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Friday 7 August 2015

How to do a laugh pose

And here I am laughing my head off, just like I did in the previous post where I'm wearing a swimsuit, me, the woman who never wears miniskirts, at least without leggings, and rarely shows her bare legs at all. Even toes are a revelation.
Mel Kobabyashi, laugh pose, Bag and a Beret
When I smile furtively for self-timer photos I feel like a massive doink. When I don't smile at all, well, we know the cruelty of gravity. What I realized is, why settle for massive when I can be mega-ultra-super-massive? Hell, yeah, baby!!! Go all the way! Enter: the dreaded laugh pose.

In that photo you might think I'm joking with the camera crew - well, yeah, I kind of am because I am the crew and I enjoy a warped sense of humour. 
Mel Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, deer-in-the-headlights-pose cartoon
Admittedly, just standing there in the stairwell with a tripod is an odd thing to do. The words narcissist documentarian, vain confidence-building, blogger anthropologist, and idiot idiot all spring to mind.

Look, more laughing! But so different with another outfit - you might not even recognize me!! Hahahaha!! Hahahaha!!! 
Melanie Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, shaggarific green pattern mixing
You must be wondering how I achieve this effortless, frolicking supermodel effect. Well, wonder no more!!

Secrets to the laugh pose revealed: 
  • Um, open your mouth and show your teeth. That's all. No need to continue reading.
  • Toss your head around a little, like you slept funny or you're at the beach and one of your fellow frolickers is about to throw you a giant inflatable beach ball. Hahaha! Hahaha! Everyone is so happy and rich and disconnected from reality. It's mmmarvellous.
  • Scrinch up your eyes a bit so your open mouth and teeth look friendly, not like you're about to rip into a steak and fries. Of course, my wrinkles do most of the work for me. (Hide your fork and knife.)
  • You may want to vocalize. It's impossible to put into words the sound I make, so I leave it to you to develop your own special sound.
Of course this technique only works when I'm in a safe, secure environment. Like my concrete stairwell. I know - I tried it outside today in the alley. So many people; you'd think I was in a city or something! 
Mel Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, running for cover
When strangers are around during a shoot I could probably pretzelize a steel pipe with my sphincter. Check out that boot fringe action up there. Run! Onlookers make me get a serious face, like that:
Melanie Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, thinking about the weather
Where's my fecking beach ball? Clearly I'm going to have to work on my outdoor laugh pose. 

Below I am wearing: thrifted low-rise Hilfiger capris from My Sister's Closet, shaggy green boots from Fluevog, thrifted blouse from Value Village, scarf from I forget (a popular source of clothing as the years progress), magic loupe and mechanical wristwatch from O. The Sheila stair pose got accordioned.
Mel Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, googly-eyed in green patterns
After I put these green clothes on they started whining for a compliment (heh) complement, as in complementary colour, so I added the hot pink scarf as a tie just before I went out the door. Whew - style disaster averted by quick thinking! Who wants to look like a leprechaun? Well, at least not on that particular day.
Mel Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret
Is that a bug on my tripod?
Wearing: blue kimono-ish tunic made in Japan, from the meetup clothing swap via Patti (thank you!), thrifted Anthropologie pants, black fringed Fluevog boots from Timeline Boutique, clanking bracelets, magic loupe, vintage earrings bought new at I forget.

Bloglovin' is having a contest to see who can get the most followers in x amount of time. I stopped reading when I saw it was designed for people with fewer than 10,000 followers. Hahaha. I'm imagining they're throwing me a beach ball in the desert.

How's your week? How's your laugh pose? Got any secrets of the schtars you'd care to share?

41 comments:

  1. I look very crappy person when I laugh at image (and probably also when I laugh and when there is no camera in sight) so I prefer to look really pissed. I affirm my Finnish half. No unnecessary flattery.

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  2. I want to laugh but my pictures scare me. You on the other hand are a stone cold laugher. And you look fantastic, love all the fringe, baby. xox

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  3. Hahahahahahahahaha! I think I just need to be reading this post so I can laugh at my tripod the next time I take some photos.

    I also read about that contest from Bloglovin' and deleted it before I even clicked through on it.

    Toss the beachball to me! I'm open! Come on! I promise I won't drop it like I used to in grade school.

    I can't believe you have 2 pairs of those fringe boots! You do have the luck of a leprechaun when it comes to thrifting.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  4. You have great teeth, so a wide-open-mouth laugh is no problem for you. I have been self-conscious of my crooked teeth, and discoloured front tooth, all my life and avoid photos of myself with my mouth open, if at all possible. This doesn't mean I don't laugh, I just don't want it captured on film ;)

    You make a splendid leprechaun! Gah, every time I see those fab fringey boots I soooooo wish I had a pair.

