I suck at directing!

I love taking pictures of people, But when it comes to posing them and directing I absolutely can't do it anyone else have this problem

It is not easy but gets better with experience and practice. there are several books on the subject which may help. I find the poses in these books a bit contrived, but they do give you some general tips (such as angling the hips of female models at 45 degrees to the camera to make them look slimmer).

The best way to learn is to shoot experienced models who know how to pose. Gradually you get an idea of what works and what doesnt.

Look at lots of Playboy and Penthouse.
These Photogs are the best in the business.
You dont have to look at the rudey bits it's the posing of the arms and the head and the lighting.
Then look at what you have done and see if you can work out what you should have done better.

Now the fundamentals for average looking people are the same you just have less flexibility with flattering angles.

Turn the head to try to get a cheek bone, lift the chin for no double chin, whites of the eyes,
try to hide the ugly bits
disguise their size.

Thank you for this, I have trouble directing too. I usually know what I want but feel like my subject will think it's silly or judge me or something. It's a terrible flaw for someone who otherwise likes to photograph people.

I find that a little bit of acting silly helps to break the ice and relax the subject.

Especially if you're a male photographer, trying to demonstrate "sexy" poses for a female model. That usually gets me some laughs.

Thank you all! And lol, nathancarter; I'm a female photographer and I like to photograph men, so I think the same humor-through-incongruity principle you're talking about applies.

posing app or saved pictures for reference on a smart phone/tablet has helped me generate poses/ideas. I've found it much easier to just bring out my phone and say, "I'd like for you to do this" and it goes faster/smoother.

Similar problems here, does anyone know any good apps for Android to use as a pose reference?

http://www.digital-photography-school.com …-female-models#more-34090

There's also another one on there for sample poses for men.. Very simplistic.. I copied it out and sent it to my email- so, I can pull up my email on the droid- and have my samples already there...

Another solution might be simpler than it sounds.. Some women- want to pose don't want all of the awkward poses that some photographers try to put them thru. So, you might want to ask them if there are any kind of poses that they want to take and then go from there- let them kick start your creative juices, so to speak.

TrueasLight wrote in post #14272775
Thank you for this, I have trouble directing too. I usually know what I want but feel like my subject will think it's silly or judge me or something. It's a terrible flaw for someone who otherwise likes to photograph people.

I no pro at this at all, but I have found (as with a lot of things in life) the more comfortable and confident you are the easier it will be to "direct". Take confidence in the good work you do and people will let you direct them.

I tried that, but I get distracted by the articles

I have the same problem. I bought plenty of books on posing techniques and know exactly how I want people to pose, but it's the interacting with & directing them that I'm bad at. Especially when I'm doing family portraits where there's 2-3 young kids running around and not listening to instructions. I tend to get distracted at shoots with so much going on at once and pay more attention to my gear and composition than the subjects.

What helped for me is watching videos of other photographers on shoots. Kelby training videos are a big help. I just watched this joey ikemoto video which is pretty good too....alot of it his him just directing and talking to his subjects:

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=32PncOEnJt0

I have the same problem directing. The more I do it the easier it's getting.

iphone app, Posing App. The one that just has drawings. I'm not sure android has it but it has been valuable to me. I used it today and just opened it up, turned it toward the couple and said, "I'd like for you to do this."

They get in the position and then I just adjust from there. At that point I only have to fix spacing (like heads being too close together, etc.) and composition.

One thing that the male said was, "Man, we just moved from one place to another and that wasn't so terrible. If I had my mom come do this we'd be stuck in one place forever."

That felt good because it felt like a validation of being someone who is a professional. I don't take 5 shots of the same pose hoping for the best. It'll come with time as you start seeing the scene and how the body is postured.

What's helped me the most? Looking at good photos. Why is it a good photo? What about the placement of their body makes it a good photo? Then replicate it in your own way.

When I can't explain the pose just by speaking, I do it myself. People get it immediately, and it also helps making them comfortable.