How Body Language Elevates Your Headshots in Vancouver

Let’s explore how body language elevates your headshots from a Vancouver headshot photographer. Have you ever wondered why some headshots just pop while others feel flat? It often comes down to one thing: body language. 

In his recent TED Talk, portrait photographer David Suh—TikTok’s “King of Poses”—demonstrated how tiny shifts in your chin or posture instantly change how you’re perceived: chin‑up feels confident, chin‑down can feel friendly or flirtatious. That resonated with me deeply because I teach those same cues when I take professional headshots right here in Vancouver. I photograph all my headshots tethered to a computer so we get instant, real-time results. We review the photos throughout the shoot, and can instantly see how your body language tells a story. I tell people, “Tell me what you are loving but also hating. My feelings won’t be hurt, I just want to find the best angles for you!”

Why this matters for your LinkedIn, website, or corporate bio

• Authenticity meets ambition: Suh argues headshots should reflect not just how you look, but who you are becoming. That idea highlights my approach. I want your images to reflect your identity and your future.

• Tiny poses, powerful impact: Breathing in, relaxing your shoulders, standing tall, chin up, tilt your head. The smallest tilt or shift can dramatically affect the photo. Posing can make you feel like a pretzel if you’re not used to it, but it makes all the difference. 

• Move beyond preset poses: As Suh discovered, default “top three poses” rarely work for everyone. Body types and self‑perception vary. I take time to guide and educate what your body language is communicating. What your eyes, mouth, and jaw line are telling the world. From there, I simply want to find a shot you are happy with. 

What happens when you book a session with me in Vancouver?

1. Pre‑session chat: We talk identity, values, and how you want to be seen. CEO seriousness, creative and fun, corporate approachability, whatever it is.

2. Guided posing: Not stiff instructions—instead, subtle breathwork, chin shifts, shoulder alignment. I talk a lot during our headshot session, and we have fun. I like to find common ground and interests. Before you know it, you forget that you are in front of the camera.

3. Iterative feedback: We review the photos together. I coach you on how to make small adjustments that change the energy and communicate your goals to the world while being authentic.

Real Headshots: A Client Story

One of my favourite clients to work with is Narges. She is an expert speech coach helping CEO’s and entrepreneurs prepare for presentations like TEDx Dragons Den. As a high-calibre coach, she needs to exude confidence and take command of the whole room with her headshots. She also wants to be fully authentic. Narges embraces her personal style, her natural hair colour and texture. She basically broke all of my 10 tips for a successful headshot session. She knew who she was and what she wanted, but I helped her communicate that through posing. We worked together!

Practical tips if you’re snapping a selfie, LinkedIn shot, or casual headshot

• Relax your shoulders, breathe, and lift your chin just enough to engage confidence without overdoing. It’s all in the micro movements.

• Shift your weight or tilt your body slightly—it breaks the symmetry and invites energy.

• Eyes and gaze: For a headshot photo, you want to be looking directly into the camera. Connecting with your audience. For a lifestyle or branding photo, you can be looking off camera.

Final thought: You deserve to take up space

Posing is not about pretending. It’s about owning your presence. It’s a declaration of self‑expression. As Suh puts it, your body language says you belong and you’re deserving of visibility.
If you’re ready to translate that inner confidence into professional images that stand out, let’s make it happen.

Want headshots or visual storytelling portraits in Vancouver that feel exactly like you? Ready to show up fully?
Book a session now, and let’s use your body language to speak volumes.