How did you learn posing and positioning people for portraits?

4 years 9 months ago #649707 by Chris Ly
One area that I'm constantly struggling with is posing people and how to position them for portraits.  Can I ask where did you learn how to do this? 


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4 years 9 months ago #649734 by garyrhook

Chris Ly wrote: One area that I'm constantly struggling with is posing people and how to position them for portraits.  Can I ask where did you learn how to do this? 


There's free stuff online. Google it.
There are classes at Creative Live. Watch them.
There are e-books out there for purchasing.
Study what others have done. Get a willing victim and practice. Review and study. Learn from your mistakes. Repeat.


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4 years 9 months ago #649743 by Nikon Shooter
That is the wrong way to go ahead!

I say to my students: "Shoot those close to you. Develop
your critical eye at seeing the right moment, the funny or
interesting expression even body posture. Discover what
they can give… cause that's what you will get."

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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4 years 9 months ago #649774 by fmw
My portraits are environmental.  I never pose anybody.  I have them do what they normally do and shoot when I see something interesting.


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4 years 9 months ago #649775 by Troponin

fmw wrote: My portraits are environmental.  I never pose anybody.  I have them do what they normally do and shoot when I see something interesting.


This is great for someone that has already learned what poses to look for. The issue is knowing when the right pose is there.

Second, I notice a lot of bad lighting in portraiture. One can find charts of the different lighting angles and this REALLY helps! For instance, Rembrandt lighting is nice for a more dramatic affect. The biggest thing I look for is the shadow of the nose and the cheek opposite of the light. Don’t just have your model facing directly in to the sun. Try different angles.

There are other simple tips too, like having them put a hand in their pocket so it’s not awkward or in the way, don’t crop just below joints (it tends to look odd)...and the more you practice them, the easier and more second nature they will become 


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4 years 9 months ago #649787 by KCook
Books. There are lots of these. Unfortunately, the most general books for beginners are useless. You will need a book specifically on the portrait game. Examples on my blog -

photographyintro.com/portrait_books/

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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4 years 9 months ago #650724 by CaptNemo
Family and friends!  


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4 years 8 months ago #653514 by htdavidht
I don't consider myself a professional photographer... though I get paid...

My approach to this is... I don't consider the subject that much... What I am looking for is technical stuff.. like... color, illumination, composition... the basic stuff. Actually the very basic stuff. 

I would have never consider directing the posing of a person on this level... The most I have done is to say something like "Smile", "relax" or "look at the distance", "drink some water"... I have never feel the need to tell the model how to sit, or how to stand or how to cross arms, how to hold a glass... Just general directions nothing specific.


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