Portrait Photography How To

Any photographer who’s worked with a model knows that one of the hardest things about the process is creating photogenic poses. It might seem simple, but it most certainly is not.

Along with being a photographer, Imogen Rhiannon is an experienced model but even she admits that she sometimes gets the posing process wrong. For the below video, titled “Model Posing – GETTING IT WRONG!”, Rhiannon has teamed up with her photographer friend Mark to review many of their poses that have gone wrong.

We’ve found that it’s almost as enlightening to see photographers talk about their mistakes as it is to see them discuss the things that go right. In the video, Rhiannon at first shows the various model posing missteps they’ve made together, then they discuss their adjustments during the session, and end with the final image where they’ve created a pose that works.

If you’re just getting started with working with models as a photographer, or if you just need a refresher course (and who doesn’t?), it’s a very handy exercise. We also suggest you check out some other videos of Rhiannon’s we’ve featured including this one on how to shoot sensual boudoir photos at home in natural light, and this one where she discusses shooting portrait photos using the forest as a backdrop.

You should also check out her YouTube channel for more of her tutorials. And, as a bonus, you should watch this video from pro shooter Manny Ortiz on "The 5 Do's and Don'ts of Photographing Models."