Portrait Photography Tips | The Props
© 2008 Wazari Wazir | Senior Portrait Photography | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia
We have to admit that posing does not comes naturally for most of us. As a photographers sometimes we find it hard for us to direct a model or a person how to pose in front of the camera, unless we are photographing a professional model with years of experience in modelling. Among the most difficult part to pose is the position of the hand. It may look among the smallest part on the human body but most of the times the hand position can make or break a good portrait shot. Sometimes we have no idea what to do with the hand. A good props can help to solves this problem, by giving something for the person to hold.
Usually a model will pose naturally when they have something to hold. If your model like country music for an example, why don’t let him or her to pose with an acoustic guitar, let them pay with the guitar naturally and let them be free and once in awhile ask them to look at the camera. A good portrait photography usually mange to bring out the personality of the person being photographed, manage to show their character, and by giving them something to hold, they will be more relaxed, less stress out in front of the camera.
The portrait above were taken during my Portrait Photography Workshops in 2008, which was held in Kuala Lumpur. The camera and the tripod above is a props. During the photo session, I just ask the model to play around with the camera, as I direct the model, I keep my eyes on the my camera viewfinder while giving directions and take a shot when I think the moment or the pose was right. During the session while she is busy fumbling around with the camera, I asked her to look at my camera once in awhile and that’s how I manage to captured this shot.
So the next time when you want to photographed someone who is not used to pose in front of the camera to bring their own props, to help them relaxed a bit. If that option is not possible or you don’t want to burden your client to carry anything, just stock some props in your car, a guitar, a books, just anything that might be helpful to keep your subject at ease. You don’t need a big props, just a small item will be good enough and sometimes those little things does makes a big difference.
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