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  5. OMG, I love your complementary outfit! It's fab and bright and slouchy and, well, I love ties on women. We should wear them more.

    Everything you wrote about posing echoes how I feel about it. But you're brave and you keep going, and you're good at it! I've sort of given up on selfies. Coward. My trick for laughing is that I would think how goofy I felt taking pictures of myself. It made me laugh every time.

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  6. I have a case of serious boot lust! Smile or no smile, I think you look like a super model, for sure.

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  7. I love smiling in my pictures, but not laughing too much (unfortunate facial pose when candid). You look wonderful!

    I am incredibly envious that you found not one! but TWO pairs of those same booties! I love the green outfit the best.

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  8. Fabulous Melanie!

    Eep...no witty comment coming to mind. You know I'm on overwhelm {in a good way} over here...I'll catch up with you soon!

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  9. You have beautiful teeth. Cheers to your dentist. I feel silly smiling for the camera, too. They say that for a smile you should imagine your audience naked but since I'm my own audience, thoughts of a naked me just make me want to cry. WAAAAA.... Love your green, my favorite color, you look like Peter Pan meets Carnaby Street. And the tunic! Merciful heavens. You really scored some serious swag at the meet-up.

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  10. Definitely a bug on your tripod! But don't worry I'll get it for you. I'm from Oz we are bug experts here.
    Maybe he wants to nestle in your fringing...ewww!
    That stair photo is perfect and that Japanese jacket.
    But I do love me a complement!
    Obviously hilarious at your end despite the bugs...I'm coming over :-D xo Jazzy Jack

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  11. you know you have a serious problem following too many blogs eh, when you know what "Sheila stair pose" means - in reference to Sheila Ephemera... Hehehe...

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  12. You are hilarious! I agree you gotta make some noise with your "fake" laugh or it just looks like you are grimacing. I still can't get it right, but lord you have a beautiful laugh face. I gotta up my game. I'm of the "look seriously into the distance" fraternity...

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  13. How I enjoyed this post!! I usually read the comments as well, as I did this time. I agree with the others, you are a very lucky woman to have found these boots in two colours. They look ffaaabbulous. I love both outfits. Really really love them. That scarf/tie brainwave: very good.
    As for laughing and posing ... what can I say? I have been doing it for three years now. I just don't look very appealing when I don't laugh. And my blog is about "live, learn and laugh". I will admit it is so much easier when there is an actual (funny) person behind the camera.
    Posing like Sheila on the stairs, laughing at the camera, looking bloody good??? You nailed it lady.
    Greetje

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  14. I showed your post to my husband Ron. He thinks both outfits are cool. And he is good with styling (advertising guy).
    Greetje

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  15. Hahaha, as usual you are the bomb! too too fabulous and funny and gorgeous too. And so generous with your posing tips! When confronted by a camera I kind of go into a half-terrified trance and go into the default of the aloof unaware bystander. Like, tripod? what tripod, haha. Just pretend I don't see it while briskly fake-walking for like, one or two steps....
    I look like a deranged shining-era Jack Nicholson when I smile or laugh, but Where's my fecking beach ball gave me a LOL for reals! OK Plebs er I mean camera crew; just shut the f up and gimme that bunch of freaking peonies for my bag! And point me to the meadow. NEED TO FROLIC WHIMSICALLY NOW!
    Thanks dahling for your never-ending fabulosity!

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  16. I was laughing so hard at the sentence '...I could probably pretzelize a steel pipe with my sphincter.' my husband walked into the room to see if I wasn't having a heart attack! I mean who even comes up with a sentence like that! Brilliant, just brilliant. It's such a weird business taking photos of ourselves and I love the humour you've found in this, especially 'where's my fecking beach ball' pose. And you totally rock the fringing.

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  17. Very beautiful snd happy woman. I like it state of spirit. :)

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  18. I can't seem not to laugh when I use the time on my camera. Around shot 3, I'm usually laughing like an idiot at how ridicules I feel posing all by myself.

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  19. I'm so glad I don't do pictures of myself - I had no idea there was so much work/skill involved! It's so much easier taking pictures of other things/people. But if I had an open-mouthed smile as great as yours, maybe I'd feel differently. :)

    The sphincter comment was great.

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  20. I would dearly love to be a fly on the wall when you are taking your photos, it must be such a hoot. So glad me and the tripod parted company , I could never get the smile face right. Love each of your stunning outfits, specially the green . Those fringed boots simply amazing.

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  21. These boots are absolutely to die for, I love them in both colours and outfits. So great you found two pairs of these beauties.

    That kimono is absolutely beautiful!

    My fav outfit is the green one...such a wonderful explosion of colours and patterns...pure perfection.

