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The Flow of Posing

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A while back, I started noticing that photographers I liked were able to demonstrate physically what they wanted from their models. In other words, these photographers were great at posing their models. Watching behind-the-scenes footage of their shoots inevitably revealed that they had some pretty incredible moves of their own.

I shouldn’t have to explain why. In much the same way retouching and photography go together in a feedback loop, so do posing and photography. Knowing how to pose means you can have a mental image of the pose that you are trying to capture. It inevitably means that you’ll figure out which poses work and which poses don’t.

I used to just shoot from the hip and let the model do whatever she wanted. Shooting lots of frames meant that I’d get “usable frames” by sheer volume and probability. Problem was that my yield rate was inconsistent. Sometimes I got lots of good frames (usually indicative of a good model), and sometimes I’d get nothing. Learning how to pose smoothes out the inconsistencies and increases my yield rate for usable frames. Now this isn’t to say that I never have bad shoots anymore. Everyone has good and bad days. Overall, however, having a handful of “go-to” poses makes bad shoots rarer because I can show the models what I’m looking for. Moreover, it can enhance the shoot by providing a good model a new direction to take her own posing.

The flow of posing

So what’s a good pose? I personally like movement, creating symmetry, shapes, framing the face, elongating the body, and more. For me, it depends on the wardrobe, the set, and the feeling that we’re trying to convey. Basically, the answer is “It depends.” But the definition of a “good pose” will vary inevitably from photographer to photographer, just as it does from model to model. Each photographer has to develop his or her own posing preferences. The only way to develop your own posing preference is to practice.

And that’s where the mirror comes in.

While I’m a huge proponent of mental exercises, the only way to really improve your posing skills is with a mirror. Something you think looks good in your head might not actually look good in front of the lens. Validating this reality is important. The mirror provides instant feedback, allowing you to adjust the pose to suit your taste and preferences.

This is the part where I publicly admit that I actually practice posing in front of the mirror. It wouldn’t be so bad except that I have to specify that I’m practicing women’s poses. Unless you’re Benny Ninja, if you’re a man, I don’t think you’ll ever find practicing women’s poses completely natural. In many ways, it’s awkward simply because men aren’t physically built the same way. We’re muscular, top-heavy, typically lack range of motion, and worst of all, we look stupid in heels… most of the time, at least. πŸ™‚ But, yes, I spend a couple minutes here and there trying to figure out what looks good and what doesn’t in front of the mirror. The physical mirror develops the mental mirror (over time) so that you can envision what the pose looks like without an actual mirror.

What's in a pose?

Posing has benefits aside from getting good frames. It’s freaking hilarious to watch a photographer pose. I often do it just for the comedic effect. When the model sees that you can make a total fool out of yourself, she’ll be more inclined to loosen up and try new moves or give you more. The funniest poses are the ones with the sexy facial expressions. A male photographer demonstrating a sexy facial expression is funny as hell and usually just “wrong” every which way from Sunday. So, get a mirror and take a few mental frames of your best poses!

You can learn more about posing and other key photo techniques at one of my group workshops.

LUCIMA

Charles Lucima is a photographer/retoucher based in Los Angeles specializing in fashion, editorial, and beauty. His clients include designers, apparel brands, and modeling agencies around the world. http://www.lucima.com/

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47 Responses to “The Flow of Posing”

  1. June 20, 2015 at 1:26 pm, Tommy Childress said:

    I am still learning photography and trying to better myself but the one thing I worry about the most is posing and I feel it takes a lot from getting that shoot. I will have to try this mirror idea and hopefully wife and kids don’t catch me, I would never hear the end of it than…lol

    Reply

  2. May 02, 2013 at 10:50 pm, jeffery brown said:

    …thanks, fantastic share =]

    Reply

  3. April 22, 2013 at 3:13 am, Laurence D'Aertrijcke said:

    This is awesome! Great notes here πŸ™‚

    Reply

  4. April 19, 2013 at 10:14 am, Donedin Jackson said:

    This was wonderful. I’m just starting, and don’t know how to hold my body juuuuust right without a mirror! I don’t know if it’s taboo to ask for one so I can get the right “look” or not!

    Reply

  5. April 19, 2013 at 9:51 am, LisaN said:

    I completely agree. If a model is brand new I think direction is needed. If you are a seasoned model, posing is a skill you practice, practice, practice. There are many great books out there that help tremendously. If a photographer has to give you too much direction he is not going to want to work you again most likely. Keeping a notebook with your ideas or cut out clippings from fashion magazines and save photo’s from the internet you like. I also have friends take my pictures if I want to try out something and see what it will look like in an image.

