The Posing Playbook
Mikaela Pabon · mikaelapabon.com
10 Video Lessons + Bonus Tips

The
Posing
Playbook

Every pose you've ever wondered about — finally answered. 10 lessons covering the moves women ask me about most, with key takeaways and practice prompts so it actually sticks.

10 video lessons — watch anytime, on any device
Key takeaways + practice prompts for every lesson
Partner, family, vacation, sitting, fitted dress poses + more
3 bonus extra tips included
Start Lesson 1 ✦
What's Inside
01
Partner Poses
Posing With Your Partner
→
02
Family Photos
Family Shoots
→
03
Outfit Poses
Posing in a Fitted Dress
→
04
Body Confidence
Hiding the Belly
→
05
Stiff & Boxy Fix
Stiff & Boxy? Let's Fix That
→
06
Hands
What To Do With Your Hands
→
07
Vacation Poses
Vacation Poses
→
08
Easiest Tip
The Easiest Tip: Step Back
→
09
Movement
The Skirt Toss
→
10
Seated Poses
Sitting Poses
→
✦
Bonus
Extra Tips
→
01
Posing With Your Partner
02
Family Shoots
03
Posing in a Fitted Dress
04
Hiding the Belly
05
Stiff & Boxy? Let's Fix That
06
What To Do With Your Hands
07
Vacation Poses
08
The Easiest Tip: Step Back
09
The Skirt Toss
10
Sitting Poses
✦
Bonus Tips
01
Partner Poses
Lesson 1 of 10

Posing With Your Partner

Couple photos that actually look like you two

Couple photos go wrong when they feel like a performance. They go right when they feel like a real moment between two people who actually like each other.

These poses create connection — not just proximity.

Key Takeaways
Lean into each other — foreheads together, one person's head on the other's shoulder. Contact = connection.
The candid laugh: say something funny right before the shot, or have one person whisper in the other's ear.
Walk together toward or away from the camera — movement creates ease instantly.
Don't force matching energy. If one person is serious and one is smiling, that's real. That's beautiful.

"The best couple photo isn't about the poses. It's about forgetting the camera is there."

Lesson 01 · Partner Poses
Practice

The 'looking at each other' shot almost always beats both looking at the camera. Try it first.

1 of 10 Lesson 02 →
02
Family Photos
Lesson 2 of 10

Family Shoots

How to get your kids to smile (and actually enjoy it)

Family photos are the ones you'll want forever — but getting everyone to cooperate, especially kids, can feel impossible.

The secret isn't forcing smiles. It's creating moments that make them happen naturally.

Key Takeaways
Don't ask for a smile — say something silly, make a sound, or whisper a secret right before the shot.
Let kids move. A running, jumping, or tickling photo is worth more than a stiff posed one.
Bribery is a strategy. Promise something fun after the shoot — it keeps energy positive.
Shoot in bursts. You need 30 frames to get 1 great one. That's completely normal.

"The best family photo isn't the perfect one — it's the real one."

Lesson 02 · Family Photos
Practice

Schedule the shoot after a nap or snack — never when kids are tired or hungry. Timing is everything.

2 of 10 Lesson 03 →
03
Outfit Poses
Lesson 3 of 10

Posing in a Fitted Dress

How to show off every curve with confidence

Fitted dresses are everything — but they can feel intimidating on camera if you don't know your angles. These moves are specifically designed for when the outfit is doing a lot.

The goal is to complement what you're wearing, not fight it.

Key Takeaways
Angle your body at 45° — never face the camera straight on in a fitted dress.
Pop one hip slightly and shift your weight to your back leg. That creates shape without looking forced.
The perch: sit on the edge of a surface, legs at an angle. Fitted dresses photograph beautifully seated.
Walk slowly toward the camera letting the dress move with you. Fabric in motion = effortless.

"The dress is doing the work. Your job is to show up relaxed and let it."

Lesson 03 · Outfit Poses
Practice

Try looking slightly off-camera rather than directly into the lens. It adds mystery and lets the outfit be the focus.

