When on the search for a photographer, what are you suppose to be looking FOR???
Before you even interview the photographer to decide if your personalities match, there are a few major things you should consider reviewing to be on the right path to a positive photographic experience! The first one I’m going to discuss is POSING.
Posing is most definitely an art.
Some clients are more comfortable and confident than others about posing themselves. Nonetheless, it is the photographer’s responsibility to know flattering approaches to all types of people. A strong photographer knows what positions flatter a particular client and what poses should be avoided as not to accentuate features that the client may feel insecure about. A strong photographer also watches details and sets up clients in a situation and atmosphere where they can be comfortable and succeed in their shoot.
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Think about when you were a kid and had your school pictures taken. Nobody asked you your name or what you liked, you were a number on a roll of film. You sat there, staring at the camera, scared to death, blinded by the lights, as some dark silhouette of a stranger told you to “turn this way, look over here, chin up, arm over, fist to your chin, etc”. In the end, you feel like a pretzel and look ridiculously uncomfortable in your picture because you were uncomfortable. The same thing applies to choosing your own photographer.
They may have some snazzy “photoshopping”, cool borders, crazy colors, neat “tricks” and ridiculous angles, but what is behind all of that? Look at the people themselves. Ask yourself:
“Do they look comfortable? Do they seem awkward? Do they look like they are naturally smiling? Do I like the way they’re posed? Did the photographer carelessly let some details go?”
Then think about yourself in their shoes. Put all the processing, backgrounds and fancy smancy aside, is that how you want to look in your own pictures?
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Just like any area of expertise, posing takes study and practice. The photographer successfully working it out by practice will drastically stand out from the photographer neglecting to address the lack of practice. Just take the time to look.
