Who likes posing in front of a camera? Not I, for one! Most of us will admit that we feel awkward and tense when a lens is pointed in our direction. I suppose these feelings can be described as a form of stage fright or performance anxiety - a fight or flight response when confronted with adversity. Like any skill, posing comes with practise and understanding, but most of us are not professional models gracing the covers of fashion magazines. That is why it is my job as the photographer to make my clients feel at ease in front of the camera, to create an atmosphere that will bring the best photographic results. Here are a few general tips for the amateur model:
- Create angles with your body (e.g., hands on hips, shoulders not square, arch your back, etc.)
- Chin out (this feels strange but it hides that double chin!)
- Head tilted slightly to the left or right
- For standing portraits, angle your body so that one side is toward the photographer, with one foot pointed forward
- Arms are angled so that they are located at waist height or above (e.g., arms crossed, on hips, etc.)
- Avoid symmetrical posing (e.g., if you are in a group, ensure that your pose is not the same as others - this creates interest)
- Avoid tilting your head back so that your nostrils are not front and centre
- Avoid showing too much white of the eyes - you don't want the zombie look!
- For natural, candid-looking photos, conversation and movement is key - and don't look at the camera!
Photo Session With Lisa
At first, Lisa admitted she was a little nervous about posing, but after giving her a few tips about lighting and angles, she felt at ease and the camera clicked away. Lisa is such a beautiful, easy-going, down-to-earth individual and so much fun to photograph. She told me she wanted something that would reflect the different facets of her personality, her love of nature and lust for life. We traveled to various locations, made a few costume changes and took advantage of the warm sun to create the look Lisa desired. Thank you, Lisa, for a very fun afternoon - you look amazing!
