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A professional posing expert says there are 3 'millennial poses' people need to stop doing immediately

Aug 19, 2022, 02:22 IST
Insider
Christine Buzan, a posing expert, went viral for a TikTok detailing common millennial pose mistakes.TikTok; @lookgoodinphotos
  • Posing expert Christine Buzan went viral for a video critiquing "millennial poses."
  • Buzan, who's also a millennial, followed up with solutions to try instead.
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If there's anything Gen Z loves doing online, it's pointing out all the "cringe" things millennials do — their side parts, skinny jeans, laughing emojis, and comfortability with the word "doggo." Now you add the way they pose for photos to the list.

Earlier this summer, Christine Buzan, author of "101 Ways to Pose" and a Tiktoker best-known for posting advice to hundreds of thousands of followers about taking photos, called out millennials for their stiff and boring picture poses.

And she is one, so she knows.

Her video, viewed more than 1.5 million times, outlined three distinctly dated poses that she said millennials need to ditch.

"What most people don't realize," Buzan said, "is that just like different fashion trends — for instance, skinny jeans and side parts — come in and out of style, posing for pictures is the exact same way."

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Buzan also told one commenter that posing is "all muscle memory," so the following poses might require conscious effort to change.

1. Too-high camera angles

Buzan said high camera angles like this are a byproduct of growing up taking selfies.TikTok; @lookgoodinphotos

"I get it. We're the selfie generation," Buzan began.

"We grew up going like this, for all of our pictures," she said, mimicking the exaggerated arm angle of a selfie. "We decided we liked how it looked, so now we decide to do it in every single photo."

But, as Buzan noted, it makes your body look distorted — big shoulders, tiny knees — and comes across as dated and awkward. If you're self-conscious about a double-chin, Buzan said in a May 30 TikTok to try wearing a rounded or v-neck top, use a bit of a higher camera angle, turn your body away at an angle, and push your forehead toward the camera.

2. The "Teapot" Pose

The "teapot" pose is commonly used to slim down your arm in photos, but it's weird and stiff.TikTok; @lookgoodinphotos

Buzan says the stiff, unnatural "teapot" pose is one of the main millennial pose offenses. According to her, it's typically trotted out to make the arm appear "skinny" in a photo.

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"The truth is this pose is really a relic of our digital camera days," Buzan explained, "when we didn't have unlimited space and didn't have a phone with a camera in our hands at all times — so we had to look really good for pictures." But, now, there's rarely a reason to pull out a pose more suited to the red carpet than, say, your neighbor's birthday party.

Instead, Buzan advised viewers in a follow-up video to adjust the pose by focusing more on putting their elbows backward. She suggested putting your thumb in your pocket, resting your hand on your thigh, putting both hands in your back pockets, or flipping your hands in the "teapot pose" so your thumbs are facing the camera.

3. Duck Lips

Buzan said millennials shouldn't be using "duck lips" anymore.TikTok; @lookgoodinphotos

"I can't believe I even need to say this," Buzan continued. "This just isn't cute. It's very forced. It's very awkward. Just don't."

4. Bonus: Using filters inappropriately

Buzan pointed out that filters, while fun for social media, look odd in other settings.TikTok; @lookgoodinphotos

"Yes, filters are super fun for social media," Buzan concluded. "However, when you're doing professional pictures — things like that — people will notice if you're using a filter, or if you're face-tuning your face."

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For Buzan, not only is it outdated, but you don't need it: "You're great the way you are."

Buzan did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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