Perfecting the pose: 10 tips for posing women in flattering, beautiful portraits

 

 

Portrait photography is difficult because there are so many variables you have to consider -- lighting, wardrobe, background, composition, etc. -- but one aspect of portraiture that a lot of people struggle with is posing. Not only is it difficult, but there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Photographer Manny Ortiz has made an excellent guide to posing women, providing ten quick tips for flattering portrait poses

His first tip is to "shoot her favorite side." Even if her favorite side isn't her best side, don’t worry about that right off the bat. Your first job as the photographer is to make your subject feel comfortable and everyone feels more comfortable when they think they're presenting their best side.

The second tip is to have the woman shift her weight to her back leg. This typically gives the appearance of a slimmer waistline, and who doesn't want to look slimmer in their portraits? Of course a subject may want to accentuate the size of their legs or waist; no single tip works in every single situation. Although his next bit of advice is probably about as close to universally-applicable as anything: no slouching! When someone is nervous, their posture has a tendency to get worse, so keep that in mind and make sure your subject feels comfortable and is maintaining good posture. To see the other seven posing tips, check out Ortiz's video below.

We've covered Manny Ortiz's videos on numerous occasions. If you're interested in how important a single off-camera light can be, see this video. Don't have any off-camera flashes but want to get some without breaking the bank? See how here. Balancing natural and artificial light can be tricky, but see this guide for tips on how to nail your exposure.

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