← Lesson 02 3 of 10 Lesson 04 →
04
Body Confidence
Lesson 4 of 10

Hiding the Belly

Poses and angles that flatter your midsection

This is one of the most requested topics I get — and I get it. But here's the reframe: it's not about hiding, it's about knowing which angles and positions make YOU feel most like yourself.

A few simple adjustments change everything.

Key Takeaways
Never face the camera dead-on. A 45° angle is your best friend for your midsection.
Lean slightly forward from the waist — it elongates the torso and creates a more flattering line.
Arms slightly away from your body, not pressed flat against your sides. Space creates shape.
High-waisted outfits + a defined waistline in the frame = automatic flattery.

"The most flattering angle isn't a trick. It's just knowing where to put yourself in the frame."

Lesson 04 · Body Confidence
Practice

Shoot from slightly above eye level rather than below. That one camera angle adjustment changes more than any pose.

← Lesson 03 4 of 10 Lesson 05 →
05
Stiff & Boxy Fix
Lesson 5 of 10

Stiff & Boxy? Let's Fix That

What to do when your body just won't cooperate

You know the feeling — you're in front of the camera and your body suddenly forgets how to exist naturally. This lesson is specifically for that moment.

Stiffness isn't a personality trait. It's tension. And tension has specific, simple fixes.

Key Takeaways
Shake it out: literally shake your hands, roll your shoulders, take a deep breath out loud. Reset your body.
Find something to lean on immediately — stiffness drops the second your body gets support.
Look away from the camera. Pretend it's not there. Pick a specific spot nearby to focus on.
Move first, then pause. Walk into the frame, stop, breathe. The movement carries over into your stillness.

"Stiffness is just tension with nowhere to go. Give it somewhere to go."

Lesson 05 · Stiff & Boxy Fix
Practice

If nothing is working, step away for 60 seconds, do something physical, then come back fresh.

← Lesson 04 5 of 10 Lesson 06 →
06
Hands
Lesson 6 of 10

What To Do With Your Hands

The most-asked posing question — finally answered

This is the question I get asked more than anything else. And the answer is simpler than you think: give your hands a purpose, and they'll never look awkward again.

Stiff hands = stiff photo. Hands with purpose create ease and confidence — even in a still image.

Key Takeaways
Touch your hair — graze your temple, tuck a strand, rest fingertips at your hairline. Always looks natural.
Touch your waist or hip — creates shape and signals ownership of your space in the frame.
Touch your jewelry — a necklace, earring, or bracelet reads as confident and intentional.
Hold something — a bag strap, a cup, a hat. Props give your hands a reason to exist.
Shake your hands out before every shot. Soft hands = elegant photo. Always.

"Hands in motion = confidence in flow. Give them somewhere to be."

Lesson 06 · Hands
Practice

Try all 5 hand options in one shoot — one shot each — then save your top 2 as your personal go-tos forever.

← Lesson 05 6 of 10 Lesson 07 →
07
Vacation Poses
Lesson 7 of 10

Vacation Poses

Look like yourself — even in a tourist photo

Vacation photos should feel like you were there, not like you were standing awkwardly waiting for someone to stop taking pictures.

The goal isn't to look like a travel influencer. It's to look like YOU — happy, present, and alive in the moment.

Key Takeaways
Use the environment: lean on railings, sit on steps, walk toward the camera, look away from it.
The over-the-shoulder look: walk away slowly, turn your head back toward the camera. Works everywhere.
Hold something — an ice cream, a drink, a bag strap, a hat. Props ground you and give your hands purpose.
Don't always face the camera — looking at a view or into the distance tells a story.

"The best vacation photo isn't posed. It's a moment that just happens to be caught."

Lesson 07 · Vacation Poses
Practice

Ask your travel partner to take 10 photos in 30 seconds while you walk or look around. At least 2 will be perfect.

