their heads straight up. Imagine it is lifting you up through the lower core, abs and lower back. This is where you improve your posture for photos. Not the neck or shoulders! A stretched neck and shrugged shoulders do not look flattering in photos.
3. Angles! When it comes to posing, it is all about the angles. Many photographers look to create triangles. A bend in the arm makes a nice triangle. A bent knee does too and adds interest to the photo.
4. Hands! I’m commonly asked “where do I put my hands?” And the answer is that I never want to see “dead” hands (hands falling limply into the air) and I never to see “claws.” Instead, try using the hands to show connection with others in the photo! Hold hands. Gently put your hand on their elbow or shoulder. Or if you’re alone in the photo, put your hand on your hip or in your pocket (I like to keep the thumbs out.)
5. Genuine smiles! A frozen face and dead eyes can kill a photo. Instead challenge yourself to make everyone genuinely laugh. Tickle your young kids, make silly noises, tell a joke. I love when I have parents directly behind me/my camera going crazy with faces and silly dances while I photograph their kids!
6. Movement! Movement really modernizes photos and brings us out of the 1980’s cheesy poses. For family photos, try walking, playing red light green light, giving piggy backs, twirling. As a bonus you won’t have to work for those genuine smiles! For business photos, try interacting with another person by shaking hands, or walking. Even working on a computer can look great if you do it right.
7. Clothing! My last piece of advice is to put the work in before your photoshoot and carefully choose great clothing. It can truly make or break your photos! You want comfortable clothing that makes you feel fantastic.  If you’re shooting in a group, make sure your outfits are cohesive. They don’t have to match perfectly; they just need to look nice together. You can also have one person wear a pattern (like a floral or plaid) and then pull the colors out of that pattern as inspo for the others’ outfits.

Whew! I wish you the best in all your future photo endeavors and I hope this little article has helped you look your best!

Love,

Jill

Isn’t she the best?  Find Jill Emmer online at https://www.shineonphotos.com/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/photographybyjillemmer and on Facebook at https://facebook.com/ShineOnPhotosLLC

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