Posing for Beginners
By no means am I an expert. The following are resources I found to be helpful as both a model (on the rare occasion) and a portrait photographer.
Posing is awkward.
I've recently realized that portrait photography is my thing. I love being able to capture someone's personality and change their perspective on what they look like to someone else. I recently had someone ask me, "How much editing did it take to get me to look this good?" The answer: None. It was a raw, unedited version of the picture.
I felt like I added a little sense of beauty and being in her world that world.
Now, I'm not saying I'm an expert photographer. I've written before that a picture is as much the model's skills as it is the photographer's. But as a new photographer with no reach yet, I can't find pro models. So, what do I do? I photograph anyone who volunteers and signs up to my open calls (I host monthly open photoshoots).
While this is a great way to get models, it poses a major problem: Posing is awkward and even more so for those who don't know how to pose in the first place.
So, again, what do I do?
I research. (I'm a pretty big nerd and there's nothing I love more than learning.)
The rest of this blog will detail resources to refer to that can apply to anyone. I've got a pretty big range listed here and, while some are more geared to specific photography styles, there's something to be learnt in each resource so I would recommend checking out as many as you have time for even if you don't think the photography style is meant for you.
1. "How to Pose in Photos - 9 Tricks Pros Use to Look Perfect" by Sorelle Amore
A great introduction to posing! I ask my models to use all of these tricks whenever I'm taking the photo and often will guide them to tweak just a little more to get the perfect shot. Starting with a good basic understanding of posing makes things so much more fun and easy!
2. "Why You Look Ugly in Photos - And 6 Ways to Fix it" by Sorelle Amore
Yes, I use Sorelle's videos a lot as reference but only because she's fast, she's funny, and she's effective. There'll be way more of her in the rest of this list.
DISCLAIMER: "Ugly" is in this video title is only for clickbait but to Sorelle (and I), ugly is a matter of preference.
Again, quite basic but still good for a foundational understanding of posing!
3. "3 Boudoir Posing Tips for Better Portraits" by Michael Sasser
I know it says boudoir but there are still some very good general posing tips that can be taken away from this one.
My favorite tips from Michael: Point your toes whether your standing or sitting; (for non-masculine persons) Arch your back when against a background to create depth; Use your hands naturally (play with your hair, adjust your clothing, hold onto a prop, etc.)
4. "How To Look Good In Photos For Men | 8 Male Model Tips" by DLM Model Lifestyle
Posing men is much harder than posing women because society sucks and makes men feel more insecure about looking masculine naturally. Men, you don't need to do much to look amazing but I understand and I won't leave you out. I listed this here because the tips are great and is actually applicable for all genders even though it's slightly more male-focused.
5. "How to Pose Male Models - 5 Simple Photo Posing Tips For Men" by Sorelle Amore
Again, pretty applicable to all genders but more male-focused. I honestly love this one because Sorelle uses her boyfriend as her model (who hates being in front of the camera) and I can't wait to try photographing my own boyfriend properly because the pictures turned out SO GOOD.
Super easy tips to remember and, when combined with tips from the DLM Model Lifestyle video, you're gonna be looking the best you could ever look (if that whole masculine vibe is your thing).
6. "Why You Look Fat In Photos - And 6 Ways To Fix It" by Sorelle Amore
DISCLAIMER: "Fat" here is a descriptor used for clickbait, not an insult nor should it ever be taken as one.
I love how these tips are more about enhancing what you already have and not about taking away from who you are. This video focuses a lot on clothing and depth-posing which are super important to keep in mind because a camera can distort perspective (because physics) but knowing how to play into depth, focus, and lighting can make you look amazing.
7. "Does Your Posing Suck? 13 Real-World Critiques of How to Pose For Instagram (and Beyond)" by Sorelle Amore
We've looked at the basic foundations so now let's look at a little more specific applications to hone in that understanding of posing.
8. "How To Pose Like A Pro Model: Critiquing Your Shots And Giving Real-World Photography Advice (Pt 2)" by Sorelle Amore
Last one, just as another example of how versatile and foundational all these tips are in posing for any photograph.
That's it for now!
I hope this was educational and I can't wait to see how everyone's posing game levels up.
If you would like to try out your skills as a model (and are in the same city as me), feel free to contact me for details and we can set something casual up or straight up book a professional session if you're ready to get serious!