How to Pose

For a short time, while in my twenties, I taught modeling to preteens at a charm school in Norfolk, Virginia. I have also been asked to model many times, but I do not consider myself a professional by any stretch.

Professional models give the photographer great shots one after the other. We sometimes take forty pictures to get four or five photos that are acceptable for the blog.

Many of you have asked me to share tips on posing for the camera, so this post is for you. I am happy to share what I have learned.

First and foremost is lighting. Always face the light source. The golden hour for perfect lighting is as the sun is setting. The worst time to take a photo is noon. When the light source is coming from directly overhead, your features will create harsh shadows and look more pronounced.

Look for the right background. My Covered Perfectly V-Neck top is black, so a light neutral backdrop allows you to see more of the details of what I am wearing. If I were standing in front of a dark bush or wall, there would be too little contrast.

Stand tall with good posture but relaxed. Imagine a string holding your head high and your body falling in a nice straight line beneath it. Whenever I model with someone, and it is their first time, they always ask, "What do I do with my hands?" Pretend your nails are wet. Relax your hands and keep them soft and natural when you pose. Every move should be fluid and small. The camera will capture it if you are stiff and unnatural in your poses.

Learn your best side, and practice how much a smile is enough. Straight on is best for me since I don't like my profile at all. If I am laughing too much, my gums will be showing. I have learned to look straight into the camera, relax, and give a small smile.

Create angles with your body. Put one foot in front of the other or out to the side, or turn one hip toward the camera. Put one hand on your hip or just bend one arm at the elbow and angle it out from your body. Create space between your arms and legs to avoid looking larger than you are. For example, if your arm is straight by your side, it will look more significant than if you angle it just slightly away from your body. If a part of your body bends, bend it.

Relax and have fun with it. When we are shooting, I am always moving, and Mr. Mickey is clicking away with each shift in movement. I hear a click; I move to a slightly different pose. It takes us less than five minutes to shoot fifty photos.

Remember that whatever is closest to the camera will look largest. For example, when I sit, I never cross my legs to the side and angle the upper leg away from the camera. That makes my thighs look huge!

In the photo above, my hands and feet look larger than they are because they are closest to the camera. That is the perspective. You can use this to your advantage if you understand how to manipulate perspective with your poses.

I keep my face, hands, and feet in line with my knees in these two poses so that nothing appears a lot larger than it is.

Below, my hands are closest to the camera, so they look bigger.

It is almost always better to be looking up at the photographer instead of down. Below is an example of a poor angle.

Two steps down so that I am more eye to eye with the camera is much more flattering. Slightly looking up at the camera is the best angle of all for a portrait shot.

I hope these little tips help you to have fun and get better photos for your book of memories.

In these photos am wearing one of my favorite easy casual looks. The top is the Simple Comfort V-Neck from Covered Perfectly. My waistline is relatively thick, so I used one of my favorite tricks to make it look more defined. That is an old hook and eye belt from Chico's that I am wearing low in the front to create a V rather than a straight horizontal line. For example, if I tucked this top in and wore a belt (horrors!), I would look twenty pounds heavier. 

The Jag Jeans have a smooth wide waistband with no zipper or loops to create lumps and bumps under my tops.

The shoes are at least three years old by Vince Camuto. The bag is a couple of years old by BCBG via T.J.Maxx. It is a great light neutral color, so I carry it often in summer. My favorite sunglasses are by Balmain via Saks Off 5th.

Accessories Change The Basics

You have likely noticed that I often wear a similar base, including a tunic or tank with narrow leg pants in one color.

This silhouette flatters my shape and height and fits my personality, so I often rely on this basic combination when getting dressed. 

Today I want to show you how I change the attitude and set the tone for different looks by changing my accessories. The same top and pants are worn in each of the examples shown here.

This fabulously comfortable tunic top was a gift from Covered Perfectly. This style is Fit and Flare. The flattering wide waistband pull-on dressy black pants are by Tribal, and they were a gift from Copper Penny.

For this around-town look, I added a black and silver and gold necklace, flat sandals by DV Dolce Vita last year, and a picnic-style wicker bag from J.McLaughlin to achieve a classic look that is appropriate for almost any event.

This top is very soft and comfortable for traveling. Just wash it out and hang it to dry. If you pack it, hang it up when you arrive and when you get up the following day, the wrinkles will be gone. 

For a comfortable travel look, I added flat loafer style shoes from BCBGeneration via Saks Off 5th. The scarf can be draped around my neck if I get cold on the plane. It is several years old.

I draped a Michael Kors chain detail silk scarf around my neck for a more uptown look and switched to a gold chain bag from Express. The cork and gold detail wedge sandals were by VANELi via Marmi Shoes last year.

I added a bold medallion necklace and an old cropped moto-style white jacket from White House Black Market old reptile embossed booties to achieve a more downtown urban vibe. I always use a jacket as an "accessory" to set the tone for looks. Also, the Calvin Klein bag is old from T.J.Maxx.

I hope these examples help you see how you can change your basic looks by wearing different accessories. A follower once commented that she could never put together a look when she shopped at a particular store that I often visit. I never think of putting together a specific look when I am shopping. Instead, I think only of adding elements that appeal to me and can be worn in different ways with what I already have to build appropriate looks for any event.

