Photo poses in general have acquired a bad rap (thank you, 1980s, for your big hair, soft focus and static, unnatural posing). But as the style and art of photography have evolved over the years, so too have the style and art of posing. So, if we’re going to take a fresh look at jumpsuits, mirrored sunglasses and crop tops, can’t we do the same with photo posing?
We tend to set aside the conventions of posing for photos in our quest for authenticity, when in fact, posing and authenticity are not mutually exclusive. When the photographer takes the lead and provides direction and prompting, it takes enormous pressure off the subject. After all, you’re the expert here. It’s your responsibility to create an environment in which your subject is at ease to be her natural best self.
So, in our fresh look at posing, let the concept of freedom be our guiding principle.
Think of photo posing as flowing and fluid. Begin with a comfortable pose, then direct the subject to flow into the next pose and the next, through a series of unforced poses, providing prompts along the way as needed to elicit the desired natural expressions. This might be uncomfortable the first few times you try, but stick with it, because the payoff can be so good!
Check out this pro advice from seasoned photographers on how to pose just about anyone for photos. You got this!
How to pose women: 6 ways to create more flattering images
words and photos by Alise Kowalski
1. Create space.
To achieve flattering body lines, you need to put space between the body and the arms, the chin and the neck, the hips and the camera. Separate the arms from the sides of the body ever so slightly by having the subject bend her arms at the elbow. Angles are your friends, use them!
2. Be mindful of age.
There are photo poses designed to create curves for flattering, womanly silhouettes, but they can be inappropriate for young girls, teenagers or women of a certain age. Just a few small, simple modifications can make all the difference.
3. Mama first.
When posing families, pose the mother first, then pull in other members of the family. Position the children on the side or offset in front of the mama. Make sure to create connection among the family members with hand-holding, leaning against or touching.
4. Practice, practice, practice, then practice some more.
Once you start learning posing techniques, it’s imperative to put them into practice. Start with subjects you know well, preferably subjects who feel comfortable in front of the camera. Explain that you’re learning something new and you want to try it out. Kindly ask them to model for you, and perhaps gift them an image or two.
Try one or two new techniques per person. You might feel like you’re fumbling at first but stick with it. Start incorporating techniques into your client work as you feel comfortable with it.
5. Provide direction and lots of it.
I’ve yet to photograph anyone who said anything close to, “I love having my picture taken! The way I look in every photograph is awesome!” In front of the camera is a vulnerable and uncomfortable place to be for most people; they simply don’t know what to do. They truly need the photographer to take charge and gently provide direction.
6. Provide positive reinforcement.
A client recently told me that seeing the giant smile on my face throughout the session, as well as hearing my encouraging comments and excitement affirmed that things were going well, and bolstered her confidence. You get what you put into the world, so why not put some positivity and kindness out there?
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How to pose tweens and teens
words and photograph by Krista Campbell
Tweens and teens can be painfully shy.
Sure, they’ll mug for iPhone selfies, but they just shut down in front of a professional photographer and her large camera.
At this age, so many kids have body-image issues. The photographer can play a big part in boosting their confidence and getting the best results in the images. Here are 7 tips to help you get great photo poses from teens and tweens:
1. Talk, talk, talk.
Talk to your subject constantly throughout the session. Frequently give praise. My clients love it when I show them the captures on the back of my camera as we go along so they can see how well everything’s going. They can relax and truly enjoy the experience.
2. Start at the bottom.
For photo poses, I always start at the bottom of the body and work up. I show my subject exactly how I want her legs to be as she stands, sits, squats, or leans. It’s natural for her to mirror the pose.
3. Pose the torso and shoulders.
Next, I model exactly how I want my subjects to angle or twist their shoulders. I have them drop one shoulder, twist a shoulder away from the camera, tilt a shoulder toward their chin. This engages the body and provides a flattering angle. I rarely photograph subjects at this age with their shoulders squarely facing my camera.
