"I am not photogenic" — I hear it before half of my shoots. Spoiler: there are no unphotogenic people, only tension. Here is what works.
Movement instead of poses
A static pose is hard: the body stiffens. Movement is easy: walk, turn, fix your hair, sit down and stand up. I shoot in series and catch the in-between frames — they always beat "freeze and smile".
Hands
The biggest panic for beginners. Give your hands a task: a pocket, a collar, hair, jewelry, a coffee cup. A busy hand looks natural; a hanging one almost never does.
The gaze
Do not look into the camera all the time. Looking away, down, at your own hands — these frames are the most atmospheric. When I need eye contact, I will tell you — and give you something to think about so the eyes are not empty.
Music and breathing
We play your music at the shoot. Before a frame — exhale: shoulders drop and the face relaxes. The rest is my job: I guide you through the whole shoot, you do not need any special skills.
Posing for couples
With couples “stand nicely” does not work — interaction does. Walk holding hands, whisper something, press your foreheads together, hug from behind. I give an action, not a pose, and catch the living moment between you — that is what makes a frame warm, not symmetry.
What to do with your face
A couple of tricks that instantly improve a portrait: drop the chin slightly and reach your forehead toward the camera so features look softer; the tongue behind the upper teeth gently defines the jawline; and a real smile is easier to catch after a short laugh than on the command “smile”. I prompt all of this as we go.
In short
Move, give your hands a job, do not hold the camera’s gaze the whole time, breathe — and trust the process. You do not need to know how to pose “correctly”: my job is to lead you in frame, yours is to be yourself.