The rules of posing are complex with a number of nuances. There are a few things that can make your photos look better, whether you are in front of or behind the camera.
Rule #1 If It Bends, Bend It.
If possible, every joint in the body should be bent to some extent. This includes elbows, fingers, and wrists. By bending the joints, the lines of the image are broken to create a more dynamic look and feel. Take a look through some old photographs of yourself or family and see if you can spot this simple rule at work. We do this even at weddings, where we have to quickly look over a group shot to make sure everyone is comfortable looking.
Rule #2
Straight On Is Bad.
This one has a little caveat. We typically shoot women, and as such want to make them look delicate and graceful. Shooting straight on to the camera, with the shoulders and hips square, makes the subject look bigger. For some guys, this makes them look powerful and can be a good thing. For women, in general, it is a bad idea. How horrid would it be to get back the photos from a wedding and have the memories ruined because of a bad pose.
Rule #3 Posing Is Not All Stiff
When most people here the word posed, they think stiff, sit here for five minutes smiling until your face hurts kind of posing. This is not all posing and if the photographer is doing the job they are supposed to do, it won’t feel like that. Posing can also be placing you in a specific situation with a known likely outcome to get the desired shot. There are lots of tricks to get candid looking shots from poses.
Rule #4 Shift The Hips
This goes back to Rule #1. By shifting the weight onto one foot, the hips shift and the shoulders shift in suit. The creates a more pleasing look over all. A great example of this is Michelangelo’s statue of David. Putting all the weight on the back foot and then leaning forward a little can make the body appear a little more appealing to the camera.
Rule #5 Crotch Is Bad
Showing crotch in photos is unflattering for everyone. No one wants to see your legs spread whether you are a guy or a girl. Try to avoid the hips straight at the camera, instead, turn them slightly to the camera. If possible, use the front leg to conceal unflattering groin shots.
