One of the most common things that people say after their studio sessions are “I have no clue how models do this all day!” I could not agree more, that’s why I stay behind the camera. However, photographing thousands of people each year, you learn what works and what poses are best.
Translating the dynamics of a person into the flat surface of a photograph is one of the most important parts of model photography. Model posing is challenging to learn, so this is definitely a place where many images are lacking. Not only is the lighting important, the way the photographer poses models also comes into play, which is something that only gets better with work.
Researching various poses on Google, YouTube, and Pinterest is an excellent place to start. Putting together a collection of images you wish to emulate and then practicing various poses and looks while looking in a full-length mirror will help the process along nicely and help you prepare for a photoshoot.
Once shoot day arrives, expect to chat with your photographer a bit before getting to work. It’s nice to get to know each other a little bit and build a level of mutual comfort. The photographer is the person running the shoot, so it is essential to communicate to them that you are open and willing to try things. They are there to help you look your best, the goal at the end of the shoot is for everyone to be pleased and this may include a little give and take. In my experience, the best images come from working together. This means that you should follow the photographers’ direction, but if you have an idea, don’t hesitate to throw it out there. You are both artists working together to create the best photographs possible.
It’s usually best to start the shoot with simple poses, sitting and standing, get some decent poses and photos in the bag, and then move on. As the shoot progresses, you can incorporate things that are a little more creative, more candid shots, looking off-camera, folding your arms, moving around a bit. Some of the best photos have no eye contact with the camera, but the subject is still showing all of their emotion and letting you see into their personality. Working together, the photographer and model can have a smooth, painless shoot!