Sometimes, posing for photos is surprisingly difficult. There is a reason why it’s called “posing.” After all, posing correctly for location, outfit and body type does not come naturally to anyone. In order to help you advance in your photo-posing skills quicker than I did, I’m giving you access to over 25 easy poses for travel photos that anyone can do!
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Posing Basics
Before we jump into the pose ideas and examples, it is important to know a few of the basics when it comes to posing:
- Pose to evoke emotion: A good photo evokes strong emotion. Try to evoke the exact emotion someone should feel at the time of taking the photo. This can be done through facials, lighting, editing and, of course, posing.
- Try to keep your hands busy: Touch your cheek, put your hand on your hip, run your fingers through your hair and use props whenever you can. Of course, there will be times where you have nothing to do with your hand(s), but when that’s the case, let them hang naturally.
- Point your toes: Whenever you’re sitting or have a foot off the ground in a photo, your toes should be pointed. This will elongate your legs and look a lot less awkward. (If you can’t point your toes in the shoes you’re wearing, such as hiking boots, flex your feet. Basically, just don’t leave them dangling!)
- Avoid touristy poses: Touristy poses (like jumping, peace signs, or awkwardly standing and smiling) are fun — sometimes. But, avoid them most of the time.
- Combine these tips together! As you browse through the poses, you will start to notice that I often combine two or more of the pose ideas together. Once you practice and get the hang of it, it will become second nature!
Now, let’s get to the poses!
1. Make triangles with your arms.
This may sound a little peculiar at first, but making triangles with your arms is an industry trick-of-the-trade in the world of photography. Making triangles brings definition to your muscles, elongates your torso and, overall, brings more life to the photo.
2. Make a triangle with one of your legs.
The same rule applies with your legs. Make a triangle with your legs by bending or popping one of them.
3. Hold on to the back of your hat. (Poses For Travel Photos)
I always bring hats on my trips. As you can see, they make fantastic travel photo props! Plus, they give you something to do with your hands.
Often times, the wind is actually so strong where you are taking travel photos that you must hold on to your hat. Other times, holding the back of your hat can make the viewers imagine that there is wind, and this, therefore, helps the viewers imagine that they themselves are at the location.
4. Lean against a wall or other nearby object.
This pose is pretty self-explanatory; just be careful not to slouch too much while you lean. Leaning straight-up gives an element of calm-and-collected to the photo, which looks particularly fitting in luxury travel and beach photos.
5. Run! (Away from the camera.)
Make the viewer want to run toward the view with you! Create an element of FOMO (fear of missing out) by running to a primary object the photo.
6. Run again! (This time, toward the camera.)
The same rule applies here, too. Running happily toward the camera leaves a cheerful and frolicky impression on the viewer.
7. Face away at an angle and look back at the camera. (Poses For Travel Photos)
This is, hands down, one of the most flattering travel photo poses.
8. Face away and pop one leg.
Facing the view with your back to the camera and one leg popped is another extremely flattering pose. It brings attention to both you and the view without taking away from the view.
9. Look up and tilt your head back slightly. (Poses For Travel Photos)
As previously mentioned, the goal with any travel photography is to evoke emotion. Looking up and tilting your head back will evoke a sense of freedom, which many people feel — or desire to feel — while traveling. You can smile or keep a more serious smolder here!
10. Focus on the background
This “pose” is more of a camera trick than a physical pose, but I add it to the list, nonetheless. Focusing on the view rather than the subject gives the viewer exactly what they would see if they were with you. If the viewer was at the location with you, and if you were standing slightly in front of them, you would be blurred as they look directly at the view.
To get the most focus-versus-blur contrast, you will need a camera lens with a low f-stop. (I suggest getting one with an f-stop under 2.0, like the Sigma 28-35mm F1.8 that I used in the above photos).
SEE ALSO: BEST BUDGET CAMERA GEAR FOR TRAVEL
11. Block the sun with your hand.
Kind of like the wind-and-hat situation, sometimes you need to block the sun out of your face. Not only can this pose cast a unique shadow across your face for an extra element of pattern, but it also brings reality back to an idealistic photo location.
12. Play the main character.
Indulge in a main character moment while you’re traveling! Act sassy (and maybe even a little prissy) if it fits the style of the location.
13. Look up in awe. (Poses For Travel Photos)
You know those moments when you go somewhere incredible, and all you can do is look up and mutter, “Wow”? Try to reenact that feeling in your travel photos.
14. Sit with your knees stacked.
Posing while sitting can be tricky. Sitting with your knees stacked on top of each other never fails to flatter, though.
15. Rock back and forth for a fake walking shot. (Poses For Travel Photos)
Would you ever guess that I wasn’t actually walking in the above photos?
No?
Exactly.
This posing hack comes especially in handy when you want to stand in a specific spot of the photo and still add motion. Nobody will ever know you aren’t genuinely waking a stroll.
SEE ALSO: 15 EASY BEGINNER TIPS TO ELEVATE YOUR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
16. Face away and look down at an angle.
This simple pose for travel photos allows the view to speak for itself! Its simplicity is also very flattering.
17. Throw your hands up. (Poses For Travel Photos)
Talk about evoking emotion!
Throwing one hand (or both hands) way up in the air and looking up will inspire the viewer to travel and feel as free as you do.
18. Throw a jacket or purse over your shoulder. (Poses For Travel Photos)
In you haven’t noticed, props are amazing when it comes to adding a little spice to your travel photos. These props can be as simple as your jacket, coat, sweatshirt, purse or even scarf.
19. Hold an object in front of you to add foreground.
A basic photography rule is to always have a defined foreground, middle ground and background whenever possible. An obvious foreground, such as a foreground that is created when you hold an object slightly in front of you, can bring a lot of dimension to the photo, which is very pleasing to the eye.
20. Act like a drama queen.
No explanation needed. Just have fun with it.
21. Hold food or a drink in your hand. (Poses For Travel Photos)
Food and beverages are super simple yet impactful props in travel photos. Why? Because eating and food culture are huge parts of traveling to a new place, and chances are that you’ll already be eating out on our trip anyway. Demonstrate this portion of traveling by simply incorporating the foods you eat (and drinks you drink) into your photos.
(Plus, food and drinks act as props that give you something to do with your hands.)
22. Stand tall and proud!
You don’t always need fancy camera equipment or stellar pose ideas to make a great photo. This one was taken on an iPhone!
23. Hold or adjust your sunglasses.
Like hats and jackets, sunglasses make great props as well! Adjust your sunnies to add a little attitude and pizzaz.
24. Get a bird’s eye view. (Poses For Travel Photos)
Yes, these are drone shots. But, you don’t always need a drone to catch a bird’s eye view! Lay down on the ground and take a photo from above. A ladder or ledge will get the job done.
25. Grab your jacket collar or opening.
Acting like your going to button your jacket (or pop your collar) adds flare and keeps your otherwise limp hands busy — not to mention that it brings more life to the stunning photo.
Believe it or not, I still have plenty of poses for travel photos where these came from! Would you like to hear more? Let me know in the comments below.
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Love these tips! Thanks for sharing!
So glad you like them, Brianna!