Basic Professional Photography Poses!

Seeking out and learning various photography poses is the quickest and simplest route to becoming a sought after photographer. Even if you never decide to go “pro”, becoming a master of the basic photography poses will put pizzazz in your photography. If you want to start getting YOUR percentage of “oohs and aahs”, keep reading…

The Football player

The most typical error I see in inexpert photos – and in more pro work than you may imagine is what I call the “Linebacker” pose.

Consider a professional football player. (The United States kind, not what we in the U.S. think of as soccer.) Size is a large component of their job. The bigger and wider they appear to be, the better. When they pose for photos, they try to face the camera’s lens straight on – making their shoulders look as wide as they can. They will want their hips and thighs to appear huge as well.

The more of the frame they can fill, the better – intimidation is their target.

Now picture virtually everyone else in the world-few of them are trying to appear intimidating in their pictures.

Take Off The Appearance Of Excess Size-

To help our model’s desire to get rid of that “footballer” look, simply have them twist their shoulders so they’re about 45 degrees to the lens. This appears natural, and is the most slimming pose. If they’re visible in the photo, the model’s hips, legs and feet should be turned too.

Rule of thumb-Shoulders, hips, legs and feet should never be straight on to the camera.

Avoid??? The “Sumo Wrestler” Pose Too!

While linebackers want to look broad – they don’t necessarily want to appear fat! The only photo subject I can think of that actively has a use for looking fat is a Sumo wrestler.

Throughout the known universe, and even more so in the United States we almost ALL feel that we look too fat! (With valid reason.) It has turned into an obsession. How many times have you heard the phrase “the camera adds 10 pounds?” To make our subjects to visually lose some pounds, think about what makes us appear visually heavy! It’s the shadows!