Posing for a Portrait

What to do and what not to do when posing for a Portrait. These Do’s and Don’ts are not in any select order, but they all are important and, of course, all come with examples. Sometimes, there are exceptions to a recommendation and if so, I will point those out during this blog. Much of the success of a photoshoot depends on the skill of posing and presenting oneself in the right way. Keep all these posing recommendations in mind and your photoshoot will be perfect.

Watch your posture no matter if you are sitting or standing. As you can see with these three models, all were aware of how to position their body to give themselves the most flattering look. Also note in examples 2 and 4, standing with one leg in front of the other is quite flattering and gives the model a look of confidence and elegance. Finally, in example 2, you will notice a slight lean of the head, and then in example 3 a slight lean of the body as well, both add a sense of playfulness to the pose.

Example 1 Anastasia 

Example 2 Olga

Example 3 Olga

Example 4 Arielle

Put your chin forward and slightly down to accentuate the jawline of the model and prevent the look of a double chin. By doing this, the model will always look GREAT, such as in examples 5 and 6.

Example 5 Nina

Example 6 Kassidy

Try to keep your neck visible, whenever possible. In examples 7 and 8 the visible evidence of the model’s neck adds to the creative beauty of each photo. The model in example 9, has no neck showing, but the photo works because of the angle posed by the model.

Example 7 Victoria

Example 8 Megan

Example 9 Victoria

Cross your arms or not?  The clarity of the photos, the color of the model’s clothing, the crop of the photo, the confidence of the model are factors that influence the use of crossed arms. There are times where crossing arms works perfectly as you will see in the examples 10 and 11 below; however, there are times when crossing your arms turns your whole figure into a blur, such as in example 12 And there at times when crossing one’s arms can be a power look, such as example 13. 

Example 10 Ashley

Example 11 Ashley

Example 12 Alexa

Example 13 Anastasia

Touching your face and Intimate Touching are poses which can work well with close-up portraits, half-body, as well as full body shots. Exactly where and how the model places her hand can change the mood of the photo from glamorous to serious and from playful to sensual. The elegant placement of the fingers plays a critical role in nailing that one perfect photo. In the following examples, notice the exact placement of the model’s hand and the mood this action creates in the photo.

Example 14 Victoria

Example 15 Ashley

Examples 16 Hannah

Examples 17 Hannah

Example 18 Anastasia touching hair

Example 19 Grace

Example 20 Megan

Change the Angle by perhaps turning the torso of the model, but be careful that you do not turn the model’s torso too far from the camera lens or you may end up with a model with a wide waist or with shoulders that may appear round and narrow. The wrong angle can also cause arms and perhaps legs to appear shorter. The following are examples of correct model placement.

Example 21 Hannah

Example 22 Grace

Example 23 Olga

Avoid baggy clothes on models (examples 25 and 26), but definitely include graceful flowing dresses of all types (example 24)

Example 24 Arielle 

Example 25 Paige

Example 26 Alexa

Pay attention to your arms when standing and sitting. Some models are not quite sure what to do with their arms/hands when sitting. Here are three examples (27-29) of models sitting and allowing one arm to completely relax while the other hand touches their chin creating moods that range from content to powerful. Next you will find four examples (30-33) of models standing with hands down to their side. In examples 30 and 31 you will notice that standing straight or somewhat straight with arms placed at the model’s side does not qualify as a creative photographic pose. However, you will notice that in example 32, the model has her hands at her hips in a power pose and in example 33 the model, with hands directly at her side, is taking a step forward accentuating the curves of her body and the natural flow of her arms.

Example 27 Alexa

Example 28 Anastasia

Example 29 Nina

Example 30 Karina

Example 31 Alexa

Example 32 Alexa

Example 33 Arielle

Create visual lines, shadows, angles, and combine straight and curved lines to produce exciting and dramatic photos. In examples 34 and 35 two models are creating shadows on the backdrop. In example 36, the model uses her body and clothes to create angles. In examples 37-39, the models use only their bodies to create natural curves. Examples 40 and 41 show photos in which model placement combines straight and curved lines along the backdrop of the photo.

Example 34 Rosemary

Example 35 Grace

Example 36 Alexa

Example 37 Karina

Example 38 Anastasia

Example 39 Karina

Example 40 Rosemary

Example 41 Megan

Finally have fun with the model. Laughter goes a long way in creating the perfect photoshoot. Having fun comes in many forms such as, using an unplanned prop in example 42, using a planned prop in different ways (examples 43 and 44), utilizing a distraction off to the side of the photoshoot (example 45), building laughter upon a model relaxing between shots (example 46), and a model being creative and having fun during an outdoor photoshoot (example 47).

Example 42 Nina

Examples 43 Olga

Examples 44 Olga

Example 45 Olga

Example 46 Olga

Example 47 Grace

There are some people who always look great and are naturally photogenic, but one does not need to be a professional model to look beautiful in a portrait. Follow the above recommendations and you will look fabulous in every photo of your next photoshoot.