Are you interested in modeling for RJO?
You could get a free shoot & hundreds of photos to add to your port.
See this page for details. Must be 18+.
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Take it easy the night before the shoot
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This is by far the most important advice I can give you. Rest up, eat right, and don't drink or smoke (too much).
Avoid excessive caffeine and sodium (especially sodium!) 24 hours before your shoot. Salty foods and caffeine cause water retention which can make you feel (and look!) bloated. Drink plenty of water up to an hour or 2 before your shoot. Then you can stop until your shoot is over. This is actually the best thing you can do to combat water retention and you'll feel better and look slimmer for your shoot.
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The photographer, whoever it may be, knows what you look like through the lens: how the light is hitting you, what the focal length is, etc. So the more direction you can take from them, the better your shots are likely to turn out.
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Practice! Practice posing in your mirror. See how you look best. Look through magazines and get ideas, and bring them to your shoot. The more input you give your photographer, the more likely they'll be able to shoot your shots the way you want. I'll also have a mirror set up during the shoot so you can watch yourself.
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Facial expressions are one of the hardest parts of modeling. Practice smiling with your eyes. Try parting your lips to show just a tiny bit of teeth. Try relaxing your face muscles or tensing them up. Try tilting your head to either side or tilting your chin up or down. See what works for you. What may seem like an imperceptible change in any of those things can make a much bigger difference than you think. One technique that some models use is to make very subtle vowel sounds with their lips. EEE.. OOO.. AHH.. it's a little silly, but it can really add a lot to a photo.
Another popular technique is "the squint." A slight squint of the eyes can create intensity. It also helps if you have a problem with your eyes looking too wide in photos, as if you're staring. Careful not to furrow your brow though. Don't scrunch up your whole face. Just your top and bottom eyelids to narrow your eyes.
Just to reiterate, the camera will pick up changes in your expression that may seem imperceptible to you. Changes to your body pose can be extreme and dramatic, but changes to your facial expression should be slight and subtle.
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Bring props and/or accessories
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Think outside the box when it comes to props & accessories. Long necklaces give your hands something to do, wear a winter coat with a bra, a belt with your lingerie, find a fedora to wear, some boxing gloves you use at the gym, wear a wig, hold some lipstick or your phone, wear those old jeans with the hole in them... What the hell, bring your dog. Sometimes the best poses aren't really poses at all. They're just an interaction between the model and a prop or accessory.
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Experiment and try something new
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What you do, what you wear, and what you look like in a photo can be something you would never do, wear, or look like in real life. Try wearing colors and clothes that clash. Buy or borrow outfits or accessories that you'd never actually wear in public. Feel free to make a fool of yourself. You'd be surprised how many "outtake" shots end up being models' absolute favorites.
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Relax and enjoy yourself. The reason photographers take so many shots is because we all know there are going to be throwaways. But think of it as a way to lessen the pressure on you. You don't always have to be on. Tension in the face or body will come through in a photo, so find what works for you and have fun doing it.
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If you're planning on getting your shots retouched, don't go too heavy on the eye makeup. Concealer, fake lashes, and mascara are all fine. But minimal eye shadow is best. A general rule of thumb is to wear what you'd wear to a wedding: light and classy. It's easier to darken or add more makeup during retouching than it is to lighten or take makeup away.
Load up on the lip gloss! It's best to reapply gloss every 10 or 15 mins during a shoot to keep them looking shiny. Lips & eyes are very important for glamour shots.
Don't use bronzers before your shoot. I know you want to, but it's not necessary! As you'll see in my next tip, there's a good chance you'll be wearing oil or lotion during your shoot which can make bronzers streak. If you want to look nice and tan, I can add that in post even if you're not getting your shots retouched.
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Lotion/oil enhances muscle definition
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There's a reason body builders use it in competition. Shiny skin makes muscle definition pop, and in photos it looks great. A good photographer knows how to accentuate your best curves and angles, but a little shine to the skin will help even more. I have a special oil/bronzer mixture I use for glamour shoots that models seem to love. But if you have something you like, feel free to bring it.
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Having 1 or 2 friends will help you relax and they could also help with poses, ideas, and most importantly, encouragement. Don't bring too many people though! Too many eyes on you could hurt rather than help.
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Miscellaneous posing tips
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- Posture! Keep your shoulders back, but relaxed. Pretend there's a string attached to the top of your head and it's being pulled upwards.
- Give your hands something to do. Wear clothes & accessories you can grab, pull, or hold. Play with your hair or clothes.
- Don't look straight at the camera. Keep your chin pointed slightly off to one side.
- Don't feel like you have to look at the camera at all. Look off to the sides, up, down... whatever feels natural for the pose you're in.
- Subtle changes in a pose can make more difference than you may think. The tilt of the head up or down, left or right, the angle of the hips and shoulders, weight on one leg or the other... these can all keep every photo looking drastically different even if the change is minimal. So keep moving and trying new things.
- If you're barefoot or wearing flats, stand on your tip toes. It'll make your legs look longer and give your butt a lift.
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