4. Keep their hands busy.
Give their arms and hands a purpose. I love to have my teens and tweens touch their hair, face, and neck. I encourage them to play with their jewelry, a scarf, the neckline of their shirt, a hat, jacket, or other accessory. I have girls run their fingers through their hair. These photo poses create a natural look.
5. Get them moving.
Incorporating movement creates a more dynamic image. I have my teens and tweens walk, skip, jump or twirl (for girls, while holding down the hem of their dress for modesty). Movement also helps relax my subjects.
6. Elicit natural expressions.
I talk with my subjects throughout the entire photography experience. I ask questions based on the info they provide on the questionnaire they fill out before our session: favorite activities, music, friends, pets, sports. I look for things we have in common so we can make a connection. I ask them to give me various looks: soft, sweet, calm, happy, playful. I might ask for an intense gaze, a questioning look. When one of these proves impossible, it usually elicits a sincere giggle, and that in-between capture will be a keeper.
7. Photograph them doing something they love.
I allow my seniors to bring in sports gear, instruments, dance wear, whatever accessories they use in their favorite activities. It gives them an opportunity to talk about their special interest and allows me to capture their enthusiasm for it. I have them kick a soccer ball, hold a football and helmet, leap and dance in their tutus and play musical instruments.
How to pose children: 5 tips for those un-posable little ones
words and photograph by Tiffany Kelly
1. Think of ways to naturally get the pose you want.
If you tell young kids to hold their hands or body a certain way, they’ll have a hard time understanding what you want. But if you can think of a way to ask them to do something they already know how to do normally, you’ll be successful. Sometimes I ask my daughter to hug herself or act like she’s really cold.
2. Get them to use their hands.
I often ask my daughter to hold her hands together as if cupping a treasure, flip her hair off her shoulder, or fix her sleeve, even if there’s nothing to fix. This works even with really little ones — I’ll ask them to simply touch their shoulder, their tummy.
3. Play Simon says or play pretend.
If my daughter is giving me a “cheese face” I’ll ask her to pretend she’s a princess and have a soft smile. Sometimes I ask her to pretend she is cold or worn out from running, to pretend she’s a bird or a kitten. You never really know what you’ll get with these requests to a toddler or pre-schooler, and that’s part of the fun of photographing this unpredictable age.
4. Get moving.
This requires a little bit of overshooting and a lot of deleting rejects, but for me, it’s worth it in the end. Get your child dancing, twirling, leaping and see “poses” you can capture.
5. Keep your eyes open for things the kids naturally do.
Photo poses don’t always work with kids, so think about little quirks or habits your kids have that you might photograph naturally. Set the scene and then wait for the right moment. I pay close attention to what the kids are doing while we’re shooting, noting small details that will make for strong images, and then I capture them!
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6 Photo posing tips for hard-to-pose boys and men
words and photographs by Elena Blair
1. Keep it simple.
When posing dads in a seated family photo, I keep it simple. Dads are often uncomfortable sitting, so rather than trying to tell them how to sit, I tell them to sit comfortably. Then I ask him how to adjust his posture so he’s still comfy but not slouching. I’m not posing dad, I’m merely adjusting him. Then I arrange everyone else around him.
2. Capture their mood.
I think it’s incredibly striking to capture the intensity and moodiness of little boys. I achieve this by simply asking the boy to look right into my lens. I say, “Can you see my eye or your eye in there?” and he looks into the lens intently. Then I come in close to capture a headshot. Simple but impactful.
3. Use a masculine pose.
When posing a seated man, I ask him to lean forward, elbows on knees. This photo pose has a masculine feel and it’s comfortable for the subject.
4. Don’t forget the hand placement.
When posing a man alone, I tell him where to place his hands. I’ll ask him to either cross his hands across his chest or to put his hands in his pockets, even if I’m just shooting a head shot. When he knows what to do with his hands, it relaxes his posture.
