Tips for Posing for Photos

Whether you are taking photos of your newly finished cosplay at home, or taking part in a photoshoot at a convention, posing really makes a world of difference in your photos. Check out my top tips for posing for photos of your cosplay!

· Don’t always stand facing straight on to a camera unless your character does this. Standing straight on flattens you out, whereas standing at a slight 45-degree angle gives you more dimension, and can also be slimming.

Here you can see I've turned my body at a slight angle.

· The most important tip:Practice your poses in front of a mirror. You may think you look ridiculous, but trust me, every cosplayer has done this! Posing in front of a mirror allows you to figure out what poses work for you and your character, and also so you can mimic any specific poses your character may do.

· Remember to tilt your chin up slightly. This prevents the double-chin look, and helps your jawline look more masculine if you’re cosplaying a masculine character. Although, some poses do look pretty cool with your head tilted down to look sinister! Play around to see what works for you.

· Always have picture references. Whether they’re printed out or saved on your phone, having reference images will always help you get some pose ideas!

· Try to not to leave your arms hanging by your sides (unless your character does this). Sometimes it’s awkward to find something for your arms to do in a photo, but leaving them by your sides does not look the best. Even a hand on your hip looks better!

Here I tucked my hands into my pockets. This definitely looks more interesting than if they were just by my sides.

· If you’re working with a photographer, listen to their pose ideas. Photographers know what they’re talking about, and if you do what they suggest, I can guarantee your pictures will come out even better! But do keep in mind that if you feel uncomfortable or unhappy doing a pose, let the photographer know – you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.

· Don’t forget about your face! Whilst you’re preoccupied with posing your body, don’t forget your facial expressions. Smile (smiling with your eyes is even better), cry, be broody – really try to capture your character’s personality with your facial expressions.

Here my brows are scrunched as if I'm judging the viewer of the image. This concentrated look is usually associated with the detective Sherlock Holmes.

· If someone wants to pose with you if they ask for a picture – don’t be afraid! Often interaction images look pretty cool, and it really helps to bring your character to life.

I hope these tips come in useful for you. Photoshoots are definitely part of my favourite thing about cosplaying – it’s a really fun way to bring your character to life and to collect some nice photo memories.