When it comes to having your subjects pose for your pictures, there are no hard and fast rules. Most subjects expect you to properly pose them.
When first starting out you will probably find that some subjects are better than others. And since this is so subjective, you may find it a hard thing to get a solid handle on.
Powerful Photographic Tool - Posing is a powerful tool for a photographer; it plays a huge part in conveying the photographer’s message, since the position and relationship to the camera of a subject’s body can reveal much about the subject’s character. The pose should not only complement the subject but also make a statement about what you are trying to convey. For example, a defiant pose can make a powerful statement about the subject’s attitude, personality and strength of character. Imagine a photograph where Mae West just comes across as a simple-minded, over weight middle-aged woman. NOT a good thing.
Swipe Files – What are other people doing? What makes a great looking pose? Well, the first thing to do is get your someone good fashion magazines from the news stand or perhaps some older magazines from the thrift store if money is a serious issue. Look to see what works for you and when you find something you really like, cut it out and file it into a “swipe file”. You can also access tons of photographic pictures from the Internet. Don’t copy them of course, simply right click on the photo, and “save as” a jpeg file onto a swipe folder on your hard drive. Then the next time you are preparing to shoot a subject, so through your file and decide in your mind which poses would be good for your subject, your location, and your setup. Again, there are no hard and fast rules, so just practice and practice some more.
Equipment – Make sure you have decent quality equipment and that it is working properly. I once bought a vivitar lens that was used to go with my first Nikon SLR. It turned out the lens was full of dust or moisture and nothing could be done to produce a sharp image. Protect your equipment from humidity. Search for review of your equipment on line or have a qualified technician at a camera store tell you if there is a problem.
Time is On Your Side – I have boxes and boxes of film and negatives from“tests” that I did when I was trying to learn what worked for me. Today with digital cameras this is not a problem. You may have to try many poses before you find one or two that you really like, but it swill begin to get easier with practice. Also, you should try taking some photography courses to gain a better understanding of these composition techniques. Happy Shooting!!
Photography Posing Secrets!
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