How to Strike a Pose and Look Your Best

I read an article on LifeHacker once giving tips on “How to Look Your Best In Photos.”

This is a big deal. Those snapshots taken from 20 years ago–when you were at your heaviest or sporting your biggest hairstyle mistake–WILL come back to haunt you when you least expect it.

So, like many LifeHacker postings, this one was a must on my to-read list for the week. Who doesn’t want to look their best in a photograph that lives forever?

But as I read the lists of “stupid” mistakes, I realized the tips applied to much more than how I posed in front of a camera. And I wondered how my own portrait translated to the rest of the world.

Here are a couple of poses the article called “stupid” mistakes:

1. You’re Pretending

How often do we put on a facade? In an effort to guard ourselves, we hide behind fake everything’s alright faces to keep up appearances for everyone else.  But no one’s buying it.

Ever watch a serious person suddenly strike a goofy pose? It’s awkward–and creepy. Instead of  a fun-loving Elmo, the snapshot closely resembles a demented Joker wreaking havoc on Batman.

Real people need real people.  When we experience tough times, we look for others with similar stories who can relate and share helpful advice.

Do the world a favor.  Be transparent and be yourself.

2. You’re Sharing Your Worst Side

Last week I attended my son’s eighth grade graduation. With camera ready, I took every opportunity to catch the moment in snapshots as he received awards or was recognized.

My son kept his head down. the. entire. time.

Though my pride for his accomplishments beamed from the smile on my face, he didn’t share the enthusiasm for experiencing such a memorable event.  He slumped his shoulders.  He looked at the floor.  He squirmed. He never made eye contact or smiled.

The only time I did see a smile was when he sat with his friends–while I, of course, sat behind him, to the side, and at a distance where taking a shot was impossible.

How do we pose in our everyday lifestyles?

Do we share our best side or more of a ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’?

Are we conveying God’s family as satisfied people or disgruntled children who can’t share or get along?

The article suggested simple adjustments to create a more attractive pose.  Would a few adjustments to our own attitudes make us more attractive to the rest of the world?

Striking the Pose

Last month I reminded our readers (“Blurring the Lines of Jesus”) the importance of our own rendering of God to others.  The world’s view of God is determined by our own.  Tweetable

What we choose to share of ourselves and how we share it can convey the love of Jesus–or leave us with a bad photograph that may come back to haunt us.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV

How is your pose? Are you sharing your best side with the world? If captured in a snapshot, would you treasure it or hide it?

Share your comments–we’d love to hear your stories.

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