    It is absolutely the models job to know his/her body and know what poses and expressions flatter them. Being creative and having ideas of my own has actually worked out well for me.

    This is a great post. The topic needed to be put out there.

    Reply

  6. April 18, 2013 at 8:16 pm, AdrianCA said:

    Kudos to you for what is a very useful article. I too, guide by posing. Not only is it the fastest way to get a session moving, but the comedic effect really breaks the ice with inexperienced models.

    As a side note, it is so nice when someone posts an article that is legitimately trying to help the models, instead of trying to hock some useless book, which is full of useless information with a few items that are more commonsense than “inside” information.

    Reply

  7. April 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm, Momo said:

    I love this article because I’m still new to Posing and it helps me out a lot if the Photographer is good at giving me Direction instead of just telling me to “do something” It’s not as easy for some models as it is for others, I wish I was as good at it as Coco Rocha~

    Reply

  8. April 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm, semi234 said:

    I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with you here.

    1. A model’s job is to, y’know, MODEL & know how their body moves from pose to pose & should know how to tinker a mediocre pose to altering just so slightly to being a fabulous pose.

    2. Not all body types are alike. My beer belly, middle-aged gut with a slight back-stoop is going to look vastly different than a nubile, young, 20-something who runs 3-miles a day.

    Although it can be helpful when a photographer is able to demonstrate the poses, it shouldn’t be remotely essential. They should be able to give the model the verbal gyst of what they want & let the model do their job. Besides do photographers really want models to be rehashing all the same stuff that you do with all the other models? Maybe I’m in the minority but I sure as hell don’t.

    Reply

    • April 19, 2013 at 7:39 am, $7133234 said:

      1. A professional paid model, yes indeed. But even they need to get _some_ kind of feedback from you on what you are trying to achieve. New/inexperienced models, and TFP-work, fits this article 100% IMO.

      2. You can still show the principle, and with a fresh and inexperienced model, the psychological effect of you posing with your beer belly, is so funny that the would loosen up. My experience with this is the same as the author of the article. (I’m 6 feet something, with a proper “too much crap-food” belly and the models love it when I make an ass out of myself). I would probably not do this with a paid model.

      Rehashing is a danger, yes, but again, this depends if you shoot the same stuff all the time. Showing them the basic plan and then let them go from there is usually a very nice way of getting the variety you need. (again this applies to models that are more inexperienced).

      Reply

  9. May 14, 2012 at 3:39 am, Rachel Fisichella said:

    What a great article. I think every photographer should read this. Most of the time we are bringing a photographers vision to life rather than our own. So if you knew what poses, angles and expression you needed to really bring that vision to life. You will get a much quicker and accurate result demonstrating what you need rather than wasting time re-explaining until (if ever) the model has successfully executed your direction. I can’t express how much this would help models and photographers get the consistent quality photos they desire.

    Reply

  10. March 28, 2012 at 5:42 pm, Jeremiahein said:

    Thanks for the advice. As a model I either do my own poses but maybe now I should ask the photographer to put me in certain poses that he/she sees fit. Β I’ll start practicing in the mirror as well.Β 

    Reply

  11. October 20, 2011 at 3:56 pm, Lisa Michelle Dixon said:

    You are brilliant LUCIMA! I always found it much easier when a photographer did an example pose for me. Now, it’s rare that I even get to witness a photographer pose. I don’t know if it’s because my experience leads me to continuously alter my poses or if it’s because they just don’t like to pose models anymore. Either way, I always remember the way it made me feel comfortable and you’re right, it’s an instant way of making a model know she can try new poses at any moment.

    Reply

  12. October 17, 2011 at 3:11 pm, Raditya Beer said:

    Thanks for sharing ! great post !

    Reply

  13. October 14, 2011 at 7:16 am, BloomyPhotos.com said:

    I should start posing in the mirror. While I’m shooting poses kind of just come to me from things that I have seen either online or from a magazine but practicing would probably help my work look much better!

    Reply

  14. October 08, 2011 at 7:37 pm, Don said:

    Well written article and true. For new photographers out there; nothing better than an experienced model and nothing worse than a beautiful young woman saying “what do I do?” In defense of the model, you need to express exactly the shots you are looking for in the beginning. A good photographer will make the model feel comfortable and figure out their personality within a few shots. I always start out simple and pose the model to see what their best look is and then incorporate that into the theme shots I need. Most of all, have fun!!! Don

    Reply

  15. October 07, 2011 at 4:08 pm, Tonic Dog said:

    I almost always will pose during a shoot to demonstrate for the model. I’ve taken to wearing tighter clothing so it’s easier to see when I pose (ah, vanity!). Loose comfortable shooting clothing hides the hips too much.

