The dictionary defines posing or a pose as, “an attitude or position taken naturally or assumed for effect; an artistic position or attitude.” To photographers this definition speaks loudly. There are few topics, as portrait photographers, that warrant discussion as much as posing. Everyone has opinions on what looks good, what we think the customer likes, or what the customer actually wants. Believe it or not, there is a method and solid ideas of why we pose people the way we do.
There is more to posing than just capturing the attitude or character of the subject in the image. We are trying to capture our subjects in the best possible light. We want them to look good and put them in a flattering position. Our main focus as portrait photographers is to create striking portraits of our customers. One of our strongest disciplines is attention to detail, which can make a real difference in portraits and posing.