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  22. I love seeing people laugh in a photo - it makes me want to smile - but, unfortunately, the closest thing I have to a complex is with my teeth. Still, lovely photos and I absolutely adore these outfits, though the green ensemble might be my preference my a hair, and not simply because green is my favourite colour.

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  23. You are the best laugh poser, model. Totally. And swim suit model too. I tell you, person with two pair of shag boots in two different colors. YOU'VE GOT TO WEAR ONE OF EACH!!!! For instance, how awesome would that totally amazing green ensemble look with one green fringe boot and one black fringe boot?! Right??! I'm telling you.

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  24. I adore the green/pink outfit! And I love the phrase "even toes are revelation". You look amazingly relaxed and unpretentious when you smile for your tripod, Melanie! xxx

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  25. Ha! I love the laugh pose, it makes me chuckle :D

    Your outfits look gorgeous on you!

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  26. Laughing is the best facelift! And those shoes are killer.

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  27. I love happy people that make me laugh and this post done it!!
    http://laviecestchic.blogspot.it
    facebook.com/laviecestchic

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  28. I learn so much from you! I'm going to have to practice my "laugh pose" with Daniel, but I'm sure I won't be able to duplicate the mega-beauty that is revealed in you first photo.

    Both ensembles are incredible, and so happy to see two pairs of fringed boots. Do wonders never cease?

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  29. Who doesn't look gorgeous with a bastard massive grin across their chops? You certainly do.
    Off to perv over your swimsuit shots, I've clearly been gone too long! xxxx

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  30. Oh no, yet another posing thing I can't do - I find the fake laugh impossible, and when I do a real one, I have about a gazillion chins! Ah well, glum and moody it is then. You, on the other hand, look fantastic when you're laughing. Can we have a soundtrack next time too, please?
    All that colour and print is making me VERY happy. I'm smiling over here. Honest! xxx

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  31. This slayed me:

    "Admittedly, just standing there in the stairwell with a tripod is an odd thing to do. The words narcissist documentarian, vain confidence-building, blogger anthropologist, and idiot idiot all spring to mind."

    Hey! What happened to your crossed out marks? No matter, you're funny enough that even WITHOUT them, it still slays!

    Loving the green outfit- you make it SING, sista!

    And keep baring those fabulous teeth- you look Mmaaaahvelous *Billy Crystal voice*

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  32. Did you know I didn't comment on your blog for months af

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    1. (Stupid mobile keyboard)

      ...after I found it because I was too intimidated? You always have peerless panache and genius creative style in hour photos; I had no idea.

      I imagine you swooshing theough town, a stunning model of originality and poise. Learning about the shyness in front of the camera when strangers are nearby makes me admire you all the more. :D

      Delete
  33. My laugh pose would be perfect if I just read your blog prior to posing. I could set up the camera, put on the timer, have a quick look at your blog and then run to my doorway laughing. No beach balls need be involved.
    As it is I may have perfected that pretzel-steel rod-sphincter look you were mentioning.
    Every lime green outfit needs a hot pink scarf.
    xoxo

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  34. I tried to leave comments last week while on vacation but they don't seem to go through from my phone, so here's to catching up. First, thanks for making me laugh, I mean a real sit down laugh my head off, with this post. Even my hubby and son were laughing when I read them the part about a narcissist documentarian, vain confidence-builder . . . at which they immediately pointed to me and began laughing. Oh, well, I do know how to laugh at myself as well. I'm in awe at you cute ladies you actually take your own photos and can smile an laugh during your posing (can't say mine would ever turn out).
    Now for this outfit post, well seriously I would wear every piece so when you get tired of them you know what to do, right? Brilliant move grabbing the pink!

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  35. I tried to leave comments last week while on vacation but they don't seem to go through from my phone, so here's to catching up. First, thanks for making me laugh, I mean a real sit down laugh my head off, with this post. Even my hubby and son were laughing when I read them the part about a narcissist documentarian, vain confidence-builder . . . at which they immediately pointed to me and began laughing. Oh, well, I do know how to laugh at myself as well. I'm in awe at you cute ladies you actually take your own photos and can smile an laugh during your posing (can't say mine would ever turn out).
    Now for this outfit post, well seriously I would wear every piece so when you get tired of them you know what to do, right? Brilliant move grabbing the pink!

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  36. I LOVE your vintage retro style :) and your blog is so cozy and personal

    Check out my new post- 6 sexy coffey tables :)

    have a fab weekend dear

    LOVE Maria Inredning - it's Swedish for decor

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  37. 2 x fringed boots = too much jealousy. My laughing face is also very Jack Nicholson. You look fab, smiling, frowning, just being you.
    Anna
    http://www.annasislandstyle.com/2015/08/summer-exhibitions-6-of-6.html

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