Friday, October 30, 2009

The Pose

On yesterday's post an Anonymous commenter wrote "So, I just have a question- how come in every single pic you put your hands on your hip :)?"

If I were a betting woman, I'd bet this was a friend or family member of mine since I often get a lot of flack from them for "my" pose. But in case a dear reader picked up on my signature picture pose, I thought I'd do a brief history of "the pose"...

(I actually poured over hundred of pics in Kodak Gallery to bring you this post, so get excited! )

Back in 2001 the signature "hand on the hip" picture pose was basically non-existent...

Love those High School dance photos, don't you?

Then I went off to College, and by Summer 2002 the pose was starting to appear...


In 2003 the pose shows up more and more...


But by my 21st birthday in 2004, the pose is in full effect in pictures galore...

I spent my 21st Birthday in Vegas with my parents and 6 of my best girlfriends. So fun!



It's all over the place in 2005, especially on Halloween...


By 2006, the pose has even made it's way onto 18th century war ships...



And I'm still loving it in 2007...


In 2008, it really becomes pretty pervasive...


Even at the bridal shop trying on dresses...


I use the pose so much that my friends dub it "the pose". At my bachelorette they have us all pose in "my" pose...

Well... kinda.

In 2009 one of my best friends insists that we BOTH pose in my pose for this picture...


And it apparently catches the attention of a blog reader...


BUT just for the record, I don't do the pose in "every single pic". If I'm holding a beverage I won't do it, instead I'll hold the beverage out in front of me.

Like this solo cup in 2007...


Champagne in 2008...


Coffee in 2009...


And sometimes when I pose with Mr. I'll put my hand on his chest, like this in 2007...


And this in 2008...


But the "hand on the hip" is definitely my standard go-to pose.

So now you know the history of the pose. It surfaces around 2002 begins peaking in 2004.

But I have not yet answered the question, "how come in every single pic you put your hands on your hip"

The answer may be in the history... because In 2001 I joined my sorority. Maybe I picked it up there along with " The Sorority Squat"...

That is "The Sorority Squat". It is usually done in a picture where there needs to be two rows of girls, so the front row assumes a cute little squat. Sorority girls, you know what I'm talking about right?!

It looks kind of like this when done with a larger group...

Note: we did this with our Moms at the Mom's Tea Sr. Year as a joke

But the pose can't be blamed solely on the Sorority, since many of my sorority sisters don't consistently gravitate toward the pose.

I guess I do it because it make me feel less awkward in pictures, makes me stand up straighter, makes my arm look thinner, and makes me feel sassier.

Here's a recent pic, minus the pose...


I know I don't look bad in that picture, but I feel like I look kind of hunchbacky and demure. And my arm doesn't look as thin as I like it to.

When I don't do the pose I'm always thinking "what do I do with my hands? Ahhh!" So I guess that the pose just makes me feel more confident in pictures, which makes me feel happier, which in turn (I think) makes a better picture.

How about you? Do you have a way of standing, posing, or smiling that you gravitate toward for pictures?

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the hand on the hip pose. I started doing it a few months ago without really realizing it, and I liked how it made me stand up more straight in pictures and look more confident. I agree with you. :)

Glamorous Newlywed said...

This made me laugh :) I don't have a signature pose, but maybe I need to develop one!!!

Jennifer said...

I do the same thing because it makes my arm look thinner. I don't always do it, but I get it!

Polka Dots & Protein Bars said...

I couldn't agree more. That's my standard too because it definitely makes arms look thinner, defines my waist and keeps me from the awkward "I don't know what to do with these" syndrome.

Rachel said...

I'm a hand on the hop kind of girl too, it just makes me feel sassier.. like you said!

Nicci said...

I think it's the norm to do. You need to do something with your hands when posing for a picture. I always do that pose when takign a pic by myself.

Keri said...

I do something similar to your "pose" i only like to photograph from the left side. in 99% of my pictures i am on the left side. in fact all my friends and family make fun of me when we take pictures because of it. as did the photographer at my wedding. i recently made a collage for my friends bridal shower scrap book. we have been friends since 1998 and in all the pictures of us i am in fact on the left side.

So keep on rocking your "pose"

Love your blog by the way!

Tara Gibson said...

girl! i do the SAME Thing, it cracks me up that these annoymous commenters ask this stuff!

Ashley said...

When I was a freshmen in college my older gal friend Taught me "The pose" Hand on hip, turned slightly in with one foot out a little. The KEY is the hand on hip- She explained to me that It was ALL About making you look taller, leaner and thinner! UM, YES PLEASE! I make any pose if it helps with all of that!
I get a lot of flack from my family and friends for the head tilt I do. IT is another "pose trick" to help with making one look thinner...but sometimes I just look Uncomfortable. YOu go on with your pose. I think it looks good! :)

Mrs. Potts said...

I cracked up when I read the "sorority squat"! We all did that!! Glad to know I'm not alone. :)

I pose somewhat similarly to you. I think that part of it is no matter how thin you are the camera adds weight. By angling your body, you create a thinner line & when you put your hand on your hip, your arm isn't squished up against your body.

I know it! I do it too!

Meagan said...

I Love the pose as well! I Say keep it coming!!!

Ashley @ {Let Go, Laughing} said...

i do the same pose in most pictures too! it definitely makes me feel better in pictures when i do it!

Unknown said...

I do hand on the hip and that same side's leg forward. I totally notice a skinnier me in photos. Love this post!

