posing question

hoow do you people pose your subjects? do you let them do there own thing or do you direct them to do wha tyou want?

Both

Oh okay thanks. I'm learning fast

I did my first photoshoot in 1982 and have literally posed and photographed thousands and thousands of people ever since. Posing is an art form all by itself and cannot be learned quickly or easily. Two posing rules I see broken every day on this forum and several others is not turning the subject's body 45° in relation to the camera and having the weight of the standing subject equally distributed on both feet. Photographing anyone with their bodies flat to the camera will make them look fat. Turning the body too much and the head has no solid foundation to sit on. 45° is ideal in about 99% of the cases.

When all the weight of the standing subject is equally distributed the hips and shoulders are level. Things that are level or straight up and down are extremely boring in a photograph and boring is never in fashion.

Benji

Benji wrote in post #12735933
...... 45° is ideal in about 99% of the cases.

When all the weight of the standing subject is equally distributed the hips and shoulders are level. Things that are level or straight up and down are extremely boring in a photograph and boring is never in fashion.

Benji

care to elaborate a bit more with examples, you know...for the beginners

Thank you all who replied. All you input was great info

photographer_slash wrote in post #12737028
care to elaborate a bit more with examples, you know...for the beginners

Look at Ben's examples on his web site. It clearly shows do and don't. I think it is called something like rules of portraiture. Serach for it on google, I don't have the link handy.

I got it handy ...

http://lumitouch.com/b​enstudiotutorial/index​.html

Specifically :
http://lumitouch.com …rial/LightPoseG​uide4.html
&
http://lumitouch.com …/LightPoseGuide​Rules.html

Best advise: Get out there and practice. Find a friend that you can shoot with, until you warm up to what poses your after. Because each of us have our own techniques that suit our personalities. You really just need to find what works for you the best.

For example, I try not to get too technical with posing, because I lose my flow and the room becomes more serious. A room that gets too serious causes me to make more mistakes. I tend to make a lot of jokes (mostly out of nervousness), but it works to my advantage. Because I get honest smiles and laughter. It's one of my key ingredients ... Especially with kids.