Happy Anniversary!

Three years ago today, a new clothing line was created with the woman over forty in mind. That has happened only a few times in history!

As a reasonably new blogger in 2013.

Covered Perfectly was one of the first companies I worked with during the early days of my blog. Above, I am shown in one of my first posts wearing the red Simple Comfort.

 

I am wearing the Simple V top above.

The cascading vest is a genuinely great accessory since you can wear it as a scarf or in several ways as a flattering third piece. I have layered, wrapped, tied, and belted under and over these vests.

The fun Color Block top is shown below.

Three years later, I am still wearing that red simple comfort top, and it has kept its shape and color beautifully.

I love how the draped front top can be dressed up for a great evening look or worn with a pair of leggings for a classic daytime look. I have also worn this one many times over the past two years.

The Simple V tunic is another great style. I love the fact that the neckline is not too low. 

The layered design is so adorable!

One of my blogging career highlights came when Pauline Durban, the owner and designer of those fabulous Covered Perfectly tops, invited me to come out to Los Angeles to model for her company.

With Pauline Durban and the talented author Mary Ann Simonetti at a photoshoot last year.

Below, I am wearing the Top with Piping.

The white simple comfort top is basic for me. It looks fabulous under all my jackets and vests or worn alone with a cool necklace. Notice that it is not see-through!

The cold shoulder top is a tank top with a sleeve. Just what we need to stay cool but covered at the same time.

Below we are together for another photo shoot. I am wearing the draped front top, and Pauline is wearing the wrap-over style.

Turquoise is one of my all-time favorite colors! Here I am wearing the simple comfort in turquoise.

The new Henley-style has the most flattering neckline! I love to wear this top with jeans.

From the most recent photoshoot.

I was thrilled to be at Pauline's recent sixtieth birthday celebration. She has such a great group of supportive and loving friends. I am truly honored to be among them.

Happy anniversary my dear friend! I wish you many more successful years for you and your company.

Pauline is wearing the black floral cascading vest over the white simple V. I am wearing the drape front top in black.

Layered Look!

One of my favorite tops for easy casual dressing is this new style from Covered Perfectly. I have worn it many times already!

It appears to be the perfectly coordinated layering of two tops, but it is one very flattering lightweight piece.

This top is one of the new styles that sold out so fast, I never even got the chance to tell you about it.

The details of a piping V-neck and bell sleeves along with the layered hem make me feel ten pounds thinner and that many years younger. The first time Mr. Mickey saw me in this, he said, "Oh that one is my favorite!"

On this warm spring day, I wore it with black jeggings from Chico's and flat sandals with a gold chain detail by DV by Dolce Vita from Saks Off 5th last year. The clutch bag is old from T.J.Maxx.

Summer Leather

Our evening temperatures still dip into the forties, so dressing for going out at night requires warmer clothes.

We had a lovely dinner with friends on a recent chilly evening.

This fabulous faux leather jacket is by I.C. Collection via my friends at ShopMyFairLady.com.

This is the type of faux leather that you can wear even in summer. It is made using small strips of faux leather meticulously sewn to a mesh under the fabric, as shown in the detailed photo below.

I.C. Collection is known for its artistic button closures and fine details. This jacket did not disappoint!

The asymmetric hem that dips low in the back is so flattering and timeless.

I wore a long-sleeve Covered Perfectly Simple Comfort top with slacks from a couple of years ago under the jacket. 

Fifty not Frumpy followers can get a 20% discount on up to two items for a limited time! Use the discount code FNF20 when you check out at Covered Perfectly. There are many styles to choose from, and the discount will apply on up to two items; after that, you can take advantage of the buy 2 get 1 FREE special. Hurry! Those long sleeve tops are going fast!

The shoes are by French Connection via Saks Off 5th. The clutch is from the boutique, Cloth inside the Grove Park Inn Resort. I always wear Chanel No. 5 in the evenings.

Three In One

Sometimes when we experience three seasons in one day here in northeastern Tennessee.

On this particular morning, it was thirty-two degrees. In the afternoon, we enjoyed seventy-two degrees.

I started the morning with layers. The stretch denim jacket was sent to me by Fabrizio Gianni. I am wearing a Covered Perfectly cascading vest as a scarf. I love the flexibility of this piece! It can be worn belted, tied in many ways, left open or wrapped around your neck, and threaded through the armholes as a scarf. (The video below shows how I did this.) I have also worn this vest under a long sweater so that it looks like a scarf peeking out when I am freezing. Make sure to pack at least one of these on your next trip. You will thank me later!

My layers served me well today! I experimented with different lengths of layers and with cropped ankle pants with flats. I almost always shy away from that combination.

This week on the blog, I am breaking all my personal styling rules. Today I broke my rules of never wear cropped pants with flats and stay away from boxy jackets. Another rule is not to wear anything with a high neck. When I am cold, all bets are off! I just recently started wearing a longer top with a shorter jacket. I really like the slimming way that combo looks.

This little video shows how I made the Cascading Vest into a scarf.