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

lmao at the sorority squat. I was always tall, so I normally didn't have to squat, but I totally get it.

And, I think your pose is fabulous. Do what works for you, and it works for you. =)

Heather said...

Haha. I do have a pose, although it is not yet signature. I do the Knee Bend. I shift my weight to one leg, and slightly bend the knee that is closest to the camera lifting me heel off the ground. I don't do it all the time, and most of the time I don't realize when I'm doing it. It started somewhere around 2003.

But I do like your Hand on Hip pose. I think I will have to add it to my Knee Bend. It will be extra sassy! Lol

Perfectly Imperfect said...

I do the same thing! It makes my arm look smaller duh!

Meant to be a mom said...

First of all I LOVE the hand on hip pose. It makes you look confident and fun. Don't change it. Its all about who you are.

Those pics are too funny, Not in a bad way but we all have our old dance pics and high school and wedding and everything else under the sun where the styles were so different and its almost embarrassing sometimes to share those. But don't worry yours were fun.

leah @maritalbless said...

Love this and all of the photos! I don't have a signature, but I for sure never put my arms behind my back, which was my signature pose in 8th grade!

i. me. mine said...

Haha...we call it the Sorority Pop. And I still catch myself doing it even in a family photo.

Erin Helgerson said...

Best post EVER! This is hilarious, and so TRUE! I do the "tilt me head to the side" pose in every picture. I love that you fully ran with it. You are such a clever witty girl!

Stephanie said...

I stand that way, because it makes my arms look thinner.

I have pretty thick arms no matter what I do...so I'll try any trick!

KellyV said...

I definitely learned this pose (along with the squat) in college thanks to my sorority. We were told it makes your arms look thinner and helps you stand up straighter :) Who knows!

Mama Mahvelous said...

Very funny! L-O-V-E the sorority squat! How is it so universal? :)

Pink Lace and Cupcakes said...

This was hilarious! I still do the "sorority squat" in pretty much every group picture!

Love your bloggie:)

Jen said...

I am thinking it really might be a sorority or even a Gamma Phi thing.. (I was a Gamma Phi at Clemson) because we not only sorority squat but there are for sure a lot of pictures of us especially in 2's with one hand on the hip and a lil arched back. So much so that when I was President and we were looking through pics for a recruitment slide show we had to be careful not to put to in a row!! hahaha too funny loved the post!

Shoshanah said...

I think whenever I think too much about how I'm standing my arms seem to feel a little awkward. And I thought this was quite an amusing post!

Blue-Eyed Bride said...

oh this is hilarious! i laughed out loud at "the sorority squat!" pretty sure every sorority gal in the US does/did it! :)

i pose like that, too, sometimes. usually to draw attention to my waist because it's my feature that i'm most proud of. it also makes my arms look smaller.

The Starr Family said...

I had to laugh out loud on this one.... because you nailed it... EVERY sorority girl, EVERY one of us (you know it girls!) has done the sorority squat and the hand on the hip!! Thanks for this post, made my night!!

Kristen said...

Love it! I was at a Gamma Phi alumnae event recently and ladies in their 60s were doing the "squat!"

I think the hand-on-hip pose is flattering. It's a celebrity thing too!

the BLAH BLAH BLAHger said...

I totally do it, too. I'm tellin ya, it eliminates armpit fat!

Mrs. Classic said...

I started posing after starting blogging... You just look so much better in photos!

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Haha! I love it! I bet it came along with the sorority. That's where I gained the squat pose as well and the cheese it up facial expression.

Sweet Simplicity said...

You crack me up! I love this pose. btw, you look great with the really blonde color you have now. I think it is my fave.

Kelsey @ Seattle Smith's said...

I totally do the arm/hip pose!!!

Brittney said...

I totally do the same pose! My husband calls me out on it all the time. I agree-it makes me feel skinnier and taller! :)

DietCokeStraightUp said...

I so understand this post!! I always do the hand on the hip pose because I am always trying to make my arms look less massive! If I keep them next to my body they just look bad! Great post!

Anonymous said...

What a cute post Ander! (Just realized I can comment on your post without signing up or whatever.) I love all your pics, it was exciting to see Ander from '01 when we met til now.
Love, Care

Chic Runner said...

I do the same exact pose! ha ha I was just starting to realize it with my pictures after races, and then i realize that almost all my pictures are like that. :) ha ha great pose though! and I love the cup pose. I do that one too :)

Kassie said...

This was too funny!! I do the same thing, and my friends/family who aren't sorority girls get so annoyed. :) We all do it in my sorority (along with sorority squat!!), because it makes your arm look so much thinner. Everytime I don't do that's all I notice in a picture!!

Confessions of a Northern Belle said...

This is hilarious - esp b/c I've taught all the girls in my family how to pose! I used to hate how my arms looked in pictures because I have weird msucles from dance. When I transferred to school in the south I started noticing that girls never looked like they had fat arms in pictures even if in reality they were a little chubby... because they all knew how to pose correctly. So I took it into my own hands to find out how I could look like I had smaller arms and perfected my own pose hahaha. All the girls in my family made fun of me until recently, and now they do my pose too. I havent discovered the secret to thinning thighs yet, but someday I will!

In This Wonderful Life said...

I think the pose is great!! It makes me feel all those things too :)

Love all the pics...you are so cute!!

sorry I've been the worst commenter ever...I'm playing catch up so I feel connected again :)

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