Digital Camera World » posing tips

Baby photography tips for the ‘newborn-again’ photographer

jmeyer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:01:59 +0000

In our latest Professional Photographer to the Rescue post our professional photographer helps our apprentice take her first steps taking infant portraits. Find out her baby photography tips for taking classic, timeless images.

Our professional photographer

Tracy Willis has only been photographing babies professionally for the past two-and-a-half years, but has won many prestigious awards and has just been named People Photographer of the Year 2012 and Overall Photographer of the Year 2012 by The Guild of Photographers. In addition to photographing infants in her Bournemouth studio, she trains others in the art of baby portraiture. See www.maternity2mischief.co.uk

Our apprentice

Originally from South Africa, Carmen Furlonger now lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and seven-month-old daughter Ava. She has built up an extensive portfolio of photos of Ava as she grows up, but feels her baby portraits lack the pro touch and came to us for help…

Technique Assessment

Tracy asked Carmen to get set up to shoot some babies, then suggested these changes…

Exposure settings
“Carmen set her camera to Av mode and a wide f/3.2 aperture for a shallow depth of field, but I find that this can be a little too shallow, with vital detail dropping out of focus. My go-to aperture is f/5.6 as this ensures that baby’s features are sharp while allowing the background to blur.

“I also advised Carmen to shoot in Manual mode at around 1/100 sec to sync with the studio lights, and at ISO100 for best quality. Most important of all is to shoot in raw format so you can get the very best from your shots in Photoshop.”

Manual AF point selection
“Carmen set the camera to Single AF point selection, but was using the central AF point to focus, and recomposing. I explained that when shooting up close, even the small movement of swinging the camera for a more pleasing composition can be enough to shift the focus plane, meaning that details aren’t as pin-sharp as you’d like.

“I showed her that, by pressing the + zoom button, she could easily scroll through her AF points to place a point on the baby’s eye for pin-sharp focus, without taking her eye away from the viewfinder.”

PAGE 1: Meet our professional photographer and apprentice
PAGE 2: Baby photography tips for during the shoot
PAGE 3: Final baby photography tips from our professional photographer
PAGE 4: Our professional photographer’s recommended gear
PAGE 5: Shot of the Day

Male Poses: 17 tips to make him confident and comfortable for your camera

jmeyer — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:24:10 +0000

Male poses are some of the more difficult portraits to set up. When you take pictures of men, they’ll want to look masculine and often seem at ease in front of the camera.

The key to successful male poses, then, is first finding ways to get him to relax in front of the camera and secondly, reassure him so that he trusts you enough to let his guard down.

Portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her best tips and tricks for male poses that won’t disappoint, as well tried and tested advice on how to put your male subjects at ease in front of the camera.

On this page we’ll discuss some of the general – but always necessary – photography tips to consider before and during your shoot. And then on the following pages we’ll look at some specific male poses and explain why they work.

Tips for ensuring the best male poses before and during your shoot

Ensure you tell him what you want him to wear, where the photographs will be taken and for what purpose. Men like to know what is expected of them.
Reassure him and keep talking throughout the whole process about him. Ask him about his job, family life, hobbies, sport and anything that may help him to relax.
Sometimes I tell people that the first few frames are just test shots to get them to relax and ease the pressure. This is often when I get some of my best shots.
Good posture is essential for any male portrait. Remember shoulders back, chest up and stomach tight – classic male poses always incorporate these elements.
Try to find out his insecurities, whether this is his belly, arms, height, and come up with male poses which distract from these. Pay special attention that they are not being emphasised in the photographs.
With men you can often get away with shooting straight on to enhance broad shoulders.
Get nervous subjects to look away from or past the camera. The hardest thing is to look directly into the camera because the eyes say so much about how the subject is feeling.
Get men to bite their teeth together slightly to help define a strong jaw line. However, do not let them bite too hard as this can easily be overdone and look award in the image.
If the subject is struggling to know what to do with their hands, get them to put them into their pockets, behind them or hang them loosely by their side. Be careful if they put hands on their hips as this can be a very feminine pose.
Remember to change angles – shoot high and low, and landscape and portrait formats to get variations of the same male poses.
For more informal shots get him to roll his sleeves up or take his jacket off and hang it loosely over his shoulder.
Have fun and do not put any pressure on a shoot. Men can sometimes be more self critical than women so get a variety of different shots.

PAGE 1: Tips for before and during your shoot
PAGE 2: What do they like to do?
PAGE 3: Incorporate a prop
PAGE 4: Find their natural position
PAGE 5: Shoot from a low angle
PAGE 6: Go close for expressions

17 romantic couple poses that will make you say, ‘I do!’

jmeyer — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:00:51 +0000

The best couple poses capture the essence, interaction and emotions between two people in love. It is a great feeling to see sparks fly and even better to catch this chemistry on camera. To make sure you bring out the best when posing couples, wedding and portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her top posing tips to make your subjects shine in front of the camera.

