How to Pose for a Sexy Photo: Expert Tips From an NYC Boudoir Photographer
Whether you’re taking selfies at home, or doing a pro photoshoot, if you’re trying to figure out how to pose for a sexy photo you’re in the right place! As a professional NYC boudoir photographer, here are some of my top posing tips for looking like a baddie on camera — and they work on all body types!
Relax Your Shoulders
Tension? Not sexy. Most of us are stressed, especially on camera. And when we start to feel stressed we’ll hold our tension in our shoulders, subconsciously squeezing them up towards our ears. Instead, take a deep breath and intentionally relax your shoulders downwards.
Air Out Your Armpits
If you've ever seen a photo of yourself and thought "woah my arms aren't that wide, are they??" you were right. For what it’s worth, there’s nothing wrong with having wide arms, and you might also be making them look wider then they actually are by squishing them against your body. When we relax our arms at our sides they flatten out, appearing much wider than they actually are in real life. The easiest fix for this? Pretend like you forgot to wear deodorant and you need your pits to air out. (sexyyyy) Pull those arms away from your body!
Bend One Knee
This is going to emphasize that booty curve! Take the foot of one leg and touch it to the ankle of your other leg. This is going to create a natural bend in your knee. Then take that bend in your knee and cross it over your body. It looks stunning and effortlessly elegant every time!
Arch Your Back
As an NYC Boudoir Photographer, this one is a staple for me! Arching out your back emphasizes your curves, giving you the appearance of a snatched waist and thiccc booty. And bonus tip: if you tried this and looked like an ipad kid, it’s an easy fix: just tuck your hips forward.
Point Your Toes
This I call them "Barbie toes," and they’re essential for anyone who wants to know how to pose for a sexy photo. They’re so simple to add, and they make your legs look fabulously long. Wearing high heels is a great short cut for this, however imaginary heels work just as well when you remember to put them on.
Extend Your Neck
Sometimes when we pose we try to force what we think is a “good posture” and we end up pulling our chin into our neck — this is what often creates that “double chin” effect that many of us dread. As an NYC Boudoir photographer, my client’s are often asking me to look out for them on this one! Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Extend your neck out like a turtle. Pull that shy guy out of his shell by bringing your face forward and then gently tipping your chin down.
Give Your Hands a Job
This adds a sense of intentionality to your photo, and also will make you feel so much less awkward just standing there and posing for a camera. Play with your hair, put your hands on your hips (or rather, on the smallest part of your waist, wherever that might be for you), bite your finger, hold yourself, give yourself a prop to toy with -- the possibilities are endless! And you'll feel much less awkward.
And When You Need More Help…
I’ve got your back. This article was built out of real tips I give my clients on set every day, and if you’re having a posing struggle I want to hear about that too! Because you definitely won’t be the only person dealing with it. You can reach me with your questions on my contact page.
And if you’re considering doing a boudoir session, I highly recommend downloading my FREE Ultimate Guide to Boudoir. It will teach you even more about how to pose for a sexy photo, what outfits look amazing on camera, and walk you through every step of the boudoir process. Plus you’ll get a bonus $100 Print Credit to Use at your boudoir photoshoot — isn’t that neat? You can also book a photo session with me by reaching out here.
