Hand Placement in Photos: 3 Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Hands are small, but they have a huge impact on how your pose looks in photos. Where you put them acts like a spotlight - drawing the eye to certain areas of your body. And here’s the kicker: your hands might be the reason you hate a photo, even when everything else feels fine.

A common mistake I see is resting your hands right over your belly, thinking it will hide or minimise it. Logical, right? But the camera reads it differently. It actually highlights the very area you’re trying to play down. Same goes for cupping your hands around your stomach or hooking your thumb in your pocket so the rest of your hand curves right over your middle. The camera doesn’t lie: if your hands are there, our eyes are going there too.

The truth is, hand placement is a small movement that can make a huge difference in the final image.

Mistake 1: Clasp your hands low in front of your body

When you lock your hands together in front, it stiffens your shoulders and blocks your shape. It also pulls the viewer’s attention directly to your midsection — the exact place most women don’t want highlighted.

The Fix: Rest your hands lightly at your waistband

Placing your hands softly near your waistband, with elbows bent, creates a natural line that draws the eye upwards instead of across your belly. It opens your shape, feels relaxed, and instantly looks more polished.

Mistake 2: Thumbs in pockets with hands curving around your belly

It feels casual in the moment, but on camera it frames your stomach and makes it appear bigger than it really is.

The Fix: Keep only your thumbs out

Lightly hook just your thumbs or fingertips without curving your hands around your middle. You’ll still get that casual vibe without drawing attention where you don’t want it.

Mistake 3: Cross your arms flat across your body

Folding your arms tightly across your middle hides your waist and makes your frame look shorter and wider. It also gives off a closed, tense vibe in photos.

The Fix: Create shape with one hand lifted

Instead of closing yourself off, bring one hand up softly towards your face or collarbone while the other arm stays relaxed. This opens your posture, adds natural movement, and guides the eye upwards, giving you a confident, elegant look.

The Big Takeaway

You don’t need to pull out a dramatic Vogue pose to look your best. Small, thoughtful tweaks, like where you place your hands, can transform your photos from stiff and awkward to elegant and effortless.

📸 Want more? This is just one of the posing details I break down in the Everyday Posing Kit. It’s designed to help you understand your body, your angles, and the camera so you look confident in every photo.