Posing - The Photo Forum

voodoocat · 11-10-2005, 10:47 AM

Tally Ho and other pro's do you have any recommended reading for posing? I've done mostly candid style portraits with great results but I'd like to learn some techniques for posing. I'm hearing that the traditional poses are coming back in style.
Thanks.

Christie Photo · 11-10-2005, 11:28 AM

I'm a "pro", but don't lump that one up with the rest of us.

This is a nice easy place to start.

http://jzportraits.home.att.net/

-Pete

voodoocat · 11-10-2005, 11:41 AM

Thanks Pete! Even better that it's online and free!

Christie Photo · 11-10-2005, 11:59 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by voodoocat

Thanks Pete! Even better that it's online and free!

The credit really goes to Big Mike. He's posted it before.

BTW.... Thanks, Mike!!

-Pete

voodoocat · 11-10-2005, 12:19 PM

Big Mike's da man!

Tally Ho · 11-10-2005, 01:39 PM

Dear Voodocat,

Sorry, since I'm not a professional photographer, I don't have any input. I'm just a stupid ignoramus who owns a camera and takes snapshots on occasion. Hopefully the above site will suffice.

Tally Ho

voodoocat · 11-10-2005, 02:07 PM

Can you answer the original question without responding to Pete's message? Thanks.

Corry · 11-10-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tally Ho

Dear Voodocat,

Sorry, since I'm not a professional photographer, I don't have any input. I'm just a stupid ignoramus who owns a camera and takes snapshots on occasion. Hopefully the above site will suffice.

Tally Ho

Uh...dude...he was seriously asking your advice? This isn't that 'other' forum that you frequent....if you're nice, we're nice...(and you've been nice lately) So...please lighten up, k?

Tally Ho · 11-10-2005, 03:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by voodoocat

Can you answer the original question without responding to Pete's message? Thanks.

Yes I can. Thank you.

"Body Parts" by the late great Don Blair is a really wonderful book in my opinion. It shows you some of the 'correct' ways to pose brides, couples, women, men and groups and the 'incorrect' ways to pose them. It is available on his website but I'm unsure of the URL, most likely it is donblairphotography.com or something similiar.

The nice thing about a book is you can take it into the camera room and compare his pose to what you are attempting to do. I usually tell them I am 'trying out a new pose' and they are the first subject that you have tried it out on. They are flattered that you are 'experimenting' on them and you don't look like an idiot trying to remember how to do that pose you looked at for 15 seconds while she was dressing.

TH

voodoocat · 11-10-2005, 04:14 PM

Thanks Tally. I appreciate the input.

Big Mike · 11-10-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by voodoocat

Big Mike's da man!

:blulsh2:

photogoddess · 11-10-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tally Ho

They are flattered that you are 'experimenting' on them and you don't look like an idiot trying to remember how to do that pose you looked at for 15 seconds while she was dressing. TH

That's so funny and so true!

I've got a pretty good "routine" of poses that I use but am always looking at the way people move and interact with each other for more. Don't be afraid to experiment a bit. One thing that helps me with the boudoir shots that I do is that I ask the women to go through their favorite magazines and tear out photos that really make an impression with them and bring them along to the session. That way I know exactly what they have in mind, it gives me some new poses to try and often gives me some inspiration for some new poses of my own.

Dollface · 11-15-2005, 06:22 PM

I'm there with photogoddess..

My last shoot, I spent an evening with the *client* ( two good friends.. ) determining the "style" of the shoot we were going to do, and what kind ouf outfits ect we were going to use. We went through about 10-15 magazine that they, and I, had lying around, and made a scrap book of the kind of shots they liked, and also, the kind of lighting I liked.

Made it a lot easier to have a theme to the day without blundering my way through it.

I was also sent a link the other week to a pdf that has about 200 small photos on it ( same girl) doing 200 different poses. You could just point the the picture you wanted the model to pose like - or - I gave the whole sheet to my friend while I was setting up the lighting, and she had a look through it, which gave her ideas. This way, it was her that also felt in control of the posing rather than me just directing her, and it made the shoot flow a lot easier.

Ahh - here is is : http://www.vci.net/%7Emmorgan/pg2.pdf

( yes, it's a little on the *standard* style, but atleast it gives you something to work with )

clemeys · 11-15-2005, 06:34 PM

Thanks Dollface...thats a really good resource for a noob!

11-10-2005, 10:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
voodoocat ))<>(( TPF Subscriber Join Date: May 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,284 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Posing Tally Ho and other pro's do you have any recommended reading for posing? I've done mostly candid style portraits with great results but I'd like to learn some techniques for posing. I'm hearing that the traditional poses are coming back in style. Thanks. __________________ Nikon D70, Minolta X-7A, Yashicamat 124G "Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." ---Richard Bach

11-10-2005, 11:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Christie Photo Oh well. TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kankakee, IL Posts: 4,795	I'm a "pro", but don't lump that one up with the rest of us. This is a nice easy place to start. http://jzportraits.home.att.net/ -Pete __________________ Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns; It calls me on and on...

