How to Pose Clients for Portrait Photographers

A photographer's role is to bring out the best features of the subject being photographed.  When it comes to photographing people, it is sometimes difficult to get the right pose. Not all people are comfortable in front of a camera, so it is up to the photographer to put the person at ease and select the best poses.

• Collect information from the person or people being photographed. Find out how the photo will be used. This will give a starting point for posing options. For example, if the shot will be used on a business card, then close ups and head shots should be taken. 


• Have extra accessories on hand. Sometimes families are in a rush to make appointments and forget to give each other that "once over" before arriving at the studio. Being equipped with items such as mirror, hair spray and bobby pins will come in handy.


• Tilt the head properly. A general rule of thumb is to tilt the top of the head toward the furthest shoulder for a male and tilting the head toward the nearest shoulder for a female. Always take into account the body language of the subject to make any adjustments. 


• Position the hands correctly. This is especially true of tense subjects that tend to clench hands during photo sessions or children that fidget and move the hands around. It is important that the hands look relaxed in the photo, so make sure that fingers are bent and avoid showing flat palms or fists in a photo.  When photographing a family, do not interlock the hands.


• Use props in the photos. When photographing families, heights will need to be staggered which means utilizing boxes or stools. Use stuffed animals, blankets and toys for children. Props for couples can include roses and arches.


• Get creative when photographing families. Photographing families can be a challenge at times, especially with small children. The best approach to take is to position each family member one at a time and make sure that everyone stays in proper position before taking the photo.