20 self-portrait poses for a studio session

Three rules before you start

• — Never face the camera square-on. Turn your body slightly and bring your face back to the lens — it looks more natural on almost everyone.
• — Give your hands a job. Pockets, hair, jacket collar, each other — hands that hang loose look stiff.
• — Chin slightly forward and down. It defines the jawline and avoids a double chin. Check it on the screen once, then forget about it.

Standing poses (1–5)

1. The three-quarter turn. Turn your body 45° away from the camera and look back at the lens. It works for portraits, full-length shots and every body type.
2. Weight on the back leg. Shift your weight to the back leg and bend the front knee a little. You'll look relaxed instead of posed.
3. Hands in pockets. Put your hands in your pockets with thumbs out and keep your shoulders down. Easy and confident.
4. The walking shot. Take a slow step towards the camera and press the remote mid-step. Repeat a few times — one frame will catch the movement just right.
5. Looking away. Look to the side or down, as if something caught your attention. It gives a natural, candid feel.

Sitting poses (6–10)

1. On the floor, knees up. Sit on the cyclorama floor, knees bent, arms wrapped around them. Soft and relaxed.
2. The side sit. Sit on one hip with your legs folded to the side and lean on one hand.
3. On a stool, leaning forward. Elbows on your knees, chin slightly forward. A strong, editorial look.
4. Over the shoulder. Sit with your back to the camera and look back over your shoulder.
5. Cross-legged. Sit cross-legged with your hands loosely in your lap — the easiest sitting pose for beginners.

Close-up and portrait poses (11–14)

1. Hand near the face. Touch your jaw, cheek or hair lightly — never press, or the skin will move.
2. Eyes closed, then open. Close your eyes, take a breath, open them and press the remote. The expression comes out softer.
3. The real laugh. Think of something funny or say it out loud, then shoot a series. Real laughter never looks posed.
4. Hands framing the face. Bring your hands up to frame the chin or forehead. Keep the fingers relaxed and slightly curved.

Couple poses (15–17)

1. Forehead to forehead. Stand close, touch foreheads and close your eyes — or look at each other and laugh.
2. Hug from behind. One partner stands behind and wraps their arms around the other; look at the camera or at each other.
3. Walking hand in hand. Walk slowly towards the camera holding hands and press the remote mid-step.

Friends and family poses (18–20)

1. Different heights. Mix sitting and standing so the faces form a triangle, not a straight line.
2. Everyone looks at one person. One person looks at the camera, everyone else looks at them. Funny and natural.
3. The group hug. Get close, hug and react — shoot many frames in a row and pick the best moment later.

How to use the remote without it showing

• — Hold the remote in the hand further from the camera, or hide it behind your back or in a pocket.
• — In couple and group shots, let the person at the edge of the frame press the button.
• — Check the screen every few minutes, not after every frame — you'll keep the rhythm and the energy.

How to plan a 45-minute session

Spend the first 5 minutes on test shots to find your light and distance. Then roughly 15 minutes for standing poses, 15 for sitting poses and close-ups, and the last 10 for your favourite poses and anything spontaneous. With an outfit change, plan one outfit per 15–20 minutes.

New to the format? Read how self-portrait studios in Cyprus work or go straight to the self-portrait studio in Limassol. A session also makes an easy present — gift a photoshoot.