What Everybody Ought to Know About Posing for Portraits

13 Responses to “What Everybody Ought to Know About Posing for Portraits” - Add Yours

1. 
   Tyler Says:
   January 17th, 2009 at 1:38 am

   Oh I’ve always wanted tips on getting subjects to pose better. Sometimes they are just un-natural looking. Need to spice up my subjects! lol

   Those little posing doll things are kind of creepy.

2. 
   Pooky Says:
   January 17th, 2009 at 2:31 am

   Yup those dolls are rather freekay. Thanks for the tips !!

3. 
   new media photographer Says:
   January 17th, 2009 at 2:36 am

   @tyler I agree about creepy .

   I think may photographers overdo the posing. I know some photographers that pose to the point of unnatural with every shot. But, a basic understanding is important.

   I’m also not a fan of wedding photographs with the couple posed in the foreground and the bride party 100 miles in the background staring at the them, it kills me. Of course, every photographer has their own methods and styles and knows what works for them.

   I rather capture moments. That involves being engaged in the session – not dominating it.

   Rosh
   http://www.newmediaphotographer.com

4. 
   Lenard Says:
   January 17th, 2009 at 3:08 am

   Thanks for all those wonderful tips… Keep them coming please…

5. 
   Tanya Plonka Says:
   January 17th, 2009 at 5:41 am

   Just get a job at Sears Portrait Studio or some other such cookie cutter corporate photography place… you shoot your “six sellables” and have to follow strict posing guidelines, all the while dreaming up tons of poses you would love to do but can’t.

   Note: I still have nightmares about working there.

6. 
   eph2810 Says:
   January 18th, 2009 at 3:59 am

   Just got this link from my hubby – awesome!!!! I have been offered to do senior portraits this year, so these tutorials sure will help me out a lot. Thank you for making them available to self-starters like me :)

7. 
   TruLight Says:
   January 18th, 2009 at 4:05 am

   Thanks so much for compiling the list – I’ve been looking at all of them randomly, so this really helps me know I’ve seen them all! I’ve never thought I really enjoyed taking “portraits,” but I am always taking photos of my family, so need to change me attitude and perspective about what I take!

8. 
   Wedding photographer Hampshire Says:
   January 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am

   I couldn’t work in a photo factory either Tanya. I like taking my time and letting the client behave naturally. Some posing is often needed, but never demanded. Its useful to know the art of posing and tips like we have here will always be useful.

9. 
   Carl Says:
   January 21st, 2009 at 3:52 pm

   Great tips for mixing up older subjects’ poses, but I think curious and light attention with the subject on the edge of giggles and laughter and focussed on your lens (or just above it) are very frameable shots at those early ages. Get a favorite toy or prop, suprise them and draw it up to your camera. It’s hard to go wrong when you make it fun to smile for the camera.

10. 
    Simo Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 am

    “What posing tips would you give someone starting out in Portrait Photography?”
    Two ‘rules’:
    1. If it bends, bend it.
    2. If there are two of them, make them different.

    And then some essential reading
    

11. 
    Simo Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 am

    Seems that link was stripped of from my comment… here’s the url
    http://jzportraits.home.att.net/

12. 
    Wedding photographer Hampshire Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 8:01 am

    The Photo’s look very dated now Simo, but the information and techniques used are still valid even today. I keep meaning to make that baby poser.

13. 
    natalia Says:
    January 25th, 2009 at 7:06 am

    hey the dolls are cute!!
    Thanks alot for this….huge help.

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