Last month I had a model write in asking about
posing. She writes:
"I
was wondering when you have time, do you think you
could create a post on what type of poses a model is
required to have to enhance the chances of getting
bookings?" This is a good question, but a
tricky one because as a photographer, I'm not doing
the posing. Still, I’m looking at it and often
directing it, and I know a good pose from a stinker.
Posing is also a challenging question to address
because, on some level, it’s instinctive and unique
to every individual. It's hard to come up with a set
of rules that everyone should abide by to get good
results. With that said, I'm going to take a shot at
it anyway. I think the factors listed below should be
taken into account by any model who's taking this
seriously as a craft.
Try This At Home Kids!
Really!
Before you go out and shoot, if you have new ideas
for poses in your head (especially sexy ones), you
should try them out at home in front of the mirror or
a video camera
first. Don't wait
until you get on set to try some avante garde new
pose you came up with for the first time. You'll be
wasting the photographer's time with your practice.
Check out the pose in the mirror or on video to help
you assess whether it looks goofy or works before you
go out there. Which leads to our next topic...
Practice Makes Perfect
To be a good model, you have to be a master of
expressions. You need to know just how to raise an
eyebrow or pout the lips to get the desired results.
Your body and face are your tools of trade, and you
need to have complete control over them. Vogue-ing in
the mirror may seem vain, but it's
your job!
And the more you do it, the more you'll be able to
call up the desired pose or expression on command,
which will result in better shots and greater
efficiency. There's nothing worse than a model who is
constantly asking to check the LED monitor to see if
what she did worked. She should know this. If you
need to get another opinion about a pose while
practicing at home, make sure it's someone who's
objective and not some guy who'll just be happy
you're making sexy poses for him.
Assess Your Target Audience
This one's pretty obvious, but the poses that will
work for BlackMen magazine probably wouldn't work in
Allure magazine. If you're hired for a job, you need
to figure out what is expected from you on the day of
the shoot so you know what to do on set.
Learn to Pose For Your Body
Everybody has a weak spot - some area they'd just as
soon not get caught on film. It's your job as a model
to learn how to work
around your weak spot
while still providing a wide range of posing choices
to the photographer. It's not enough to say, like
Johnny Drama on a hilarious episode of "
Entourage," that the
photographer just can't shoot your right side.
You need to learn how to work that weak spot to
your advantage.
This is especially salient in the urban genre where
women may have larger backsides, cellulite, etc. I
have been on several shoots with models with large
backsides that weren’t sure how to pose from the back
or what to do with all their “assets.”
You can’t
go to an urban model shoot and be shy about being
thick; it just doesn’t work. So learn how to
bring out that inner Sasha Fierce no matter how curvy
you are.
There's Nothing Wrong With Imitation -
Watch the Greats
Sad to say, not everyone has an innate sense of grace
and fluidity of movement and expression, just like
not everyone can naturally dance. For some, it takes
more practice and training than others. If you want
to be a model, you need to watch the former greats
like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell to see what
they did. You're not looking to imitate exactly here,
but more so adopt a style that may work for you. I'd
recommend watching some of those old Sports
Illustrated Swimsuit making-of DVDs. I particularly
liked the ones from the late 90s.
In terms of urban models, Melyssa Ford is my favorite
because she mastered the art of being titillating
without being vulgar, which is a very fine line to
walk. Melyssa did a lot with her face, and
practically patented her rapturous, slightly parted
lips expression.
Those are my tips on
posing. I hope they help.
Tags:Posing