    Reply

  16. October 06, 2011 at 9:05 pm, DeanR said:

    Well…,
    I am relieved to learn that I am not the only photographer that practices model poses in the mirror!

    You are quite right in saying that demonstrating a pose, rather than trying to describe it verbally, is far better. And yes, it does look goofy when I do it!

    Reply

  17. October 06, 2011 at 5:30 pm, Vindice said:

    Brilliant article πŸ™‚

    Reply

  18. October 06, 2011 at 2:34 pm, Tim said:

    Well said. I also will do example poses for the model and to great comedic effect. But more to the point, I feel any model who doesn’t practice in this way is not serious about her “craft”.

    Additionally, I am convinced that the hardest thing for models to “get” are there facial expressions. Directing a model to pose an attractive, in shape body in an interesting and attractive manner is fairly simple for me at this point – but I find it impossible to “direct” a facial expression. I certainly can’t demonstrate them; but can only give them an idea of the emotion or mood I’m hoping they can express. This is when modeling, I feel, intersects with acting. A model who can “hit” the facial expression based on the photographers verbal description of the emotion/mood, is worth her weight in gold!

    Reply

  19. October 06, 2011 at 8:25 am, LuxStudio said:

    Thanks for a great article!

    For whatever it may be worth, here’s my pose-o-matic system for the studio:

    1. full length mirror in front of model, just off camera
    2. computer screen right next to the mirror with Adobe Bridge showing a pose example full-screen. I have a collection of jpegs in folders by category: freestanding, with chair/stool, with wall, laying down, etc.
    3. I can run through the photos myself by pressing a button on my iphone, or sometimes either a friend operates the computer, or I can even mount the iphone just off camera on an articulated arm so she can reach over and work it herself if she gets stuck.

    She can either mimic the poses directly, or just use them for inspiration. Even with complete newbies, I never get the dreaded “I don’t know what to do. I’m out of ideas.” Nor do I have to try and talk a model into a complicated pose that I don’t even know how to do myself much less explain it to someone else.

    For the software to control your computer via iphone over wifi, see the app ‘Mobile Mouse’.

    Reply

    • March 29, 2014 at 9:26 pm, Mara said:

      that’s fantastic! I’d love it if more photogs did this πŸ˜‰

      Reply

  20. October 06, 2011 at 12:41 am, Aero Windwalker said:

    LMAO. I thought I was the only person who does the sexy faces to my models.

    Reply

  21. October 05, 2011 at 6:25 pm, Christophe Vivant said:

    I was considering practising this.
    so the idea sounds good.

    Now I think I’m to shy for this !
    Also I’ve never been working with a hairy man in front of my lenses.

    Think I’m gonna have some fun, let’s do it.

    Reply

  22. October 05, 2011 at 4:23 pm, Brandon Gasparin said:

    great comment, this is one thing i was trained in, with my first job. Each photographer was sent to a week of “modeling camp” it was very useful. πŸ™‚

    Reply

  23. October 05, 2011 at 6:16 am, Rhakim88 said:

    i love it ….

    Reply

  24. October 05, 2011 at 3:07 am, Nyloracarolynx3 said:

    I loved this article! Seems that I will be dancing through the frames πŸ˜‰

    Reply

  25. October 05, 2011 at 1:36 am, C-A-S-S-I-E said:

    I am a model, but relieved to hear that I am not the only one that has a passion for mirror time! πŸ˜‰ the benefits & experience you gain thru routinely doing this not only increases the quality & effectiveness of your posing ability, but is priceless in capturing those perfect shots! Great article! xo

    Reply

  26. October 03, 2011 at 9:37 pm, Riqqilin said:

    So Helpful….thanks!!

    Reply

  27. October 03, 2011 at 9:32 am, Bailey Elizabeth said:

    Awesome article, as a new photographer I’ve been struggling with this certain thing. Thank you!

    Reply

  28. October 03, 2011 at 7:10 am, Dracovinia said:

    You nailed it! Love photographers that know how to guide a model and ones that really know what they’re looking for. Great article.

