Simple Photoshoot Poses for Epic Vacation Photos

We get it, not all of our clients are natural-born models! If you’re nervous about how to pose for your upcoming vacation photo session, don’t be. We have some simple photoshoot poses that anyone can pull off.

The best advice for how to pose for pictures is to just act naturally and let your personal photographer do all of the hard work. For the most part, we encourage you not to focus on posing at all – it can appear rather forced and unnatural.

Below we have listed some fun tips & ideas that will really help you shine during your vacation photoshoot.

Professional Vacation Photoshoot Poses

When discussing the details for your vacation photo session such as the meeting spot, the best photo spots, and the start time, you should also talk about the style you are looking for. Here are your three options:

1. Directed: This is the best option for people who are looking to get lots of help & direction from the photographer. 
2. No direction: This is for people who are very comfortable in front of the camera and that are looking for a natural photojournalistic approach
3. Balanced Mix: This is the most common style. It includes some candid photojournalistic shots and some direction along the way to help with ideas & simple photoshoot poses for your photoshoot.

How to Pose for a Simple Photoshoot

One of the easiest ways to strike a natural pose during a photoshoot is to play with any props you have available. From balloons and signs to a chair or something else, a prop will distract you from the fact that you’re actually posing.

No props? Do you know what to wear? Want to wear a long, wavy dress? It could even be as simple as playfully tossing the skirt of your dress around! Have a hat? Toss it in the air! If your vacation photoshoot happens to be on a beach, make use of the natural resources around you– from sand to seashells, anything can be made into a fun prop.

No need to go through all those awkward selfie poses in your repertoire. Your vacation photographer will help guide you through your travel photoshoot, but the following tips are great to know before starting the photo session:

Let Loose Those Hands of Yours

One of the most common posing issues is where should I put my hands!? Forget all those trendy Instagram poses you see online. As soon as people are put in front of a camera, it’s as though they’ve never realized they had hands before. Hands become these unnatural appendages and it’s hard to know where to place them! The key here is to keep your hands loose– don’t ball them up and avoid showing the back of your hands. Keeping your hands fluid is even easier with the use of props (see above)!

‘What does this mean?’ you may be wondering. Fair question! We find that, on many shoots, folks have no idea what to do with their hands during a pose. We want your travel photos to look as natural as possible, so a great tip is to let your hands accentuate the photo.

A simple photoshoot pose could be looking away from the camera and pointing your hand as if you’re looking at something in the distance. Or, you could look up with your hand above your eyebrows as though you’re shading the sun to see something incredible. You can also use props to give your hands something to do during a photoshoot– whether it’s holding balloons, throwing something in the air, or tossing a frisbee, there are plenty of options to spice up a photo!

Try Taking Photos Mid-Step

Another great tip for your family vacation photos is to capture action moments. Step, skip, hop, jump– have fun and move around! This will create further interest and make for some hilarious moments for sure. Action travel photos also act as a great distraction for those who may be nervous or shy about having their picture was taken.

Arms Away

When posing for a photo, most people naturally leave their arms flat against their sides. This is a no-go when it comes to photography! Leaving your arms flat against your torso like that can make it appear larger and awkward. The best remedy is to lift your arm– even just an inch or two will work wonders! Another great idea for how to pose for pictures is to put your hand on your hip so that your arm will naturally sit away from your body, accentuating your waist.

Walk, Spin, & Laugh!

This is a great tip for couple photoshoot poses. What feelings do you want your shoot to evoke? Sweet, adventurous, romantic or candid? Thinking about this ahead of time will make it much easier to plan all the details of your shoot and ensures that your personal photographer can capture the vacation photos of your dreams.

When on your photoshoot, do natural poses and movements such as walking arm in arm, going for a spin, dancing in the street, a big hug and a laugh, and anything else that pops in your head! Moving around in your photos makes the shot more natural and interesting. Think about it – would you rather be in mid-motion laughing or stiff looking at the camera? Start to envision these natural photoshoot poses so that when you are on your shoot you are ready to have fun and have a good time instead of stressing about the pose.

Don’t Force It

No matter the occasion, we want you to have fun during your travel photoshoot. Forget the awkward poses that your mom insisted on for your family portraits back in the day – we want to capture all of your silly, genuine, romantic, candid moments! Try and forget the camera is even there; the sooner you do, the better your photos will turn out.

Keep Your Shoulders Turned

This is one of the simplest poses to implement during your next vacation photoshoot. Pro tip: You will look bigger if you stare at the camera head-on. To avoid that, simply turn your shoulder– you’ll look slimmer and it’ll make for an all-around better photo.

Ignore the Camera

We know, easier said than done! But the best way to capture the best and most genuine moments on your family vacation is to ignore the camera! Truly act as if nobody’s watching– dance, play, jump in the water, do whatever pleases your heart and soul! We find that our clients treasure travel photos of candid and natural moments the most.

And just like that, you’re a model! Posing doesn’t have to be a stress-factor when planning your vacation photoshoot.

Photoshoot Prop Ideas

From engagement and maternity photoshoots to family vacation and honeymoon photoshoots, there are so many ways to make your photos everlasting.

One of our favorite ways to add pop to photos is through the use of props! These days, more and more folks are channeling their creativity and bringing fun props to their photoshoots– we love that! It’s a great way to make your photos unique, engaging, and super click-worthy on all social media platforms! Below are a few fun prop ideas for your next travel photoshoot.

Get Crafty

So, you’ve just booked a family vacation photoshoot – that’s great! But, how to make it fun and unique? Simply gather your family together and get crafting! You can pick up all kinds of products at your local craft store or online. Whether it’s a poster board, balloons, or colorful felt, you can do anything! It’s easy and affordable to make handmade photo booth props to fit any occasion. Props don’t have to be expensive or extravagant!

Use Furniture

Say you’ve just booked a fun beach photoshoot. What better way to make your photos pop than to bring a cool chair to the beach or even a funky textured blanket!? Bring something that might be a bit unexpected for the area you’re shooting in – it’ll definitely add interest to your photos and surely help you to create memories of a lifetime.

Sentimental Trinkets

This is especially a great idea for wedding or engagement photoshoots. From love letters to military dog tags and everything in between, bring an item or two to the shoot that’s particularly meaningful. Perhaps it’s a piece of jewelry you’d like to wear and have the photographer highlight, or maybe a cool pair of shoes – the choice is up to you and your loved ones!

Leave It to Etsy

Perhaps you’re not into arts and crafts or you don’t have a particular trinket you’d like to bring to your shoot– not to worry, that’s what the internet is for! Etsy is a great online marketplace with tons of photography props for your next photoshoot. From twig boats and canopies to lemonade stands and huge frames, the options are truly endless. If you can dream it, chances are you can find it anywhere online!

The folks here at Local Lens want you to have tons of fun during your next photoshoot! We love when clients bring fun props– it makes each experience that much more unique and memorable. Book your next session with us today!