You know it’s coming. The moment someone steps in front of your lens, you get the question: what do I do with my hands?
And we’ve all been there, right? It’s like we suddenly realise that we have these bizarre attachments on our bodies that just feel awkward and ridiculous the moment someone points a camera at us, despite being mostly normal and functional human adults.
Here’s what to do when that question inevitably comes.
Use hands: tips for prompting natural looking hands with individuals and couples
Another portrait essential, this prompt embodies some universal principles that will help you to achieve natural, relaxed poses. This prompt pairs nicely with Two Rules Together, fundamental prompts for couples to immediately enhance connection in your photographs.
How to use this photo pose prompt
This is a prompt that you can use to make small adjustments, as well as prompt fluid movement and relaxed hand poses. For solo portraits, ask your client to “bring your hands into play” and just keep moving, flowing through movements, for a few moments (give suggestions from the prompt below).
If they get uptight (or start uptight!), ask them to shake their whole upper body (do a ragdoll dance) and then flop. Then bring hands into play again.
In static poses always aim to see at least a glimpse of the fingers (don’t make a hand blob out of a closed fist). Avoid chopping fingers off in your framing (in the same way as you would avoid chopping limbs, hands, feet, and so on, at the joints).
Posing hands for women
- Touch face, neck, opposite shoulder, wrist, forearm.
- Hold onto wrist, forearm. Use a light hold (don’t squeeze).
- Let hands fall with ballet hold (middle finger touched gently to thumb).
- Fan fingers out and then relax (don’t make a tight fist or tight grip).
- Shoot the wrist side-on to lengthen.
Posing hands for men
- Touch back of neck, interlock fingers and stretch, cross arms across chest (but be aware of closed body language in shots with other people).
- Use clothing: Let arms fall loose with hands in pocket (thumbs inside pockets generally looks better than hooked outside), slip hand into vest front, hold onto jacket lapels, straighten collar, adjust tie, touch scarf or hat, hold hat in hands.
Creative extension
- Shoot tight on hands: capture expressive behaviors between people.
- Choose a meaningful accessory to play with.
- Find a hobby or activity (guitar, piano, carving, painting, etc) that gives the subject something to do with their hands and lends itself to capturing beautiful details close-up of the hands in motion.
That’s the “Use Hands” prompt. What’s a non-negotiable that you always capture with hands in your photography? Tag @promptographerguide and use the hash tag #promptographerguide to share your photos.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarised onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards, with the details given in the accompanying Guidebook. All the ideas are given on the one card so you have a rich, comprehensive tool for sparking ideas. I’ve designed it this way so you only need five to ten cards to build a whole photoshoot.
If you want this prompt in your set, make sure you include Set 1: Individuals and Couples Essentials in your Field Cards.