We’ll start on this page by discussing some of the general, but important, photography tips to consider before and during your shoot. And on the following pages we’ll look at some specific couple poses and techniques and discuss why they work.

12 tips for achieving better couple poses in your portrait photography

Hands need to be natural and not look stiff or posed. Let their hands form naturally on their own and refine when necessary.
Catch intimate close-up portraits by asking them to look at each other rather than the camera. It is all about them.
If the couple seem nervous tell them to act the way they did the first time they met.
Couple photography should be about closeness so ask the couple to be very close to each other to convey that they are a couple.
Take action shots and capture fun. Ask them to do or say silly things and you will be sure to get natural laughs and giggles.
Body language is an important factor. Ensure the hips are turned into toward each other and the pose conveys their love.
Even if a pose is not working out do not be negative in front of clients and simply move on.
Play music to create a mood or maybe even ask them if they have a song.
Look at others peoples work. I always go to a shoot with three new poses that I want to recreate. But remember to but your own stamp on it.
Yes we all make mistakes but even if a shot is not technically perfect but you have captured a moment, I am sure the client will love it. Mistakes are made to learn from them.
For curvier couples do not shoot them from low down angles or with them facing straight on towards the camera (for more on shooting curvier subjects, see Kelly’s expert guide 17 posing tips and in-camera slimming tricks for shooting curvy models).
Stylised photo shoots have become very popular. Use props, co ordinate outfits and the location to portray a theme such as nautical beach or Saturday at the local fair-trade market. Try a mixture of posed and natural shots to create a varied set of images.

PAGE 1: Tips for before and during your shoot
PAGE 2: Create a romantic mood
PAGE 3: Create a timeless picture with black and white
PAGE 4: Use only natural light
PAGE 5: Go in close for small gestures
PAGE 6: Experiment with backgrounds

18 of the best-ever posing tips for group photos

jmeyer — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 01:00:56 +0000

The formal and informal group photo is always very popular at any social event including birthday parties, weddings or even on a night out with friends. However, the same mistakes seem to crop up, and often someone is looking away or blinking, only some people are smiling or everyone won’t fit in the frame. Wedding and portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her best posing tips for group photos so you can start to improve your techniques and to get a shot that everyone will love.

Preparation is the key to success. Before you pull a group together, ensure you know where you are going to take the group photos, how you would like to position everyone, what setting your camera will need to be on, if you have good light etc.

Large groups of people do not like to be kept waiting and you have a small window to get the shot you want without people getting bored and frustrated.

Photography tips for before and during your shoot

Ensure the location you pick for a group shot does not have any distractions such as lamp posts, tree branches etc which is going to end up behind someone’s head.
Take multiple shots to avoid blinkers or to give you the option to do some post production work to create the perfect shot.
Get someone to help you organise big group shots, preferable someone with a loud, stern voice.
Do not be afraid to get in close on a smaller number of people and include as much detail as possible.
Remember taller people should go to the back and short people to the front or sides in large group shots.
On special occasions ensure the one or two people most important people i.e. bride and groom are in the centre of the shot.
It can easy to get flustered when working with larger groups of people, keep calm and carry on.
Do not forget that light is the key to every great image. On a bright sunny day do not have a group looking directly into the sun unless you want squinting faces. Look for open shade by a tree or just under cover.
Take control of the situation. People want you to direct them and set up a photograph they will love. There is no time to be shy, just be polite and straight to the point and keep talking to the group.
If you want to look more professional and people to respect you, use a tripod.
Smile. No one wants to work with a stressed out photographer so practise what you preach and be happy even if you do get frustrated.
Always get the more formal images at the beginning of a shoot when everyone looks their best but don’t underestimate how fun the more relaxed and maybe alcohol influenced photographs can be later on in the evening.

PAGE 1: Tips for before and during your shoot
PAGE 2: Shoot from a high vantage point
PAGE 3: Alter your camera angle
PAGE 4: Group reportage
PAGE 5: Set subjects a task
PAGE 6: Go closer for details
PAGE 7: Act out a story

19 stellar posing tips and camera tricks for flattering pictures of older people

jmeyer — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:16:28 +0000

Many people believe taking pictures of older people is a difficult task; however, taking a flattering portrait of a mature subject just requires a few simple techniques to ensure you show them at their best. Portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her top posing tips for how to take beautiful images of mature subjects and the tricks of the trades to ensure both the subject and photographer are happy with the results.

I believe a good portrait of someone middle-aged or older should capture the grace, experience and confidence your subject has gained over the years.

We’ll start on this page by discussing some of the general – but crucial – photography tips to consider before and during your shoot. And on the following pages we’ll look at specific poses and discuss why they work.

