The Worst Poses to Strike in Photos (and How to Make Them Better)

We’ve shown you several ways to look better in photos—squinching, anyone? But what should you avoid in order to look your absolute best and the most photogenic? That's a question we still felt like we had room left to answer. We wanted advice from an expert, someone who knows a thing or two about what looks (or doesn’t look) flattering. 

That’s we tapped Getty Images photographer Mike Coppola—who constantly snaps celebrities and knows what works and what doesn’t—to spill on the worst poses you can strike in photos, along with what you should do instead. Coppola breaks down shots of a few of our favorite ladies, explaining exactly how they're doing it right.

Keep scrolling for your dos and don’ts to make your next snaps that much better.

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“Do put one or both hands on your waist like Gigi to create negative space between your body and your arms. This also creates a beautiful line up to the face. You can choose to put one hand on your hip or both if you are taking a photo solo,” Coppola says.

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(Image credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

On Gigi Hadid: Michael Kors jumpsuit; Atelier Swarovski by Ye Mingzi ring. 

Related: Is Squinching the Secret to Looking Photogenic? See the Photos

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“Do like Chrissy and have great posture. By rolling your shoulders back, you will look more confident. This will also naturally elongate the neck,” Coppola told us.

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(Image credit: Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

On Chrissy Teigen: Aquazurra sandals.

Related: The Photogenic Secrets Celebs Use—Plus an Expert on Why They Work

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“Do like Mindy and keep your feet close together to create a narrow base. You can achieve this look by crossing your feet or just putting them close together. This position elongates the body,” Coppola advises.

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(Image credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot))

On Mindy Kaling: Shoshanna dress; VC Signature sandals.

Related: 7 Tricks Celebrities Use to Look More Photogenic

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“Do like Kendall and nail a power pose with your weight on your back foot,” Coppola told us. “If you are wearing a long dress with a slit, this pose works even better because your weightless front leg can peep out the slit, creating a long vertical line. Make sure to add a slight bend to the front knee so the leg looks relaxed.”

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(Image credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)

On Kendall Jenner: Calvin Klein dress; Stuart Weitzman Nudist Sandals ($415).

Ready for a new wardrobe to show off in photos? Shop some of our favorite ladylike pieces now!

This post was updated by Aemilia Madden.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.