Want amazing skydiving photos to remember your jump? The good news is that you don’t need to be a professional model to look great in freefall. A few simple techniques can make a huge difference to your tandem skydive photos and video.
When you’re falling through the sky at more than 100 mph, it can be difficult to think about posing for the camera. That’s why we’ve put together our best tips for how to pose during a skydive and how to make sure your photos capture the excitement of your experience.
Whether you’re skydiving for the first time in Thailand or simply want to make your next jump look even better on camera, these tips will help.
1. Keep Your Head Up
One of the most important tips for getting great skydiving photos is surprisingly simple:
Look up at the camera!
During freefall, your camera flyer will normally be positioned in front of you. If you look straight down, the camera is more likely to capture the top of your head rather than your face.
Keep your chin up, look towards the camera and let your expression show how you’re feeling.
And don’t worry about looking nervous — those genuine reactions are often some of the best photos of the entire skydive.
2. Smile!
Yes, you’re falling out of an aeroplane — but try to smile!
A big natural smile makes an enormous difference to skydiving photographs. Your face is one of the most important parts of the picture, so don’t hide it behind your hands or look down at the ground.
If you’re excited, laugh. If you’re amazed, show it. If you’re having the time of your life, let the camera see it.
Natural emotions make the best skydiving photos.
3. Get Your Freefall Body Position Right
Before worrying about posing, concentrate on getting into a stable freefall position.
Your tandem instructor will teach you the correct position before you leave the aircraft. Generally, this means:
- Hips pushed forward into the airflow
- Head and chin up
- Arms relaxed
- Knees bent
- Legs positioned correctly behind you
- Body relaxed rather than stiff
A good arch helps create a stable freefall position and also gives the camera flyer a much better subject to photograph.
Remember: your instructor’s instructions always come first. Don’t change your body position or move suddenly simply to try to get a particular photograph.
4. Don’t Cover Your Face
This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to pose for skydiving photos.
It’s tempting to throw your hands in the air, but if your hands are directly in front of your face, your camera flyer won’t be able to capture your expression.
Instead, try:
👍 Thumbs up
✌️ Peace signs
❤️ Heart shapes
🙌 Arms spread wide
🤟 A fun hand gesture
Just keep your face visible.
Simple poses like these can create much more interesting photos without requiring complicated movements.
5. Look at the Camera
Imagine your camera flyer is a friend standing in front of you.
Look directly at them.
Eye contact creates much more engaging photographs and makes it look as though you’re actually interacting with the person taking the photo.
You don’t need to stare at the camera for the entire freefall. In fact, some of the best photo sequences combine different expressions and directions.
Try this:
Camera → smile → look at the view → camera → fun pose → camera.
This gives your photographer plenty of different moments to capture.
6. Try More Than One Pose
Don’t spend the entire freefall doing the same pose.
Once you’re stable and your instructor gives you the opportunity to interact with the camera, try several different expressions and poses.
For example:
The Classic
Smile directly at the camera with your arms comfortably out.
The Superstar
Spread your arms wide and give the biggest smile you can.
The Peace Sign
Give the camera a peace sign while keeping your face visible.
The Heart
Make a heart shape with your hands.
The “I’m Flying!”
Stretch your arms out and enjoy the sensation of flying.
The Crazy Face
Pull your funniest expression!
There’s no right or wrong answer. Your skydiving photos should reflect your personality and your experience.
7. Relax Your Body
This can be easier said than done!
Many first-time skydivers become stiff because they’re concentrating so hard on doing everything correctly.
Try to relax your shoulders, arms and hands.
Your tandem instructor will help you achieve the correct freefall position, so once you’re stable, take a breath and enjoy the experience.
A relaxed skydiver generally looks much more natural in photographs than someone who is rigid and tense.
8. Don’t Worry About Looking Perfect
This is probably the most important tip of all.
Your best skydiving photo doesn’t necessarily have to be the most perfectly posed photo.
