You might have seen the Expedia blog post going around lately tracing a timeline of photography trends over the past 15 years. Ah what a trip through memory lane! Like, remember when planking was a thing? And playing dead in photos? And the duck face?
Though there were a few trends on the timeline that I seem to have missed. When was “owling” a thing? (Apparently in 2011.) As for “catbreading,” ha I’m sad I missed that one!
In fact I seem to have missed most of the trends after 2010, which just so happens to be the year I moved to Japan. And having spent 2 years living in Japan, 2 years in Thailand, and another year traveling through the rest of Asia, I guess I managed to avoid getting sucked into these Internet photo trends.
At least that’s what I told my friend when I showed her the timeline. To which she said “Yeah. But you know you pose for photos like you think you’re Asian, right?”
No way!
Okay, maybe way. I’m pretty sure she’s just jealous though, because all that time in Asia taught me some killer modeling skills. Now, this comes mostly from my time in Japan and Southeast Asia instead of the continent as a whole, but I’d say the basic rules go something like this:
Find something to pose with. The more random, the cuter it will look!
And don’t forget the peace sign. It’s always a winner.
In fact, a well executed peace sign will save even the most disastrous photo. Promise!
Sunset = Photoshoot. Always.
I learned this in Boracay. Oh Boracay, an island that taught me so much that I wrote an entire blog post about its photography lessons. And the most important lesson occurred each evening when everyone on the island would flock to the beach to take photos in front of the sunset.
Now, this works best if you jump in front of the sunset or do something clever like hold the sun in your hands. But if you’re standing on a slippery snowbank then you can probably get away with just sticking one leg up in the air.
Can you? Maybe my Scandinavianness is holding me back here.
But if the sun is still high in the sky,
Shadow photos are always super fun and cute. Extra points if you can get an animal in there!
And if you can’t find a monkey, a moose will probably work.
But whatever you do, make sure you point your toes inward.
Ugh, this one actually drives me a bit crazy. In Japan it’s considered feminine to stand and walk with your toes pointing inwards – even women walking in towering high heels will do it! But the feminist in me hated the idea of making myself look twee like that. And yet there must be something in the sushi there, because willingly or not, each month I stayed in Japan my legs seemed to rotate further inward and even now, years after leaving, I find myself standing like this all the time. Ahhhh.
At least it looks super cool in photos. Plus if you really exaggerate it you might be able to give yourself a thigh gap, whoop!
But if you want to make a really good picture great:
Write something happy on it. Like “happy.”
This works best in sand, but snow will do as well!
If all else fails, Purikura it.
Because is there anything better than instant makeup, enormous eyes, cartoon crowns, and expressive text? I think we all know the answer to that is no.
I’m planning on printing this out as a poster and giving it to Dan to hang in his locker at work. Is he going to love it, or is he going to love it? Japan, you genius.
Have you learned any super effective photo habits on your travels?
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Melanie Fontaine says
This is so true! A friend of mine lived in Taiwan for a year and when we went traveling together right afterwards she would make all these silly poses that her Taiwanese friends inducted her into over time! I will say that her photos (& yours!) always have so much more personality than mine, so I should probably take note! 😉
Silvia says
Haha right? In May I’ll be traveling with a friend who also lived in Japan and she seriously mastered the Asian posing – excited to pick up more from her!
Emily says
Hahaha I love this.
Joella says
Haha yes- I still do the peace sign. They didn’t even do that so much in Beijing, but its a habit left from way back when I was in Korea. I like to think I do it well hehe.
Silvia says
There’s definitely an art to it, right?
Alex says
This is freaking hilarious <3 But you forgot the selfie stick!
Silvia says
I know! I was thinking I really need to include it, but sadly I don’t have a selfie stick of my own, sigh.
Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki says
Haha. My Grandma lives in Hawaii where there are a lot of travelers from Asia an she is always telling us how they ask her to take their picture and the peace sign is always in there. She is on a mission to learn more about this trend ha.
Silvia says
Haha it must be funny as a local to continuously witness that.
Jeannie says
Asian travelers are the best, they just want a photo of themselves in front of the thing. No actual scenery photos allowed! Also, I have to give them props about the selfie stick because sometimes that shit comes in handy!
Silvia says
Seriously clever, right?
Beth @ Paces and Places says
Great article, but let me tell you what…those boots are adorable! Where’d you get them?!
Silvia says
Haha thanks! They’re Sorel’s 1964 CVS boots – most online/big shoe stores seem to have them.
Julie says
That last one… LOL
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
So funny!
I do the toes pointing inwards pose but I didn’t even know it was a thing! As for the peace sign, yeah I do that too and if I’m on a less islolated location I might even do a half leap! All in good fun and why not lol!
People staring at me? Not a problem. My guise. Come join me lol!! 🙂
Silvia says
Haha you sound positively Japanese!
Hayley says
Haha awesome. I was guilty of a few peace signs in Japan!
Silvia says
I mean, how can you not while in Japan?
Rachel says
This is so cute! I got totally sucked into Japanese peace signs after a 3 week trip there. This subsequently then totally blighted any photos of me on our road trip around Australia! It’s impossible to not pick this habit up!
Silvia says
Hahaha I definitely had some friends telling me off for the peace signs after leaving Japan.
stephanie says
The ‘peace sign’ made me laugh so hard because it is so true.
I met a few Asians and they had peace signs on all there photos and actually looked fine, while I looked weird LOL.
The shadow thing I never thought about….cool thing to try next time I travel 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
x
Silvia says
Right? Why can’t I pull off the peace sign?? aah haha