12 tips for before and during your shoot

Use a medium-telephoto lens such as 85mm to 200mm to give the subject enough personal space to allow them to feel relaxed.
Use a wide aperture to avoid the optimum aperture of the lens, which is usually f/5.6 to flatter older subjects.
Ensure your subject feels comfortable in the clothes he or she chooses for the photo shoot.
Avoid bright colours and bold patterns in clothing where possible.
Do airbrush images, but leave in character and smile lines.
In my experience, older people seem to love black and white photos so consider how your compositions, backdrops, clothing, etc will translate to monochrome (for more on this, see our guide to Black and White Photography: what you need to know for perfect mono pictures).
Use the softest light possible and always try to avoid on-camera flash (download our free portrait lighting cheat sheet).
If you are restricted and need to use on-camera flash, try to diffuse the light using tissue paper so the light is not so harsh and directional (learn some other ways to eliminate harsh shadows when using flash).
Look for character and individuality to incorporate into your portraits.
If your subject is nervous introduce another subject such as children or a pet to help them relax and convey a special bond or relationship.
Keep talking to the subject and accommodate for their needs.
Remember a portrait is a likeness of the person, so get to know them and aim to create something that will blow them away.

PAGE 1: Tips for before and during your shoot
PAGE 2: Glamour shots
PAGE 3: Incorporate a hobby
PAGE 4: Use natural light
PAGE 5: Lifestyle portraits
PAGE 6: Environmental portraits
PAGE 7: Show their hands
PAGE 8: Candid portraits

17 posing tips and in-camera slimming tricks for shooting curvy models

jmeyer — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:41:25 +0000

Portrait photographer Kelly Weech reveals her trade secrets with 17 posing tips for photographing curvy models. She explains how to direct a subject to inspire confidence and get the best out of their body shape, whatever it may be.

Someone once said, “A woman without curves is like jeans without pockets,” and I couldn’t agree more. I believe everyone regardless of your shape or size can have a portrait taken that they will fall in love with.

Curvy subjects can be a photographers dream to work with but you need to focus on slimming in-camera and this starts with the poses. Every woman wants to look and feel beautiful both inside and outside, and here is how to make this happen.

We’ll start on this page by discussing some of the general – but crucial – things to consider before and during your shoot. And on the following pages we’ll look at specific poses and discuss why they work.

(And when you’re done, it’s also worth checking out Kelly’s excellent posing guide for babies from birth to age 2!)

General posing tips for curvy models

01 Phone a friend
Do not show your subject the back of the camera unless you are 100% sure they will love the image. If you show them an image and they don’t like it, they may lose confidence in you. However, if it’s a great image it will boost their confidence. Make an informed decision based on the person or the image. Sometimes if a friend has come along to watch I will show their friend the image and allow this person – someone they know and trust – to comment and help boost their confidence.

02 Wear something comfortable
Ensure the subject wears clothes they feel comfortable in and flatter their body shape. Always ensure they are well fitted and highlight their key features.

03 Don’t be negative
Never be negative and say things like, “I am not sure if this shot is working for you; you just look awkward.” If a certain pose isn’t working, just tell them you have the shot and move on to the next.

04 Cover up
Focus on the subject’s main features and don’t be afraid to cover the bits they don’t like with props or clothing. Or don’t even include them in the image at all.

05 Avoid low angles
Remember photographing from a low angle can also cause distortion. It can make someone’s hips appear wider than they actually are or, again, create double chins. Low angles are generally unflattering unless the subject is a size 6 – 8 fashion model.

06 Plain and simple
Plain clothes work better than patterned clothes, and try to avoid logos for a more timeless image.

07 A shawl thing
The one part of the body I find many women do not like is their arms. Use a shawl to cover up arms – but not the shoulders – if the subject is self-conscious.

08 Side views
Try not to photograph a subject straight-on, as the shoulders are usually the widest part of the body. Get your subject to turn to the side a little and drop the front shoulder.

09 Full makeover
Photographing women is all about the experience you create. A hair stylist and makeup artist can boost women’s confidence before standing in front of the camera. This will let them engage in the makeover experience and can make a massive difference in the subject’s attitude.

10 Be vocal
Keep talking to your model. The moment you stop the client may over-think the process and stiffen up in front of the camera.

11 Look away
Tell your model that they don’t always have to look into the camera. Ask them to look away, look down over their shoulder or even past our camera to provide a variety of emotions in your photographs

12 Illustrate the pose
Don’t just tell a subject how you want them to pose, show them. You will be surprised at how well people can mirror you when you show them the pose you wish to achieve.

