I thought it was the dumbest suggestion I’d ever heard.
I was with my business partner, Michael Day, on a site inspection trip in Kenya in the late 90s. I was standing in an open-top safari vehicle somewhere in the Maasai Mara, as he took photos of me. “Now,” he directed me, “throw your arms up in the air.”
I complied, stiffly. It felt contrived and forced. “How dumb!” I thought to myself.
But later, when the photo was developed (remember those days before digital?) – it turned out great. Much better than the first, normally posed, image he had shot.
And so, as I do with all good ideas – I stole it!
Since I started my WOW! Travel Club division in 2006, the pose has become iconic. (I wish I could trademark it!) Surprisingly, it makes a HUGE difference in photos: smiles are wider and more natural. There are, however, some hazards of which you should be aware. Faces can get slapped and noses punched by over-eager participants. Faces can be obscured by someone’s outstretched arm. But it’s worth it – and I always take more than one shot.
When strangers ask me to take their photos, I comply with their normal expectation first. Then I tell them, “This time, make it a ‘WOW’!” And they always love their WOW photo best.
In my never-ending process of organizing my thousands of photos, I have a lot of wonderful WOWs. They’re always among my favorites!
This is Michael – the guy who started it all!
Somewhere in Provence . . .
My WOW! group in Kenya in 2012
Egypt . . . 2008
My WOWees at the edge of Victoria Falls, Zambia, in 2008
Peru . . . 2007
My very first WOW! group in Jaipur, India in 2006
WOWing with the hounds in Ireland, 2016
WOWees in Cappodocia, Turkey, 2015
Gabriel and I celebrating a sunset WOW moment in Ephesus, Turkey in 2015
The Taj Mahal is certainly a WOW moment, 2004
WOWees in Cuba, 2015
Spelling out “WOW” at Sacsayhuaman, near Cusco, Peru, 2007
But a few of my absolute favorite WOW poses – that touched me deeply – were taken recently . . . after I was diagnosed with cancer – and could not be in the places where I would normally be posing with my group. Knowing my love for such photos, WOW! photos were staged without me in my honor … or, in some cases, with a skillful Photoshop insertion!
This photo was taken just yesterday, in front of an historic estancia in Argentina. I was scheduled to lead this group of beloved clients from Philadelphia, but was forced to pass the privilege and responsibility to my talented young Program Manager, Whitney Chen. She pulled it off beautifully – and my client had the group do the WOW! pose in my honor. Thank you, Whitney and David!
I wasn’t in Bruges, Belgium with my NECA group this summer – or was I?? And who is that guy atop the giant red poodle – and why is he pointing at me?
My fabulous team, Gabriel (in front), Howard (in purple shirt) – and my colleagues from Amsterdam, Victor and Maelle – who pulled everything together in my absence when I was unable to lead my group at the 11th hour. What a WOW!
And this might be my favorite WOW! photo of all time. For 27 consecutive years, I’ve been partnering with the Western Region of NECA (National Electrical Contractors Assn) – planning amazing travel experiences and making magnificent friendships in the process. Although my diagnosis was disturbing, the most distressing thing was missing out on all the fun I had planned for them in The Netherlands. When I received this photo – of everyone in the group doing my famous WOW! pose during their final night dinner in the Koepelkirk in Amsterdam – with ME! – smack dab in the center … I could not have been more thrilled!
And so, I encourage you to steal this wonderful technique for your photos. I promise you, after the first somewhat awkward and embarrassing time – you’ll be hooked!
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3 Comments
Melissa Smith September 30, 2016 at 6:14pm
It’s the best photo pose EVER!
Karen Gray October 7, 2016 at 1:10am
These are definitely WOW moments! Lucky you, a lot of love in those photos!
Joyce Walters October 10, 2016 at 1:25pm
Marilyn, I totally agree photos are better with the WOW pose!! Thanks for letting us steal the idea – we love it!!