Photography Poses

One of the more difficult yet often the most popular and cutest subjects to photograph are kids. I have been looking for tips to master child portrait photography and I keep coming across a few of the same tips that I thought I would share with you:

1. 1. Get down on the same level as the child when taking the photos. So if they are walking down the driveway crouch down or lie on the driveway this will get photos at their level as opposed to looking down on them.
2. 2. It can often be quite arduous trying to get the children to look at the camera.  So try and have their parents or other relatives behind the camera keeping them entertained so they look towards the camera. If you are the parent well you have a dual role then and I am sure you will have a lot of fun taking the photos.
3. 3. Be patient.  Set time aside as it can sometimes be tedious. Get loads of photos as you will get a mixture of expressions and photography poses. The unexpected ones are often the most adorable.
4. 4. Get the kids to play games. They will have fun and then and smile and laugh naturally.  It keeps them entertained and makes getting the photos much easier.
5. 5. Make sure that there are no distracting objects in the background.  Use backdrops to enhance the photo not distract from the main subject.
6. 6. Children often look better in plain clothes.  Prints and patterns on children’s clothing can often be very distracting in a photo.

I hope you agree that taking photos of kids can be fun and I am sure once we know and master some of the tricks of the trade and with a little practice we will be able to  get some fantastic shots.

When taking a portrait photo there are many things that need to be considered when deciding on suitable portrait poses for the subject. Some key determinants of the pose chosen are the type of portrait, the personality of the subjects, the subjects body shape and the setting.

It is usually expected that the photographer, especially experience photographers, will know which pose is suitable for the situation and how to create that pose.  However, it is often difficult to convey to the subject the best way to pose, what poses are available and what is involved.  This is where a Swipe File becomes absolutely essential.

So, what is a swipe file? A swipe file is a scrap book containing an array of photos. A great way to create a swipe file is with photos you have taken.  However, this is difficult if you are just starting out and it can also be limiting as it is also important to include other photos and images that you can learn from and expand your skills. A great place to get pictures to add to your file is to cut out pictures of photos that you like in magazines or photocopy them if you do not want to cut them out.

Many photographers study them in great depth to learn the detail in the pose.  Such as where the hand is positioned, on what leg is their weight. They are often a very useful way to communicate the intended pose with your subject.

A great idea is sort the file into sections for easier use; such as family group photos, couple photos and photos of individuals. This enables the photos to be found easily.

Although studying photos is important the best way to learn what photo poses work and which ones do not is through practice and the best way to practice is on family and friends.  Not only will this help you learn how to express what you want the subject to do but it will give you some photos to expand your swipe file.