Posing Guides
If you’ve spent any time doing portraits, you’ve probably realized that engaging your subject (e.g. making them feel at ease) and then posing them, are the most important and the most difficult parts of the shoot.
Amateurs focus on gear and lighting but pros also build rapport with their clients during a shoot and then draw on considerable experience posing people. People (i.e. non-models) need and want you to guide them. Without preparation, it’s easy to draw a blank during a photo session and it’s tough asking people strike poses you’re not even sure about. If you feel awkward, they will too and it will show.
The key to building confidence is getting out there and gaining experience but you do have to start somewhere. Luckily there are many photographers offering posing guides and many come as apps (e.g. for your iPad). One such resource is a series from Kaspars Grinvalds which is shared as a set of blog posts on Digital Photography School and it’s an app.
I recommend you check these out:
If you like these, consider the $1.99 app for iOS, Windows Phone or Android… then it’s with you when you need it. You can also show the sketches to people so they know exactly what you’re trying to achieve. Visit http://posingapp.com to learn more and find platform-specific apps. If you crave more, just search for “posing” in your favourite app store.
If you have a posing app or resource to recommend, please let us all know in the comments below! Thanks for sharing.
UPDATE September 14, 2012: There’s a intensive 3-day posing course by Doug Gordon on CreativeLive this October 12th (2012) starting at 9AM Pacific. It’s free if you watch it live (no you can’t record it!).
