Portrait Photography: Posing and Composition

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If we were to point out the one difficulty shared by photographer and model in portrait photography, it would have to be posing. It is one of the biggest challenges to face by each party for a number of reasons.

For the subject, which a lot of times is a paying client and a non professional model, things can become very awkward. A lot of people spend very little time in front of a camera, other than your casual selfie and the occasional family photo. That means they don't really have a good idea of how they should sit or stand. Furthermore, a lot of people are very conscious about their body, particularly about certain flaws. Some people are a little overweight, others have less than perfect skin and some are just generally dissatisfied with their appearance. This can make posing strange for them and that's why they need a professional photographer to help them get through these negative feelings.

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For the photographer on the other hand, it's a whole different struggle. First of all, as the pro, you need to have a conversation with your client before the actual shoot. You need to find out what they're comfortable with and what they don't want to be revealed. It's very important to get that out in the open. That will help build trust between the two of you and make the person standing in front of the camera a little more comfortable.

When you give directions, the tone of voice and general attitude are very important. Although the client knows they have to take directions from you, you must give those directions in a professional, yet friendly manner. Patience is crucial because people can understand what you're saying differently. Others have a personal space that they don't like invaded, but as a photographer you must make them understand they need to let the guard down a little and that what you're doing is totally harmless.

Some of the posing indications you're going to give your subject will feel very strange to them. That's why you need to reassure them that what they're doing actually looks good. Show them one of the shots on your LCD screen every once in a while, but don't spend too much time doing that because you don't want to break their focus.

Also, you need to be prepared to capture candid shots. This sounds kind of strange, particularly if you're focusing on giving directions a lot. Assuming you’re going to have a constant dialog with the person you're photographing, he or she might give a natural smile in the middle of the conversation, when you're not looking through your viewfinder. Always stay close to the camera and discretely keep one hand on it and a finger near the shutter release, so that when those natural expressions happen, you'll be able to capture them.

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Here is a great video on posing and composition from lynda.com.

Learn more about portrait posing from these recommended books: