Best Portrait Posing Tips for People That Don't Know How to Pose
Not that long ago, I wrote an article about how to pose friends for portraits.
That article revolved around a YouTube video on the same subject by the fine folks at Mango Street.
Their video (and that article) did quite well, so a follow-up is in order. Learn more about poses for photography on our website PhotographyTalk.com.
This time, Mango Street offers up some fresh portrait photography poses that you can try with your friends and other subjects that might not know how to pose.
And the best part? Not only do these photo poses make your friends look great, but they're easy for you to explain and direct your friends to get the pose just right.
Have a look at the video above, and for a play-by-play of each pose, check out the article below.
Build Trust With Your Model Before Posing for Portraits
YouTube Screenshot/Mango Street
First things first...
Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera, and if the model is uncomfortable, that'll be on full display in your portraits.
There are plenty of ways to disarm a model before a portrait shoot.
You can have a quick cup of coffee or tell a few jokes. Have them do something silly like dance around to loosen them up.
You can also ask them questions about their lives if you don't know them that well, and if you do know them, reminisce about fun times you've had in the past.
The point is that the less they're thinking about being photographed, the more comfortable and relaxed they will be in your portraits. The best portrait poses are those in which the model looks natural and as though they aren't terrified to be in front of the camera!
Editor's Tip: Finish off your portraits by having them printed as fine art.
Match Your Model's Clothes to the Environment
YouTube Screenshot/Mango Street
It's often the little details in a portrait that elevate it to the next level, so as you're thinking about posing for portraits, consider things like what the model is wearing and the environment in which you're taking their portrait. You can also view another post about poses for guys.
As pointed out in the video, if the model is wearing something that's got a lot of colors or a wild pattern (as shown above), it's best not to pose them in front of a similarly colorful or pattern-filled background.
YouTube Screenshot/Mango Street
Instead, by covering up the model's shirt with a plain, gray top, you get a more cohesive look.
The urban-themed background now compliments the urban clothing the model is wearing instead of competing for attention.
YouTube Screenshot/Mango Street
A better background option to pair with the model's floral top is something that's got a consistent color.
In this case, that meant posing the model in front of some greenery, which provides a nice, dark backdrop on which the bright, floral shirt she's wearing has a lot of pop.
Portrait posing tips like being mindful of small details give you much more power to create portraits that have tons of visual appeal.
How to Pose for Portraits: Watch the Hands
YouTube Screenshot/Mango Street
The biggest problem people have when posing for portraits is what to do with their hands.
The hands can get super awkward really fast, so ensuring that the model has somewhere to put them or something to hold will definitely help your photos.
You can direct the subject to use their hands to frame their face, as was done above.
This solves two issues - first, it gives them something to do to avoid awkward hands, and second, it helps you draw more attention to the most important part of the portrait, which is the subject's face.
YouTube Screenshot/Mango Street
Another option is to have the model perform some sort of action.
This can be as simple as pointing or clapping.
You can also have them play with their hair (as shown above), feel the material of their shirt or jacket, or have them hold something as well.
Editor's Tip: Add color and texture to your portraits by adding portrait props.
Final Thoughts
As they say, the devil is in the details. That's certainly true when you're creating a portrait.
Posing a model that doesn't know how to pose doesn't have to be difficult; you just need to pay attention to little details that often derail portraits.
By building rapport with your model before you take a single photo, keeping the model's wardrobe attuned to the environment of the shot, and helping them decide what to do with their hands, you might be surprised at how much better your portraits look and feel.
