Intro to Posing: Family Photography

Learn how to pose your subjects for that perfect family photo! In Posing for Beginners: Intro to Friend and Family Photography, learn hands-on, how-to guide your subjects for natural and easy photos.

We’ve all seen awkward hand positions and prom photos – learn how to avoid stiff, unnatural photos with this course! Posing a subject or group is critical to creating exceptional formal and informal portraits, yet many photographers find portrait posing challenging to understand and master.

The reason posing can create problems is that inexperienced subjects look to you for direction. If you freeze up and fail to direct, or lack good form and figure ideas, you will struggle to create good photos. It’s up to you to take charge of your subjects, be they family or professional models! The key is learning, practicing, and being prepared.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this class, students quickly develop the skills to pose individuals, small and large groups. Moreover, this class teaches you to understand the posing requirements for a particular visual message. The family portrait, high school senior shot are all very different from a fashion shoot. Choose a specific pose due to determining the type of image you wish to create and what is appropriate. Students learn how to evaluate anatomical structures, image purpose lighting conditions, and the chosen appropriate poses. Students leave with new knowledge and confidence for selecting and creating stunning posed situations. Using what you’ve learned, your photos will start making sense, pleasing to the eye, and flattering for your subjects. In group photos, you will now start seeing the relationships and positions of each other.

TOPICS COVERED

• Building rapport with your subjects
• Formal single person pose with gender and age differentiation
• Casual single person pose with gender and age differentiation
• Group poses
• Creative pose movements for specific portrait goals

MATERIALS NEEDED

• DSLR Camera and 1 or more zoom lenses
• One or more portable flash units recommended

QUALIFICATIONS

• Beginner to Intermediate
• Have taken Digital Photography for Beginners or equivalent
• Ages 16+

INSTRUCTOR

David LaNeve, CPP