Jeff Smith. Posing Techniques for Location Portrait Photography. 2008

look at below), then zoom in or adjust your camera position to create the

tighter image. You may also be able to create a waist-up shot and a head-and-

shoulders portrait in the same pose.

Determining the Posing Style.

As in the other poses we have looked at so far, the clothing and the location

will help you to determine the style of posing that would be best for your

image. If the young lady is in a jean skirt at a park location, you would use a

different pose than if she was in a glamorous gown at a location with beau-

tiful architecture.

More relaxed clothing and a casual scene would suggest a more relaxed

pose. A relaxed look in a standing pose is typically achieved by having the

subject rest on or lean against something. This can be a tree, column, build-

ing, bridge, wagon wheel, log or anything else that is at the appropriate

height and substantial enough not to shift with the subject leaning against it.

More dressy clothing and a refined scene would suggest a more formal

pose. A formal look in a standing pose is typified by grace and elegance. No

part of the body is bent excessively. The posture is typically upright; people

in formal poses don’t lean against anything. The hands rest gently on the

STANDING POSES 87

Here we see the same subject in the same
location, but we’ve moved in for a series of
three-quarter-length portraits. These give
the client an option for an image that still
shows the location and gown, but also shows
a larger view of the subject’s face.