Sculpting a Pose!

• First things first — break the ice, be genuine and get into casual conversation. Ask about the person's day or the best thing that happened this week, and build on the previous conversation with follow-up questions. This will establish trust from the get-go.
• Offer specific directions that make sense and will help them to feel comfortable. Asking a person to point their nose towards an object works much better than saying, "turn your head 20° to the right".
• Start by positioning your subject/s roughly where you want them to stand or sit. Unless they’re professional actors or models, they won't know how to stand, where to look or how to place their hands.
• It's always easier if you direct your model/s to perform an ordinary, everyday activity. The simpler, the better. Consider things that appear effortless — like gazing out at the vista, stepping into a doorway, or reading a book.
• Posture problems can easily be corrected by simply straightening the spine. Posture is the foundation and structure of a house, so to speak. It holds everything together and is what distributes and balances bodyweight in a flattering way.
• Body shape is much better if the model/s weight is transferred to the leg furthest away from your camera.
• Make sure that your model/s shoulders are down and relaxed, whether standing, sitting, or lying down.
• The body looks more flattering and more natural when arms and legs are lifted, and there is space and separation from the body. For example, the leg stride when walking or an arm reaching out to open a door or bent on the hip. A general rule of thumb is if it bends, bend it!
• Don't forget the hands and fingers. Give your models something to hold or an object to interact with, or find other ways to engage them (never let them dangle). Notice fingers too; generally speaking, they should be relaxed, slightly bent, and always together.
• Now for the heads and shoulders! Always offer the person a line of sight. Ask or point to an object you want them to look at. I know it sounds strange, but ask your model/s to push their ears forward a little. This will create separation between the head and neck. Lastly, shoulders are more flattering when turned at a slight angle.
• In unusual circumstances, when the model is closer than normal to the camera, turn the face so their nose is slightly off centre, pointing somewhat to the left or the right. This gives it shape and definition without making it the focus. In other words, try not to let the nose break the natural line of the face as it tends to lengthen the nose proportionally.

Motion Blur or Sharp

Consider if you want motion blur or a static appearance! Motion blur may be better suited for some interiors and a sharp scene for others, depending on the brief.

• For motion blur, set the shutter speed between 1/15 and 1/60 sec, depending on preference and your subject's speed.
• Alternatively, to freeze motion, an idea is to treat your model/s as a 'light painted layer' and blend with your other light layers in post. Be mindful of photographing people with a broader mask, as this will avoid situations where the mask becomes too complex for each person if there are many.
• Don't be discouraged if you have to shoot ten or more frames before getting the result you're looking for.