subject: How to Pose a Model For a Fantastic Picture [print this page] How to Pose a Model For a Fantastic Picture
Learning how to pose a model to get a great picture may be tough. Acquiring a static pose to look "unposed" is the key for portrait photography, fashion or ad photography, any sort of photography that includes the human form. The pose your models take will make the difference betwen a good or terrific picture and a photobomb. It takes practice and study to know what poses will work in various situations and sometimes you just get plain lucky. So constantly be prepared for the shot you didn't expect, it might be the one that makes the entire shoot!
One of the very first steps is to decide what the photo needs to do. What do you want to emphasize? The model? Her/His clothes? An object inside the photo? An emotion? Is it a portrait? What kind of portrait? Formal, casual, family, solo, couple? These are all factors to take into consideration before you even set up the shoot. Once you have these issues decided, it will make posing the model a great deal less difficult.
There are some fundamental guidelines for posing a model to make them look their ideal. Of course, depending on what you are trying to achieve, these guidelines can and ought to be adapted to your project. Use what works most effective and take chances. If it works, terrific! You have some thing unique. If not, try again!
Few people look natural standing full front to a camera. They look stilted and unnatural. A 45-degree turn away from the camera is an ideal angle. You may turn the body away and turn the shoulders and/or head to the camera. For a sitting pose, turn the chair away from the camera and turn the shoulders back to it for a nicely angled pose.
Tilt the model's head to one side. Folks naturally cock their heads to one side when involved in something. This gives your model a much more interested posture. Tilt the chin down also. This emphasizes the eyes of your subject.
What to do with those hands? Hands may be awkward. Give them something to do. Hold an object, a tool or a flower or a book. Giving your model a prop to hold may also be a fantastic addition to a portrait.
These are just a couple of ideas on how to pose a model to get the picture you want. You may get a lot of other good ideas by watching how men and women move in real life and gaining an understanding of body mechanics.
