10 Posing Tips for A Good Portrait Photo

Do you like portraiture, but your model is not a professional? Confidence in your model is the first thing to do and for that, it is sometimes necessary to guide and orient it in order to obtain the desired result. In this article, we offer you some simple tips and tricks to optimize your subject’s poses and make your photos more natural, spontaneous, and dynamic.

#1 Make Your Model Smile

A smiling portrait is always more attractive. The smile makes the portrait brighter and also helps to lift the eyes slightly. Make your model smile and to put him in confidence to have a natural smile and not a forced smile. Several little tips allow this: be yourself smiling, ask your model to smile, ask her to think of something pleasant, pay her compliments, etc. Always keep an eye in the viewfinder to capture the famous natural smile that usually occurs a few seconds after a forced smile or after the exchange.

#2 Head Slightly Up

Asking your model to raise her head slightly is a trick to avoid shadows and too many creases in the neck, especially when your subject is facing forward. It also gives a feeling of natural low diving and thus gives more importance to your model. In this pose, asking to relax the lips will allow you to have a less tense face and a more natural look.

#3 The Bias Position

The bias pose (about 45 °) is very popular in photography. It allows the light to highlight one side of the face and marks the shadows on the other for a contrasting rendering, without completely erasing the left or right part of the subject, unlike a profile photo. By playing with the lighting and with the pose of the subject, it is possible to have varied renderings and more contrasted images compared to a face pose.

#4 Look Straight Into The Lens

If your model is confident enough, gazing into the lens is a simple, yet effective pose, especially if you want to shoot tight portraits. Remember to focus on the eyes and open your diaphragm to increase the depth of field to bring out your model for a more intense rendering.

#5 The Lying Position

A portrait is not limited to a standing position and a fixed subject. The lying position allows for obtaining a rather cinematic diving effect. It is thus possible to play with the hair on the ground or with the arms extended above the head, for example. It also makes it possible to create various depth effects as shown by the image of a man in the water.

#6 Poses In Motion

Movement is also a good tool to use for original poses. While walking, jumping, or stopping to turn around at the last minute, there are several alternatives that will highlight the movement of the hair and give a more dynamic feel to your images. It takes a little more practice and technique, but with a little patience, the right exposure time, and a cooperative model, you should quickly get the hang of it.

#7 Arms Crossed

The crossed arms position is a classic for a more serious portrait, for subjects who have trouble relaxing their shoulders, or for those who are unsure of what to do with their arms. From the front or in profile, this should not prevent the model from smiling, but it can position itself more comfortably and more firmly in the ground to concentrate more easily on the objective.

#8 Spontaneous Poses

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As a photographer, you are the main guide to obtain the desired result, but sometimes you have to trust your model and not be too directive in letting him choose his posture, the expression he wants to convey, and trust him. If he shows initiative, that’s a good sign, it means he’s comfortable. This can allow you to have a very successful spontaneous photo, sometimes offbeat, funny, unexpected, or even original.

#9 The Sitting Position

The sitting position is a common position for taking portraits. However, we must ensure the correct positioning of the legs and arms so that they do not disturb the image, since it is the gaze of the model that interests us. Avoid both legs extended at the same time on the ground and favor their crossings or prefer a raised knee for more visually appealing lines.

#10 Get Out Of Cliché Poses

Finding original poses and getting out of clichés is the best way to improve your portraits. All of the above examples are classics and staple essentials, but feel free to go outside to perfect yourself. Play with the decor, with the depth of field, the light, trust your model. A portrait can be more than just a beautiful image, it can also have a documentary purpose, be wacky, abstract, and express many different things.

Headshot Photography

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CONCLUSION

A simple pose can be enough to achieve a good photo portrait: a smile, a look. The key is to know how to capture the attention of your model. The position of your subject and the orientation of the light, however, allow for more dynamic and contrasting portraits. In an angled position, sitting or lying down, the framing is also an important element to highlight your model. The movement adds a little additional technical touch. Finally, remember to get out of the shots and practice as much as possible by guiding and trusting your model to enhance your portraits.