What to do with your hands in a business photo

It’s time for your brand photoshoot – you’re excited, you have all of your outfits ready, you’ve planned the locations and then comes the posing.

For many of my clients, whether we are doing our face to face photoshoots for their business and team, or if we are working through a virtual photoshoot, are unsure on what to do with their hands in full body shots (or even close ups). It can feel like a strange part of our bodies to bring into the photo. So, if you are about to have your brand photoshoot, or simply want to rock your next photo with your loved ones, here are some of my top poses and ways to style your hands in photos!

Add a prop

For many of us, when we are having our photos taken, we have additional nerves, and these can come out in fidgeting or fiddling with our hands. So, one way to change up this anxiety, as well as create a great photo utilising your hands, is to add a prop!

Whether it’s a flower, a pen, your phone, or even your laptop – you can utilise these props within your hands and work on them rather than focusing on being photographed. It’s a great element for me as a brand photographer as I can catch you in your element. One of the best forms of photography for business photos, particularly those to use on your marketing and social media, is to show you in action! As an example, if you are a copywriter, start writing and let me do the work of capturing you in the moment.

If we are outside, you can bring a softness to your photos by holding onto softer elements such as flowers (great for springtime images and for bringing colour into the photo), or even grab a cuppa and hold it softly.

Communicate with your hands

If, when you are speaking to others, you are someone who speaks with your hands, this is a great option to update your poses. I tend to get conversational with my clients during our photoshoots – so when they start getting animated and communicating with their hands these can create fantastic engaging photos. This is because people will see these shots and think you are speaking with them, they will see your hands in a motion that they relate to.

Let your hands hang softly

Now you are feeling more relaxed and you have taken the nervous energy and used it with your props and your communication, you can let your hands hang more softly. Whether it’s by your sides, or gently up by your chin – softer hands create a softer look.

You can also softly lean one hand on one leg as you stand, or perhaps over your knee as you cross your legs while seated. The element to remember here is the soft feeling of your hands. You can shake them out if they feel too stiff, and then gently place them in different areas. Drape your arm over the side of a sofa or chair, and then softly touch your thumb to your index finger to create a more delicate look.

Place your hands in your pockets

Relaxed poses can feel difficult to master, but what if I told you a lot of it is to do with how and where you place your hands? For one go-to relaxed look, you can place your hands in your pockets. Gently start to put one hand in your jeans front pocket for a feeling of movement; you can place your hand in your back pocket to open up your body to the camera; or even place both hands in the front pocket and lean back for a truly open and relaxed style of shot. If you are wearing tailored trousers and you feel like the pockets at the front maybe a little too tight, go for the thumbs in the pockets, or through the belt loops for a classic model-like look.

Hand to face ideas

Finally, when you have a closer shot of your face (or even from longer shots when you are seated at a desk or table) you can bring your hand up to your face. One of the best engaging poses to have with your hands is with your hand holding up your face with your chin in the palm of your hand.

The great thing about this layout of your body – with an elbow on the surface – is that you can change up your hand placement in small ways to transform the photo. Place your head in the palm of your hand; put your chin on the top of your fingers as you closer them towards your palm; bring your index and middle finger closer to your mouth and your thumb “holding up” your chin softly; or even with both hands holding up your face!

These are just a few ideas for how to pose using your hands in your brand photos – I hope they have given you some fun ideas, and if you have any questions about posing, preparing for a brand photoshoot, check my 3 Top Tips before your Personal Brand Photoshoot or would like to discuss arranging a face to face or virtual photoshoot – get in touch and Let’s have chat!