5. Give him permission to look away.
I want to make boys and teens feel as relaxed as possible. One of my first “photo poses” is to have them look away from the camera. This allows them to relax their face and usually yields a genuine expression.
6. Allow the subject to bring an activity.
Boys and teens tend to think a photo shoot will be boring, so I encourage them to bring a bike, guitar or Frisbee, anything that helps them relax before I ask them to be in a portrait. Bonus if you can get some great action shots that reflect their personality.
My favorite photo pose for men
I’ve always been drawn to less posed, more interaction-based sessions. But it’s still important to know a few versatile photo poses for families that would like some direction, or if I simply want to add more variety to a gallery.
For outdoor sessions, I like to use a seated family pose. I start this pose the same way every time: with dad. In fact, 99 percent of my seated males are posed this way.
This photo pose also creates a nice seat in Dad’s lap for a small child, if there is one. And the leg on top also provides a perfect place for a small child to sit or hug dad’s knee. Then I layer in all the other family members around him. Because every family is unique, and with a different number of children whose ages vary, the pose never really looks the same from family to family.
Once I get everyone else settled in around dad, I have a jumping off point for a set of prompts for interactions to run through to get a variety of images.
I usually start by shooting in wide landscape mode, then zoom in and take individual portraits of each of the kiddos, or creative crops of the family interacting. I can also shoot from above while asking everyone to look at his or her neighbor and smile.
Here’s my favorite way to pose men:
- I start by asking dad to sit down straight on his bum.
- I have him bend one leg with the knee pointing up to the sky, foot flat on the ground in front of him.
- The other leg is bent and slid underneath that leg. Basically, his legs are forming the figure “4.”
Pro Tip:
This pose is so versatile it can end looking like several different photo poses! Dad can have his left leg bent up, with the right leg going under. Or I can switch it up, depending on which side I want the rest of the family.
How to pose couples: focus on hands and faces
words and photograph by Bre Thurston
When posing couples, focusing your lens on hands and faces can add an extra dimension of connection and visual appeal.
1. Have them get close.
Have the couple get close, closer. If you were to tell your subjects to pose themselves, their automatic response would be “prom pose.” We’re looking for something much more connected than that, closer than feels natural to them in company, and that’s okay.
2. Tell them to face each other.
Have their foreheads touch when they’re facing each other – their lips almost touching if you’re going for intimacy, or their noses touching in a playful, laughing pose.
3. Create a circle of connection with the couple’s hands.
Use your subjects’ hands to define the viewer’s circle of connection within the frame. Arms around shoulders, hands along a jaw line, or fingers intertwined.
4. Get them to relax.
When shooting faces up close, release any built-up tension by having your subjects take a deep breath and let it out slowly. This will help them relax into natural photo poses.
5 Photo poses to flatter any figure
words and photographs by Julie Paisley
Over the years, I’ve thrown “posing” for photos out the window.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do guide my clients, but I’ve come to believe that photo poses need to be natural. If we can follow the curves of the body, how the arms bend, things we do naturally, that’s posing to me.
We don’t usually photograph “perfect” models, but real people with real insecurities. It’s our job to make them look and feel beautiful without the use of Photoshop.
To start off, always ask your client what her insecurities are. I ask this in my getting-to-know-you questionnaire. It might seem weird to ask, but trust me, it’s so much better in the end! If they don’t like their arms, then you can suggest flattering ways to cover them. If they don’t like their profile, don’t go there without a good plan. Being proactive always wins.
Everyone is beautiful. Every size, every person. It’s up to the photographer to make every subject feel comfortable so they can shine.
Compliment them constantly, reassure them, be aware of crops and angles, advise them on clothing, always have them follow the curve of their body, chin out, hands on hips and lots of smiling. Here are five tips to help you create flattering photo poses.
1. Think about angles.
My favorite flattering pose for a woman who feels insecure is the “hide half of me” pose. I know, I know, cheesy name but it works! I use this all the time, subject seated or standing.
