What is the Bible on Posing?

Lagnagoushee

As the title says can you give me your book recommendation as to what your Bible is when it comes to posing in a studio?
Thanks

gloobag

I don't think there is one. There are plenty of books out there on the subject, but I've never found one that wasn't a waste of time.

What I've learned (the hard way) over the years, is to make sure that your subject is comfortable with you. Being a people person with a sense of humour comes in handy. I'm not that outgoing normally, but I can fake it when I need to. I ask lots of questions and genuinely try to get to know the person a little. I will often act like a complete nutter to try get some laughs. I tell terrible jokes all of the time, pull stupid faces and just generally make a fool of myself and it really does help people to let their guard down.

Once they've relaxed a bit, and I have all my lighting set, I just sort of let them be themselves. If it's a shot that's more than a headshot, I try to give them an environment to inhabit and encourage them to move around inside of this little scene I have created. For instance, sitting sideways on a chair, one elbow resting on the back of the chair, while both hands fiddle with each other (If the hands are in the shot, I try to have them doing something). Things like that can go a long way to make your portraits appear to be more natural.

Another thing to do, would be to collect images that contain a pose that you like, either online or from magazines. Save them to your phone and reference them during a shoot. Also, don't be afraid to just show the image/pose to your subject and say "do this".

magicbastarder

i subscribe to the photography forum and the atheism & agnosticism forum. i'd thought this was from A&A at first and it certainly had me confused.

toe_knee

Seen a YouTube video recently (I think it might have been Mike Browne) and they recommend paying for an experienced model for a day or half a day and go through different poses with them and just have fun. An experienced model will teach you an awful lot.

DaireQuinlan

I generally aim for a stiff, uncomfortable, air to my portraits. I ask people to stand square to the camera and not smile. I find it does the trick :-)

Homer

What kind of posing are you talking about? Wedding or fashion/portrait? I don't think you'll find one that covers all the bases, as wedding posing is completely different to fashion/glamour etc. Youtube is your best option unless you want to pay for one?

pullandbang

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

I generally aim for a stiff, uncomfortable, air to my portraits. I ask people to stand square to the camera and not smile. I find it does the trick :-)

+1 For that. Works every time :-)

Homer

To answer your question, I have found this book useful when I was starting out. But as mentioned, youtube contains lots of free info too!

Gehad_JoyRider

Your on to a winner if there not looking mystically into the distance in a some what melancholy way

CabanSail

I did find this;

Ben D Bus

I'd agree with YouTube and working with some experienced models. Check photographer Lindsay Adler on YouTube as she does some good stuff on posing models.

Wabbit Ears

I find this site fascinating as it shows both the pose and the lighting used to get that picture.

http://strobox.com/photos

Wabbit Ears

I find this site fascinating as it shows both the pose and the lighting used to get that picture.

http://strobox.com/photos