Some of the best images capture genuine excitement, laughter, surprise and pure joy.
Your camera flyer is looking for those moments. Let yourself experience the jump rather than spending the entire freefall worrying about the camera.
The excitement on your face when you realise you’re actually flying through the sky is something you simply can’t fake.
9. Choose the Right Clothing
What you wear can also affect your skydiving photos.
Bright, solid colours tend to stand out well against the sky and make the subject easier to see in photographs.
Consider wearing colours that contrast with the sky rather than clothing that blends into the background.
Avoid loose accessories, hats or anything that isn’t permitted by your skydiving centre.
If you’re jumping with friends, coordinating colours can also make group skydiving photographs look fantastic.
10. Let Your Camera Flyer Do Their Job
Your camera flyer is a trained skydiver who knows how to position themselves to capture different angles and perspectives.
During freefall, they may move above, below or around the tandem pair to create different shots.
Trust their positioning.
You don’t need to constantly chase the camera or make large movements to get their attention.
Instead, maintain your stable position, look towards them when appropriate and respond to their signals.
This allows them to concentrate on creating great images while you concentrate on enjoying your skydive.
11. Get the Exit Shot Right
Some of your most dramatic skydiving photos can be taken immediately after leaving the aircraft.
The exit is exciting, but it’s also important to remember that this is a critical part of the skydive.
Listen carefully to your tandem instructor and follow the exit position you’ve been taught.
Once you’re clear of the aircraft and your instructor has established the correct freefall position, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to interact with your camera flyer.
Don’t try to improvise during the exit just to get a better photograph.
A great photo is never more important than a safe exit.
12. Use the Scenery
One of the things that makes skydiving photography so special is the scenery.
You’re not standing in front of a studio backdrop — you’re thousands of feet above the ground with an incredible landscape beneath you.
Don’t spend every second looking at the camera.
Look around.
Take in the view.
Look down at the coastline.
Look towards the horizon.
Then look back at the camera and smile.
This creates a mixture of close-up portraits and spectacular wide-angle images that really tells the story of your skydive.
13. The Best Skydiving Photos Tell a Story
The best photo package isn’t necessarily the one where every photograph is a close-up of your face.
A great collection of tandem skydiving photos should show the entire experience.
Ideally, you’ll have photographs showing:
Before the jump
Excitement and anticipation.
The aircraft
You and your tandem instructor preparing to jump.
The exit
The moment you leave the aircraft.
Freefall
Big smiles, poses and genuine reactions.
The scenery
The incredible view from thousands of feet above the ground.
The parachute ride
A completely different perspective of your experience.
The landing
The moment you realise you’ve just completed your skydive!
Together, these photographs tell the complete story of your adventure.
The Golden Rule for Great Skydiving Photos
If you only remember five things, remember these:
1. Look at the camera
Your camera flyer needs to see your face.
2. Smile
Big, genuine expressions make fantastic photographs.
3. Keep your face visible
Have fun with your hands, but don’t hide your face.
4. Stay relaxed
A relaxed body looks natural and makes freefall easier.
5. Listen to your instructor
Your instructor’s instructions always take priority over photography.
Ready to Get Your Best Skydiving Photos?
Your tandem skydive is likely to be one of the most exciting experiences you’ll ever have — so why not capture it?
At Thai Sky Adventures, our camera flyers are there to capture the excitement, smiles and unforgettable moments of your skydive, from the aircraft exit through freefall and under canopy.
Whether you’re visiting Thailand for a holiday, celebrating a birthday, marking a special occasion or simply looking for an unforgettable adventure, your skydiving photos give you something you can keep long after your feet are back on the ground.
Look up. Smile. Fly. And let us capture the moment.
Book Your Tandem Skydive in Thailand
Ready to experience freefall for yourself?
Book your tandem skydive in Pattaya, Thailand with Thai Sky Adventures and experience the incredible feeling of freefall from 13,000 feet.
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