Strike a Pose

I often hear clients says, "How should I look? What look do you want on my face? How should I stand?" And, then I smile, because that shows me the subject is willing to get into the shoot properly.

As in life, your pose all depends on what you're trying to communicate. Have you noticed that you start crossing your arms when you're feeling challenged by a conversation, or how you might start playing with your hair or beard when pondering a solution? This happens by default and others will read it for what it is.

Here are a couple of poses I use to portray what my sitter is trying to communicate:

1. Crossing the arms

I try to stay away from this pose, as it has a very closed and uninviting feel, but it can be used to communicate authority. Some people use it as a defense mechanism, so if they're feeling uncomfortable it is a quick easy way to make them feel safe and more in control of the shoot. If we use this pose, then I have to get them to use their facial expressions more and bring their personal energy out to contrast that defense stance. This then makes them look more approachable and friendly

2. Straight ahead

If I'm trying to make my subject appear confident and trustworthy I want them to face me squarely. Our vital organs are located in our torso and is the most vulnerable part of our body. So if you shy away, you create a sense of insecurity, the classic fight of flight look. Facing a person straight on will show engagement, interest and a sense of safety. Having said that, a slight pivot of the body or face can also be used to communicate power, a bit of a flirt or even disinterest.

3. Hands in the pockets

This can look lazy, but can also come across as very relaxed, a person that is on the same level as you, approachable. It helps with the comfort level of the subject too. Just make sure that the rest of the body is upright as this will give a feel of confidence.

4. Give me some hip

Yes like the models do! But usually we don't have the flexibility, confidence or perfect curves so most won't look like they are striking the catwalk pose. This is a way to make the body break away from the deer in headlights look, and the straight uncomfortable pose. This hip adjustment can help them drop into a comfort zone. It makes people feel a little bit more sexy as well and will change the facial expression accordingly.

5. Shake it out

This is one of the tricks people in dance and theater also use because the moment you shake your body out, the whole body relaxes. So when I see my sitter starting to freeze and tense up, we stand and give it a good shake out together. It is also a wonderful ice breaker moment.

6. Handy hands

The positioning of hands and fingers can bring across different looks too. Steepled fingers shows an authoritarian look, often used by higher management and bosses. A hand on the cheek can show a dreamy and wistful look, which can work well if the subject isn't totally comfortable looking directly in the camera lens. They can look past or into the distance. Hands are very expressive, and can reveal so much about the person, so it is important to have them positioned appropriately for the shoot.

I really do believe that the client should lead the pose that works best for them and it does become apparent in the first few minutes of meeting a subject just what pose will work well.

And, there is no reason why the client cannot try a few different poses in one photo shoot.

Feel like striking a pose? Well then, get in touch and book your portrait shoot. https://www.marikeherselman.com/.

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