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Photographing people can be both fun and challenging, especially when your subjects aren’t professional models. Personally, I love working with non-models and do a lot of branding and business shoots for people. More and more, I am thinking about how to help people look natural and comfortable in their photos while at the same time delivering a strong message to their potential clients.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re photographing individuals, couples, or groups; the key to capturing natural, engaging photos lies in a strong understanding of body language. This helps to create comfort by guiding your subjects with clear, actionable directions. In this video, wedding and portrait photographer Vanessa Joy shares her practical tips and creative techniques to help photographers create natural photos of people.
Start with Comfort: The Foundation of Great Poses
Vanessa emphasizes that the first step to great posing is making your subject feel comfortable. “If they’re stiff, it shows in the photos,” she says. To break the ice, she often starts by having her subjects move naturally. For example, she might ask them to walk towards her while looking in different directions. This not only helps them relax but also allows her to capture candid, dynamic shots.
Pro Tip: Let your subjects move freely at first. Observe their natural body language and use it as a foundation for more structured poses.
Posing Women: Curves, Angles, and Grace
When posing women, Vanessa takes a “bottom-up” approach. She begins by having them tilt their bodies slightly and shift their weight to one leg. This creates a natural curve and avoids a flat, boxy appearance. She also encourages subtle hand movements, like playing with hair or holding an imaginary acorn (yes, I know, it does sound weird, but watch the video, and it makes more sense!), to add elegance and flow.
Vanessa highlights the importance of angles in conveying emotion. For instance, a right angle at the elbow can signify strength, while a softer, obtuse angle appears more graceful. An acute angle, on the other hand, can evoke vulnerability and sweetness.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to elbow angles and hand placement. Small adjustments can dramatically change the mood of a photo.
Posing Men: Confidence and Casual Cool
For men, Vanessa suggests a “skateboard stance”—standing with one foot slightly forward and leaning on the back leg. This casual, confident pose works well for non-models. She also advises positioning the chest toward the main light source to create a powerful, open look.
Head tilts matter too. For men, tilting toward the lower shoulder conveys masculinity, while tilting toward the higher shoulder can appear more feminine. Vanessa often has men transition between poses, such as walking while fixing a cufflink or looking at a watch, to capture natural movement.
Pro Tip: Encourage men to shift their weight and move naturally. Avoid stiff, symmetrical poses.
Posing Couples: Movement and Connection
Couples, especially those who aren’t used to being photographed, can feel awkward in front of the camera. Vanessa’s solution? Get them moving. She starts by having them walk hand in hand, occasionally looking at each other. This creates a sense of separation from the photographer and allows the couple to focus on their connection.
To elicit genuine emotions, Vanessa uses humour and playful prompts. For example, she might ask the couple to pinch each other’s butt or say their names in a funny accent. These moments often result in authentic laughter and smiles.
Pro Tip: Use movement and humour to break the ice. Capture candid moments by giving couples something to do rather than forcing stiff poses.
Posing Groups: Symmetry and Interaction
Group photos can be intimidating, but Vanessa’s approach simplifies the process. She starts by positioning people in a way that closes gaps and creates symmetry. For example, she might have one person lean on another or place hands on shoulders to build a sense of connection.
On stairs, Vanessa uses levels to her advantage, arranging people on different steps to add depth and dimension. She also creates smaller subgroups within the larger group to make the photo feel more dynamic and natural.
Pro Tip: Use levels and subgroups to add interest to group photos. Encourage interaction and casual gestures to avoid a stiff, formal look.
Seated Poses: Breaking Symmetry
When photographing seated subjects, Vanessa advises against perfect symmetry. “We’re not symmetrical beings,” she says. Instead, she has subjects sit naturally and then makes small adjustments, like bringing one foot closer or letting a hand hang forward. This creates a more relaxed and authentic look.
She also stresses the importance of chin placement to avoid double chins. Asking subjects to stick their chin forward or push their forehead toward the camera helps define the jawline.
Pro Tip: Avoid symmetry in seated poses. Make small adjustments to create a natural, relaxed look.
Capture the Feeling, Not Just the Pose
The number one rule of portrait photography is that emotion is always more important than pose or composition. This is why you can have a technically imperfect image that everyone loves if you’ve captured the feeling.
Ultimately, you want to make your subjects feel good. “When they look at the photos later, they should remember how they felt, not how they were posed,” Vanessa says. By creating a comfortable, fun environment and encouraging movement, you’ll capture authentic, memorable moments that truly resonate with your clients.
Watch the whole video below: