Posing and Directing

Have you been challenged by how to pose your subject? This dilemma is one of the most common problems for portrait photographers. The first step is understanding how design and composition guide the eye in a photograph. This non-formulaic approach will assist you in guiding your subject into natural and comfortable poses, using body positions, arms and legs, and head tilts to design effective and attractive compositions. The class guides you with creating comfortable poses with step by step instructions, helping you develop your sense of how the posing creates the flow of the photo. The video shows how to turn the body, place the hands, how to sit and stand for pleasing lines by creating curves and triangles for better visual flow.

All the technique in the world means nothing without a point to the portrait. Strong concepts and clear communication with the subject is the key to meaningful portraits. Bobbi talks about how to overcome your fears and address your subject’s concerns, how to establish excellent rapport, putting them at ease so they feel more comfortable throughout the entire photographic experience. This also allows them to give you better expressions because they feel more secure and confident.

A portrait is made or broken in the details, so you will learn how to pay attention and fine tune, both in styling and working with expression, so that the final results will be excellent. How to talk to your subject, ask appropriate questions, active listening and using key words help establish the connection between the subject and the photographer.

The video is separated by sections of headshots, three quarter and full length poses for men and women, and includes segments on kids, families and couples. The video contains the still images as they are shot so you can see the results at the time of creation, including “dos and don’ts”. The fun and informative class provides the photographer with invaluable, effective tools so they can make more successful and insightful portraits.

Any level photographer can benefit from this class as long as they have an interest in people!

Course Outline:

Week One: Posing for female and male headshots, both casual and business

Week Two: Posing ¾ and full length, both male and female

Week Three: Posing for beauty female headshot, Communication and relaxing your subject

Week Four: Posing for couples, posing for families

Instructor: Bobbi Lane

Bobbi Lane is an award-winning commercial photographer specializing in creative portraits on location and in the studio. Lane’s multi-faceted approach to photography incorporates over 30 years of technical experience with innovative artistic interpretation. Lane shoots primarily people on location for editorial, corporate, and advertising accounts as well as photographing “real people” and travel for stock. Her stock photography has sold worldwide for ads, posters, and billboards.Bobbi’s clients include: Warner Bros., PricewaterhouseCoopers, Samsung, Bose Corp., Neutrogena, Ricon, Mattel, Maui Music Festival, Charles Schwab, McDonnell/Douglas, Sears’ Tower Skydeck, and the Morro Bay Natural History Museum.As a dedicated photo educator, she brings insight and enthusiasm to her hundreds of students every year. Bobbi’s excellent rapport and communication with her students inspires and motivates, while her straight-forward teaching style reaches students of many different skill levels. Bobbi teaches her own weekend workshops in CT, the Bobbi Lane Workshops and at the Santa Fe Workshops, the Maine Workshops, the Julia Dean Workshops, and the International Center for Photography in New York City. She is the Chair of the Education Committee for Advertising Photographers of America, and the creator of their Successful Emerging Photographers program. In October 2007, at APA Nationals 25th Anniversary, they honored Bobbi with a Special Recognition Award for Education. 

What students are saying about Bobbi Lane and her online course?