As we all know, sometimes, to get that perfect shot, you have to place yourself in, well, some “not so perfect” positions that can be a bit awkward at times, so it’s good to have your body warmed up and stretched out before your shoots! Please enjoy these funny behind the camera poses (Warning: Do not try these at home, lol!) and even funnier commentary by one of our fave photographers, A piece of Lisa photography as well as tips to get you ready for your shoot cramp free!

1. Warm Up – One easy way to warm up is to do some light cardio (walk, jog or bike) for just 10 minutes! Especially if the weather is colder, this can really help to warm up your muscles and get your muscles ready to be stretched and worked. Stretching is good because it signals to your body that you are going to do some physical activity, and it prepares the body and allows the joints and muscles to function more properly and move more freely and smoothly. This, in the end, will help you to last longer in your shoot and may help to avoid any injuries.

2. Ankle rotations – This stretch helps improve circulation in the legs and calves. Lift one foot off the floor and rotate the foot and ankle clockwise 10 times and then counterclockwise 10 times. Place that foot down and switch to the opposite foot and repeat. If necessary, hold on to a chair or wall nearby for balance.

3. Quad stretch – Bend your knee towards your buttocks and with the opposite hand, grab the top of your foot. Hold this pose for 10-15 seconds. Switch and repeat on the opposite leg. If you feel a strain in your knees, use the same hand instead of the opposite hand to hold the foot in order to create a little less tension. This stretch is not only great for stretching out your quads, but it also improves balance, which is very important to capture those super sharp images!
4. Inner thigh stretch – Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your right knee slightly and shift your weight to that right side. You should feel a slight stretch in the inner groin area of the opposite left leg. Hold this position for 10-15 seconds and return to a standing position. Repeat the full stretch on the opposite side. This stretch is useful for those muscles that get really tight after all those squatting positions to get low-angle shots!

5. Shoulder stretch – This one is great to help prevent a little bit of the soreness that can come from holding our heavy cameras and lenses around our necks all day! Start out standing with your arms relaxed at your sides. Shrug your shoulders up as high as possible without bending at the elbows. This should create a slight tension in your neck and shoulders.  Hold this for 5-8 seconds and then release and relax your shoulders back down. Repeat 2-3 times.
6. Hand and wrist stretch – Holding your powerful camera and positioning it over and over can do a lot of wear and tear on your hands! This exercise can help ease some of that tension. Place both hands directly parallel in front of you. Close your hands to create fists. Lower both fists downward and hold 3-5 seconds. Raise both fists upward and then open your hand to stretch all fingers outwards. Repeat.

These stretches can all be repeated throughout the course of your shoot any time you feel a muscle getting tense in one of these areas. It is also good to do some final stretches after you do a shoot in order to reduce soreness and recovery time. Also, “warming down” your body helps to reduce the body’s production of lactic acid.

Ever found yourself in a funny pose while shooting? Share your pictures with us here or on our Facebook wall, we’d LOVE to see them! Also, come see Lisa’s amazing photography on her Facebook page, she is one talented lady in both her photography and posing *wink wink*!