← Lesson 06 7 of 10 Lesson 08 →
08
Easiest Tip
Lesson 8 of 10

The Easiest Tip: Step Back

One move that instantly changes every photo

This might be the simplest posing tip I've ever shared — and it works every single time. No special skills, no practice needed.

Just step back. Seriously, that's it.

Key Takeaways
Stepping back from the camera creates distance that naturally elongates and flatters your proportions.
It also gives you space to use the full environment in the frame — architecture, nature, a room.
Step back, then lean slightly forward from the waist. That combination is endlessly flattering.
Works for full body AND close-up crops — the extra distance gives the photographer more to work with.

"Sometimes the best posing tip is the simplest one. Step back and let the frame breathe."

Lesson 08 · Easiest Tip
Practice

Next time you feel like a photo isn't working, before changing your pose — just take two steps back. See what happens.

← Lesson 07 8 of 10 Lesson 09 →
09
Movement
Lesson 9 of 10

The Skirt Toss

How to create energy and joy in one move

The skirt toss is one of those moves that looks like a lot but takes almost no effort — and it photographs beautifully every single time.

You don't need a big dramatic moment. Even a small swish of fabric mid-move creates the feeling of joy and ease that stiff poses never can.

Key Takeaways
Hold the hem or sides of your skirt lightly — don't grip, just graze.
Lift gently and let it fall naturally. The movement of fabric in the frame = instant energy.
Combine with a slight turn or step so your whole body is moving, not just your hands.
Shoot in burst mode. The best frame is almost always mid-toss, not at the peak or the landing.

"Let the fabric move first. Your confidence will follow."

Lesson 09 · Movement
Practice

This works with any skirt or dress with movement — maxi, midi, mini. The floatier the fabric, the more dramatic the result.

← Lesson 08 9 of 10 Lesson 10 →
10
Seated Poses
Lesson 10 of 10

Sitting Poses

Shape and ease — even when you're sitting down

Sitting photos are some of the hardest to get right. The culprit is almost always the same: sitting straight-on and letting the camera flatten you.

The fix is all about angles. Your knees, ankles, arms, and posture tell a story — make it an intentional one.

Key Takeaways
Sit at 45° to the camera, never straight-on. Creates depth and shape immediately.
The perch: sit on just the front edge of the seat. Lifts posture and creates beautiful leg lines.
Cross at the ankle, not the knee — more elegant and creates a longer leg line.
One arm resting lightly on your knee or a surface. Soft hands, never gripping.

"Sit at angles, not straight-on. Let your body create shape even when it's at rest."

Lesson 10 · Seated Poses
Practice

Try the perch on a stool, chair, stairs, or outdoor ledge. Different seats create completely different vibes.

← Lesson 09 10 of 10 Bonus Tips →
You're not done yet

Bonus Extra Tips

Three more posing tips — because more is more.

01
Bonus Tip
Extra Tip 1
02
Bonus Tip
Extra Tip 2
03
Bonus Tip
Extra Tip 3
Your Next Step

The Playbook taught you how to use your body. Confident on Camera teaches you to own the room.

You've mastered the physical side. The full course goes deeper: mindset, presence, what you wear, expression, and the emotional confidence that makes the camera love you back.

Full Course · Next Level
Confident on Camera
$97
  • 10 modules covering mindset, movement, angles, expression and outfits
  • Confidence Keys: breath, intention, presence — the inner work
  • What you wear is the first pose — dressing for ease on camera
  • Expression and energy — how to let people truly see you
  • Lifetime access, watch at your own pace
→ stan.store/mikaelapabon/p/confident-on-camera

"These poses are your foundation. The women who are truly magnetic on camera have built something deeper — a knowing that they belong in the frame."

— Mikaela Pabon

Mikaela Pabon
mikaelapabon.com · @mikaelapabon · dressedinjoy.com
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Mikaela Pabon
Home
About
Posing Workshop
Blog
shop my looks
Contact
Shop my Designs
Home
About
Posing Workshop
Blog
shop my looks
Contact
Shop my Designs
 
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