2. Strategically place objects, kids and wardrobe pieces.
Shooting mostly weddings, I like the “use of objects” pose. I might use the veil to camouflage and soften arms, the bouquet to cover the midriff. It works and the subject doesn’t even realize what you’re doing. If you’re a family photographer, use a child to conceal mom’s insecurities. Have the child sit on her lap — works every time.
3. Use natural curves.
Side poses are always more flattering than straight on. When a couple lets their bodies relax and curve naturally into each other, it’s just perfection. Have them turn to each other and just melt together in “baby, it’s cold outside” pose.
4. Think of your camera angle.
My favorite pose is the “snuggle-in closer” pose. Fill the frame with only your subjects. Go in close and tilt the camera down just a bit. You are cutting off and hiding part of them and they’ll love you for it.
5. Shoot from above.
Shooting from above gets rid of the second chin. This one always works. Use a wider angle, get up high, have your subject seated and shoot from above.
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8 Maternity photo poses for mamas-to-be
words and photograph by Alison Winterroth
Many of the women I’ve photographed tell me they’ve never looked or felt more beautiful than in their maternity photographs.
At a time when she likely is heavier than she’s ever been and can’t wear her shoes because her feet are so swollen, I treasure that feedback. Here are some tips for making your soon-to-be mama happy confident and comfortable.
1. Talk to her!
I start by offering a genuine compliment and continue talking to the Mama throughout the session. It is important she feels at ease and has a good time. A customer who has a great experience is more likely to love her images.
2. Ask her.
Ask if there’s anything she’s unhappy about with her body or if she has a side she prefers to be photographed on. Sometimes just asking her a simple question can make her happier with how she looks when photographed.
3. Pamper her.
Encourage her to get a hair and makeup appointment. It can do wonders for her self-esteem and confidence.
4. Chin up.
The last thing anyone wants is a double chin in her photographs. Photo poses from slightly above eye level are more flattering to her chin and face.
5. Speaking of chins.
To define her jawline, ask her to push her head out and down. It will bring her head out and make her chin stronger. To demonstrate this photo pose, practice in a mirror until you have an idea of what it looks like.
6. Supine.
If your client is looking for a more romantic photo, ask her to lie on her back, chin up with her back arched to bring her belly out. With her chin up, you can really focus on her eyelashes. Have her put both hands gently on her belly to create a connection with that baby on the way.
7. Hand to belly.
Since this is a maternity session, we want to capture the connection between mother and baby. I often use her touch to illustrate the strength of this bond. I generally cycle between both hands under her belly, one on top and one underneath and one hand under her belly and the other hand in the middle.
8. Avoid ankles.
I usually shoot from the waist up, and unless the dress covers her feet, I try to stay away. Feet and ankles are usually bigger than usual and including them in the photograph usually doesn’t add much.
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4 Reasons I use posing during my photo sessions
words and photo by Alise Kowalski
- Posing helps me capture my clients in a flattering way, at their very best (who doesn’t want to look like their best self in photographs?). It allows them to see their own beauty, perhaps for the first time in a long while.
- A great photo pose can help bolster my client’s confidence and reassure her that I will capture her mind, body, and spirit beautifully.
- My direction helps take my client’s mind off fretful thoughts of her crooked smile, her pudgy upper arms, or her after-baby tummy, so she can relax into the moment.
- Different photo poses help me create a diverse image gallery for my clients, which makes it harder for them to say “no” to any captures. This increases my sales. It makes my heart sing to know my clients truly love their images and enjoyed the experience of creating them.
This article first appeared in the March/April 2016 issue of Click Magazine. Order your print or digital copy from the Click & Company Store. Or better yet, get a 1-year subscription so you never miss an issue! Updated on February 6th, 2020.
It was really helpful that you mentioned how side poses are more flattering than front angles. My fiancee and I are getting married soon, and we are planning to get pre-nuptial photos taken for the invitations. I hope I can find a good photographer to help us out with this.
Excellent post, just in time for the start of family session season. Thank you for the tips <3