Photo Poses
Improving Your Digital Photography Portraits

Photo poses are an essential part of taking great portraits. Posing your subject so that they look relaxed and comfortable in the picture will help your photos look better.

Getting your subject into a good comfortable pose can be a challenge if you don't have a plan. Having a plan will help you feel confident about your photography and a confident photographer takes a better picture.

Research

Wouldn't you know that research is an important part of learning about posing subjects? This research is easy, fun research. You don't have to read anything so don't worry. All you have to do is look at some photo poses. Look at some formal portraits and see how the people are posed. What do you think about the pose? You'll like some poses and you'll hate others. Decide what type of photography poses you like in portraits. What looks most natural to you?

Now that you have some idea about types of poses, try practicing them yourself. You can look at yourself in the mirror and try to do the poses that you liked. Notice how you moved to get inot that position so that you'll be able to tell your subject what you want them to do. Notice which poses are comfortable and which ones are uncomfortable.

Before you take the pictures make sure you're familar with the place where you'll be taking the picture. If you are taking the pictures in an unfamilar setting be sure to go to the location before hand to get ideas about what you'll be doing. Find interesting places for your subject to be photographed. Decide whether you'll want them to sit or stand.

Once you've done your research you'll be ready for the shoot.

Make Your Subject Feel Comfortable

Talk to your subject and make them feel comfortable. This is really important, so I'll tell you over and over. If your subject is uncomfortable it will show up in the picture.

Talk to your subject about their interests. Joke around and make them feel comfortabe. Most people love to talk about themselves so ask questions about their interests. This line of converstation might give you some great ideas for the portrait.

Give Your Subject Something to Do

Speaking of your subjects of converstation giving you ideas for the portrait, people feel more comfortable when they have something to do with their hands. It might just mean having something to hold. If your subject plays the guitar have them hold their guitar and even play a few songs for you to help you feel more comfortable.

Using props with your photo poses will help your subject looked relaxed and comfortable in the photo.