The first thing you need to do when photography a person or portrait, is to get to know your subject. Talk to them – ask then questions about themselves. This will not only help you get to know them, but it’ll also make them feel more comfortable. The more comfortable both of you are with each other the easier it’ll be to pose them for their portrait.
Posing people for a photograph doesn’t need to be complicated. It should always be simple. And above all it should always be natural. Look and watch how they stand or handle themselves. Start with how they are either standing or sitting, then try having them put their hands in their pockets or maybe ever have them fold their arms. It’s also a good idea to ask them if they feel comfortable.
Another good way of making them feel comfortable is to tell them you’re new at this and that you need their help in experimenting with poses. The more honest you are with your subject, the more they’ll trust you and allow you to capture the ‘real’ them. And always remember this is an intimidating experience for your subject, so anyway to make them feel more comfortable and less nervous, is a good thing.
A great place to start when photographing a portrait is the face. Stay close and don’t worry about the hands or body. The face and eyes are the most exciting part of a portrait anyway. That’s where the real personality and honesty exists. Now when I say close, that doesn’t mean you need to be 6 inches from their face. Try using a longer lens – or a telephoto zoom lens. Always stay close enough to connect, but far away to not intimidate.
While you are capturing their face, give your subject a stool to sit on, not a chair. This will keep them sitting more straight up, and sitting always makes your subject feel safer – more comfortable. It anchors them. And it makes it easier for you, because they aren’t moving around as much.
How you handle yourself when shooting a portrait can sometimes be more important than the actual posing. Your responsibility is to make them feel comfortable so they look great in their photographs. For more tips on what you can do to ensure you can handle the technical and creative side of capturing a great portrait, visit this Informative Site!