I'm not sure what it is, but for the likes of me I can't get anything more than a serious expression out of myself whenever I'm shooting with someone. Aside from that, my lack of poses also refrain me from being more creative I suppose. They all tell me to practice my looking at magazines and such, or doing a few in the mirror. But I can be bad at reacting quickly off the spot, especially on camera. Any helpful suggestions on being more expressive? Some tips and tricks that have helped you? (:

Try exaggerating the expressions you're already making. I have to yell at my fiance sometimes, I'll try to take a picture of him and say "Smile, honey!"

"I AM smiling."

"No, you're not, your mouth didn't even move."

He said that when he smiles the way I want him to, he feels like he's exaggerating and ridiculous. But, that's his natural smile, finally.

So, try exaggerating your expressions while you're posing.

Ask for music, or take some with you.

Goof around in front of the camera for a couple of minutes (assuming the photographer isn't shooting film) at the start of the session. Once you know he has 100 TERRIBLE photos of you already you'll feel less self-conscious when it comes to actually posing.

I always encourage models to try anything, no matter how crazy/bad they may think it will look. Digital is essentially free anyway and I'd rather throw away 99 unusable frames for ONE great shot, than end up with 100 safe but boring shots!



Just my $0.02

Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

Just put a smile on that face. 

I have a model friend that knows a million different poses. I once asked her how she remembered them all. She told me that she makes up a dance routine with the poses. So really, when she is in front of the camera, she is doing a slow dance routine as she cycles through her poses.

modeling is not about having your picture taken.  model something other than yourself.  express your feelings toward whatever that something is.

I looked at your portfolio and you seem to have only one (fairly serious) expression.

Some acting lessons may be helpful (one of my sons studied acting at high school and I was amazed at the useful stuff he learned).

Billy Pegram wrote the best book I've ever read on posing.  In goes into minute detail on posing from head to toe.  It's called, Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios.  It might help.

I think its a silly idea to look to magazines for the answer.  Your new and not particularly comfortable infront of the camera- it will improve some but maybe a lot maybe a little - it depends on your personality.

this is my best advice but it requires work which many models don't want to do

A basic acting class is where to start.

EXPRESSIONS to work generally need to be BELIEVABLE - those expressions are not simply wrinkling up your face, but are rather reactions to feelings and thoughts inside your head that percolate through your body.

Write a paragraph or two in detail about moments in your life that were, sad, painful,happy, confusing, comical, moments that made you frustrated as hell.  Keep this note book by your side and refer to it daily and learn to "FEEL" those stories. When you go to a set you can glance at the book, write crip notes, or just improvise based on your memory work

method two:  Study your favorite actors in films and act out at home their most memorable scenes- trying to re-inact the emotions, the antics, the looks that makes the scene impressive.  You can also use singers as role models-Then you can do that on the set.

some other ideas are- to pretend that you have a secret that you are about to reveal- you bought your BF a car and its in the garage, or you have on new sexy lingerie or you see that he is  wearing yours while you two are  in church- so you can't say anything but have to give him a range of looks:  WTF? U idiot!, that's so funny you fool!! fearful- what is the matter with him

any way you get the idea

you look athletic.. see if you can't talk somebody into something like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1hilU4X9Gk

The problem is not you, it is a mix of you and the others not letting you feel comfortable enough to let loose.

The last time I shot a model that was shooting a ton of stuff with others yet not once let loose , I just asked to her to suck her thumb, and some other silly stuff. That was the key, for the next 2 hours she pulled off the most amazingly personal stuff smiles, sadness, sexy, playful, curious, and so forth expressions all from her, all real.

I'd say practice your poses, but don't sweat the serious look for now. It'll come when you shoot with photographers who work with you like a friend, a very different relationship on set.

I always practice..

and work on any areas of weakness..

a mirror is your friend..