PAGE 1: General posing tips for curvy models
PAGE 2: Basic posture
PAGE 3: Frame their face
PAGE 4: Avoid the double chin
PAGE 5: The classic S shape pose
PAGE 6: Shoot from above

11 clever baby poses from birth to age 2

jmeyer — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:00:24 +0000

Photographing babies can be a very rewarding experience. Yes, they can be unpredictable but capturing their innocence, personality and testing your patience is all part of the fun. However, knowing the right baby poses can be difficult.

Cheltenham wedding and portrait photographer Kelly Weech discusses some of the best baby poses to use during the first two years of a child’s life. This time is marked by constant developments, and she suggests which baby poses will best capture a child’s personality at different ages.

Newborn photography

In the first two weeks newborns sleep a lot. This is the perfect time to capture photographs with a sense of purity.

Newborn babies can be very daunting to work with especially if you do not have children yourself. The Anne Geddes posing has become very popular but should not be attempted without proper training.

But there are still lots of opportunities to capture priceless images without being hands on.

This image was taken over mom’s shoulder at just 2 two days old. She was sat down on a bed facing towards natural light and I cropped in very tight to capture those beautiful eyes and relaxed expression.

4 weeks old

This is another key date in a baby’s life for newborn photography. Babies at this age are now a lot more alert and sturdy. But remember their head still needs to be supported.

Take the opportunity of posed group shots to get portraits of the baby and use the parents as the perfect posing cushion. This way you will ensure baby will be comfortable and relaxed in their parent’s arms.

This image was taken using my one of my favourite lenses – a 24-105mm. I love that you can zoom into details from an already perfectly formed shot.

3 months

 Patience is a virtue for baby photographers at this age. Work out a pose and spend the time it takes waiting for moments such as a nose wiggle or yawn to happen.

These priceless moments make each pose unique to each baby.

4 months

This is your last chance to take the popular baby sleeping in hands shots. From about 4 months your baby will become more alert and less tolerable of this sort of thing! What’s more, after four months your baby will also become too heavy this shot.

The shot above is very popular, but to do it safely baby should only ever be raised from a soft, padded surface. I will place the baby over the parent’s arms with the hand supporting the head and the other hand supporting the baby on the back.

Remember sometimes the background may need to be extended to get the composition you want.

5 months

Your baby can now sit up supported, which opens up a whole new range of baby poses and photo ideas.

This image was taken on a sofa with pillows to support the baby to sit up. I decided to convert this image to a high key black and white, and I love her expression and wide eyed look.

Close ups

Don’t forget to get in close and capture the feet and hands while they’re still little – and immobile! From about 6 months many babies start hitting growth spurts and piling on weight.

I got these shots while baby was sat on mom’s lap. I later converted them to black and white to emphasise the lines and textures.

6 months

Most babies are now sitting up and are much more interactive with the baby photographer in the room. This can be great fun, as the process becomes much more of a two-way street rather than you positioning and directing the previous shoots.

This image was taken at dinner time. I called his name and he instantly responded with this look.

I love that this photograph is natural and shows the reality of lunch time. I used an 85mm lens combined with natural light to blow out the background, as I wanted all of the viewer’s attention to be on the baby’s expression.

Don’t forget the details

The child’s nursery is the perfect place for a shoot, as it often has a nice colour scheme for simple background.

Usually after 6 months your baby can roll, but not move. As a safety measure we had mom just at the side of this shot to ensure he did not try to roll.

Some people may also refer to this as tummy time, as usually babies enjoy being on their front. Always have mom (or someone equally hilarious) behind you for the best smiles.

8 months

Your baby is now getting more active but still needs afternoon naps. These can be a great opportunity to capture some very sweet portraits.

Even older babies get tired, and during this shoot he needed to have a nap so I used props from his bedroom to add my composition for a cute twist.

I got mom to put him down onto his side and returned 5 minutes later when he was in a solid sleep to capture this image.

1 year old

A massive trend in baby photography in America that is now crossing the pond to the UK is what’s called the cake smash. The cake smash is a perfect way to capture a child’s personality in good, old-fashioned messy fun.

These images were taken in a 2 metre by 2 metre space, with a wipe clean floor. We sat her in front of the cake and encouraged her to take a raspberry and then to put her hands into the cake.

Once she realised she was allowed to eat it we were well on our way to a beautiful series of photographs. Mom was stood directly behind me and the baby was reacting to her mums reaction and encouragement.

2 years old

Children won’t react well if you treat them like you would a grown up. As a photographer, you need to go back into the mindset of being a big kid yourself to earn their participation.

Get down to their level and have fun with them. To put it simply, play with them and make everything fun. Run, skip, jump, pull faces, play catch.

When photographing children, if you gain their trust and let them run the show 50% of the time, they will want to do what you ask.

If you’d like to save these poses as a reference for the next time you photograph a baby – whether it’s your own or someone else’s – we’ve stitched them together in a handy cheat sheet form, which you can drag and drop to your desktop.

To see more of her portrait and newborn photography, visit Kelly on Facebook.