    Reply

  29. October 03, 2011 at 2:33 am, Olivia Leigh said:

    I like your article on pose`s like anything else. Practice, practice, practice. I have improved a great deal (in my opinion). Thinking back on my first shoot, I didn`t have a clue. Now I know which side is my best, and different ways that make me look my best~ Olivia Leigh

    Reply

  30. October 02, 2011 at 6:22 pm, Trevor Jayne said:

    Check out doug gordon if your a fan of “flow posing”

    Reply

  31. October 02, 2011 at 6:13 pm, Oyiksaja said:

    this is important for me,..thank you πŸ˜€

    Reply

  32. October 02, 2011 at 11:54 am, Artschotz said:

    Thank you. You have validated my theory. Although I don’t practice in front of a mirror, I do demonstrate poses for my models. It seems like the simplest and most reliable method of communicating what you want short of showing a photograph of the pose – which also works.

    And talk about funny, I’m an old fart with a belly. Needless to say, it just doesn’t look the same on me as it does on a beautiful young lady.

    Reply

  33. October 02, 2011 at 7:19 am, Leigha Rose said:

    I always love when a photographer can morph into a model when showing me what look hes going for πŸ™‚ good advice!

    Reply

  34. October 02, 2011 at 1:43 am, Ray01 said:

    Great article! I Love your practicality… and your sense of humor.

    Recently I have been printing out 25 of my favorite poses on a 8×11 sheet of paper at a shoot. I show this “posing guide” to the model… and she can then see how to get into the pose visually herself. It also helps remind me of what I need to do to capture the pose. We both then have the basic idea of the pose…and we fine tune it by taking 10 shots in the camera and then fine tuning it every couple shots by both chimping at the view screen. We both end up educating eachother.

    I like your idea about demonstrating the poses yourself as well…Its a great way to visually communicate what you want to see to the model.

    I guess its more mirror time for the model… and the photographer both!! Great article.

    Reply

  35. October 02, 2011 at 12:36 am, Phil said:

    Great article, and reminds me of myself. You know, some of the positions that look good in front of the camera are very exaggerated. In other words, they feel very exagerrated and awkward doing them, but on film, they look great. Well, when I have a model who is a bit intimidated to do these “exaggerated” poses, I’ll do them for her. And so far, they have all been very polite and would then do it for me…but inside, they have GOT to be saying “who is this freak” haha

    Reply

  36. October 01, 2011 at 9:16 pm, Hermanvg said:

    i don’t agree however with the “spray and pray” technique…

    Reply

  37. October 01, 2011 at 8:33 pm, Bocalicious said:

    Nice post. Working with experienced models is a blessing. Until that’s consistent we’ll just keep working the mirror!

    =b

    Reply

  38. October 01, 2011 at 6:06 pm, Venn D said:

    Your honesty is really powerful. Thanks for the insight…

    Reply

  39. October 01, 2011 at 3:29 pm, Bunluver said:

    This is great because I felt like I had a dirty little secret with all the time I spend posing in front of a mirror to practice what I want to get from a model. And speaking of mirrors, I used to tell models to turn left, turn right, etc., but due to that causing confusion for some of them, I started saying, “Let’s play mirror, and you just face the same direction I’m facing.” Saved a lot of embarrassment. :^)

    Reply

  40. October 01, 2011 at 9:51 am, Joshua Eby said:

    Good advice. Do you shoot constantly or take time between frames?

    Reply

    • October 01, 2011 at 9:36 pm, Marichburg said:

      I prefer to take time between frames. Shooting constantly removes the creative side for me and the model doesn’t have a clue what she’s doing right or wrong. I tell my models to look at each pose like it’s the only one they’ll do. That there are no throw away poses. (Even though we know that ain’t the case) But the reality is some models pose very well and others just look good. The trick is to get past their ego getting them to understand that one has nothing to do with the other. Some of the more creative posers are ones with imagination and energy. They tend to work harder and put more into posing. I also find that music helps along with allowing them to see and discuss the frames every 10/20 shots. Because no matter how big my ego is I know in the end all great shots are a collaboration between model and photographer (with a nod to Photoshop..lol)

      Reply

  41. October 01, 2011 at 9:03 am, Julie Kasperson said:

    I enjoyed this article. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply

  42. October 01, 2011 at 12:19 am, Angel Watson said:

    I am both a model and a photographer and I ALWAYS do this! I actually agreed to start modeling just so I could learn how to get them more comfortable and at ease in front of my lens!

    Reply

  43. September 28, 2011 at 6:02 am, Jessicamurphy005 said:

    Great tips!!!

    Reply

    • October 02, 2011 at 12:47 am, Regalisliterati1 said:

      Very good article!

      Reply

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