11-10-2005, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
voodoocat ))<>(( TPF Subscriber Join Date: May 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,284 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Thanks Pete! Even better that it's online and free! __________________ Nikon D70, Minolta X-7A, Yashicamat 124G "Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." ---Richard Bach

11-10-2005, 11:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Christie Photo Oh well. TPF Subscriber Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kankakee, IL Posts: 4,795	Quote: Originally Posted by voodoocat Thanks Pete! Even better that it's online and free! The credit really goes to Big Mike. He's posted it before. BTW.... Thanks, Mike!! -Pete __________________ Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns; It calls me on and on...

11-10-2005, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
voodoocat ))<>(( TPF Subscriber Join Date: May 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,284 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Big Mike's da man! __________________ Nikon D70, Minolta X-7A, Yashicamat 124G "Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." ---Richard Bach

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11-10-2005, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tally Ho Banned Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 111	Dear Voodocat, Sorry, since I'm not a professional photographer, I don't have any input. I'm just a stupid ignoramus who owns a camera and takes snapshots on occasion. Hopefully the above site will suffice. Tally Ho

11-10-2005, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
voodoocat ))<>(( TPF Subscriber Join Date: May 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,284 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Can you answer the original question without responding to Pete's message? Thanks. __________________ Nikon D70, Minolta X-7A, Yashicamat 124G "Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." ---Richard Bach

11-10-2005, 02:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Corry Flirtacious and Bodacious TPF Subscriber Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 20,676 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Tally Ho Dear Voodocat, Sorry, since I'm not a professional photographer, I don't have any input. I'm just a stupid ignoramus who owns a camera and takes snapshots on occasion. Hopefully the above site will suffice. Tally Ho Uh...dude...he was seriously asking your advice? This isn't that 'other' forum that you frequent....if you're nice, we're nice...(and you've been nice lately) So...please lighten up, k? __________________ To The Core ~~~~~ Baseball time is here again/ You can catch it all on WGN! So stamp your feet and clap your hands/ Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans! We’re singing now . . . Go, Cubs, go/ Go, Cubs, go! Hey, Chicago, what do you say/ The Cubs are gonna win today! ~~~~~

11-10-2005, 03:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tally Ho Banned Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 111	Quote: Originally Posted by voodoocat Can you answer the original question without responding to Pete's message? Thanks. Yes I can. Thank you. "Body Parts" by the late great Don Blair is a really wonderful book in my opinion. It shows you some of the 'correct' ways to pose brides, couples, women, men and groups and the 'incorrect' ways to pose them. It is available on his website but I'm unsure of the URL, most likely it is donblairphotography.com or something similiar. The nice thing about a book is you can take it into the camera room and compare his pose to what you are attempting to do. I usually tell them I am 'trying out a new pose' and they are the first subject that you have tried it out on. They are flattered that you are 'experimenting' on them and you don't look like an idiot trying to remember how to do that pose you looked at for 15 seconds while she was dressing. TH

11-10-2005, 04:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
voodoocat ))<>(( TPF Subscriber Join Date: May 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,284 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Thanks Tally. I appreciate the input. __________________ Nikon D70, Minolta X-7A, Yashicamat 124G "Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." ---Richard Bach

11-10-2005, 04:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
Big Mike I am Big, I am Mike Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Edmonton Posts: 17,646 My Photos Are OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by voodoocat Big Mike's da man! :blulsh2: __________________ Edmonton Wedding Photographer Blog

11-10-2005, 06:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
photogoddess TPF Junkie! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lala Land Posts: 6,212 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Quote: Originally Posted by Tally Ho They are flattered that you are 'experimenting' on them and you don't look like an idiot trying to remember how to do that pose you looked at for 15 seconds while she was dressing. TH That's so funny and so true! I've got a pretty good "routine" of poses that I use but am always looking at the way people move and interact with each other for more. Don't be afraid to experiment a bit. One thing that helps me with the boudoir shots that I do is that I ask the women to go through their favorite magazines and tear out photos that really make an impression with them and bring them along to the session. That way I know exactly what they have in mind, it gives me some new poses to try and often gives me some inspiration for some new poses of my own. __________________ I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, Sir, because I'm not myself you see.

11-15-2005, 06:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dollface Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 143	I'm there with photogoddess.. My last shoot, I spent an evening with the client ( two good friends.. ) determining the "style" of the shoot we were going to do, and what kind ouf outfits ect we were going to use. We went through about 10-15 magazine that they, and I, had lying around, and made a scrap book of the kind of shots they liked, and also, the kind of lighting I liked. Made it a lot easier to have a theme to the day without blundering my way through it. I was also sent a link the other week to a pdf that has about 200 small photos on it ( same girl) doing 200 different poses. You could just point the the picture you wanted the model to pose like - or - I gave the whole sheet to my friend while I was setting up the lighting, and she had a look through it, which gave her ideas. This way, it was her that also felt in control of the posing rather than me just directing her, and it made the shoot flow a lot easier. Ahh - here is is : http://www.vci.net/%7Emmorgan/pg2.pdf ( yes, it's a little on the standard style, but atleast it gives you something to work with ) __________________ My job is to shoot what lives - Katie http://www.dollface.net.au Canon 10D

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11-15-2005, 06:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
clemeys Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 176	Thanks Dollface...thats a really good resource for a noob!

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