All of us probably have that one secret dream: to be a supermodel. Glamorous folks who strut the runway, take selfies, wear glamorous clothes, and do poses all day. But sometimes, we lack the confidence and skills to unleash our inner influencers, stopping us to take beautiful photos that fit our dream curated social media pages.
Do you ever wonder how these famous models do it? We’ll let you in on a secret: it’s simply having the right tools and knowing the basics.
Supermodel Secrets: Tools & Techniques
Light It Up
Lighting makes a load of difference to a photograph. For your next selfie, make the most of a light source and post away. There are different types of lights that you can utilize. First is natural light, which is the light from the sun (or sometimes, the moon). The best time to take advantage of natural light is in the morning when it’s less harsh and casts a softer shadow. If you’re not a fan of waking early, the sunset is also a great alternative.
The second one is artificial light which includes lamps, flashes, ring lights, and even a lighted mirror. The wonderful thing about artificial light is that you can set the intensity, distance, color, and direction, giving you more opportunities to get creative with your poses.
Whichever option you’re going for, just make sure that you’re facing your light source when taking the photo.
Precise Position
Angle is critical when taking a photo, especially if it’s your body or your face. The wrong position can distort and warp a subject, ending in an unflattering photograph. The trick is knowing where to place your camera before starting your shoot since a slight change in camera position can make a drastic difference in the result.
For the best selfie, place your camera closer at a height higher than your forehead. Tilt it to a downward angle, show your best smile, then shoot.
Flawless Posture
The right posture can do wonders for your photos. Aside from the instant confidence boost that will translate to the material, a flawless posture can also make you look thinner and taller, just like a supermodel. For the ultimate posture, stand up straight, slightly pull your shoulders back, and subtly tuck your chin. If you want your waist to look smaller and more trimmed, angle your shoulder and your hips away from the camera. To instantly get rid of a double chin, bring your ears forward and try to elongate your neck.
Pretty Face
We all have our favorite side of our face, the one that makes us feel prettier and more confident. If you know which side of your face is more flattering, use it to your advantage by taking your selfies from that angle.
To find your right “side”, tilt your face from side to side and take a photo for each. Next, tilt your chin upwards and downwards, then take another set of photos for each. Check the results and pick the one you love the most – that’s your angle. You can do this activity in front of a lighted mirror for better and more flattering photos.
A Touch of Color
One of the best ways to prep your face for a proper selfie is by putting on the right amount of makeup. A touch of color can immediately make a difference – rosier cheeks, plumper lips, and groomed brows that make you prettier, healthier, and full of life in photos.
Although professional makeup skills are an advantage, just knowing the basics can already get you far. Besides, the bare and all-natural is all the rage these days. All you have to do is enhance a little to make your selfie more flawless and perfect.
Candid Charm
Don’t stage your photos too much. Set the timer up and do something random and candid. Try moving around, laughing, and bringing a friend in the photo. You can show more of your personality through candid photographs. Use your real laugh, smiler bigger, and just do your own thing.
Pose Like a Pro
To bring out your inner model, you should also learn the basics of posing. Selfies are great but there’s something more magical when you show your body in your photos. It’s more dynamic and more creative and fun. Pull off your supermodel fantasies by trying out these full-body posing techniques:
Happy Hands and Hips
This one is a classic! Putting your hands on your hips accentuates your waits, making them look smaller and snatched. This pose also lets you do something with your hand, instead of it just being limp and awkward. Do this casually as so to avoid looking too posed and coming off as a superhero ready to fly.
Weight Watch
No, this is not about your actual weight. This technique means distributing most of your body weight in just one leg to avoid looking top-heavy or awkwardly straight. This will also help you become more stable, especially when transitioning from one pose to the next.
Lean On Me
If you think that you look awkward just standing there, find a wall, column, or table to lean on. This will give your photograph and more relaxed and natural vibe. This technique is versatile since you can do various poses like crossing your ankles, putting your hands up, or leaning back while holding a book or a drink. Just make sure that where you’re leaning is stable and sturdy to avoid accidents.
Mirror On The Wall
One of the favorite places people love to take a photo is in front of a mirror. To get the best mirror selfie, find a natural position and avoid standing straight. Relax your face and put on a smile or a smirk. Do a variety of laid-back poses that show off your angles. For best results, use a lighted mirror.
Just Relax
Avoid looking stiff in your photos by relaxing your face and body before taking your photo. Do a small dance or some body movements to release the tension. Broaden your smile, brighten your eyes, and think happy thoughts.
Supermodel and Their Signature Selfies You Can Copy
Image source: Instagram
Kendall Jenner
She’s one of the most popular supermodels in the world today. Kendall Jenner likes showcasing her tall and sexy body but once in a while goes for monochromatic and grungy mirror selfies. Pull off this dark and mysterious selfie by using your phone camera in front of a lighted mirror. Don’t mind the quality too much, blurred and grainy are okay to achieve that laidback and carefree vibe.
Image source: Instagram
Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid is the ultimate girl next door. Her photos are refreshingly laidback and natural you’ll be convinced they are not staged at all. To get that Gigi shot, put on minimal makeup, take your photos outdoors, and use the natural light to your advantage. Try facing your face to the sun for that magical glow.
Image source: Instagram
Bella Hadid
She’s a fashion queen, always the belle of the runway wearing the most magnificent clothes. Bring out your inner Bella with a mirror half-body selfie. Put your phone to the side to not cover your face and torso. Place one hand on your hip or wait for an instant confident pose.
Image source: Instagram
Karlie Kloss
Karlie has perfected the art of selfies. Hit two birds with one stone by placing your camera in front of you but at a slightly lower angle to perfectly show your face and your whole surrounding.
Image source: Instagram
Cara Delevigne
Show your cute side just like Cara by including another subject in your photograph – a friend or a pet! It’s laidback and features a more relatable side to your followers.
Image source: Instagram
Hailey Bieber
Mrs. Bieber is a selfie queen and loves her mirror shots. She does it differently, though. As a model, she likes showing off the dresses and outfits she’s wearing properly – more posed and less candid. You can do this, too! With a full-length lighted mirror, slightly bring one leg forward and angle your whole body to one side.
Image source: Instagram
Adriana Lima
The OG Angel, Adriana posts raw and unfiltered selfies these days. If you want something less staged and more natural, you can follow her footsteps by taking a photo of your bare face using natural light.
In conclusion, nobody was born with modeling skills. Even the most popular ones had to learn and perfect these techniques. With enough practice and tools, you can also achieve their level of expertise. Just start simple and you can grow from there. Just remember that there’s always an inner model inside of us waiting to be unleashed.
