STANDING:
When it’s time to start shooting, my first go-to pose is a basic standing pose. My clients are always a tad nervous at the beginning, so it’s a good way to get them to relax. I first look at the location and their outfit to see what I have to work with. Is there something to lean on? Do they have a dress that flows in the wind? I shoot primarily with an 85, 1.4 to achieve a full body shot and most of the time I have to be pretty far back. This also relaxes my client, because I am not right in her face. I start by telling them to have some attitude and usually that breaks the ice enough to get a good smile. There is so much you can do with a standing pose by moving around your client, or have them move, but not while you are moving. I always ask my girls to work their shoulders back and forward, or to move their chin, or their arms, as well. It is very important for them to feel comfortable. Not everyone can pose the exact same. As I am having them stand, I will move in closer and shoot 1/2 and 3/4 body shots as well and always sneak in for a good up close head shot. Addtionally, I am always using a very large reflector! For standing shots, I always have my client’s back to the sunlight and the reflector facing the sun to bounce light back onto my client. As I move in closer, so does the reflector.
By this time my girls feel pretty comfortable. As they are still standing, I will ask them for some fun shots. Spinning, dancing, and laughing are a few examples I use to direct my clients. As for this image, she had a super cute hat. So, I had her put her hands up on her hat, and dance around until I got the most perfect, natural pose.
SQUATTING
Depending on their outfit, I always ask my girls to squat down for a few shots. Always make sure your client’s knees are facing away from the camera and that they have a tall back. This is a great pose for some major attitude. You can also have your subject bring their hand up to their chin, or to the side of their face for a great smile shot, too. For this shot, the reflector was down low and directly to camera right. This allowed me to bounce light onto my subject’s face.
SITTING
Depending on their outfit, I will move to a sitting pose next. If they are in a super short skirt or shorts, then you may be limited with this pose. In this image her dress was a tad short, so I made sure her knees were facing away from me. I always sit down too and show them exactly what to do. Always ask for input from your client too, because you want them to look as natural as possible. I am always looking for space between the arms, the body, the legs, and the ground. Once the body is posed perfectly, have your client rotate their chin to find the perfect angle.
LAYING DOWN
After they are already on the ground sitting, I have them lay down on their stomach. I always make sure their shirt is not too low-cut. I love to start with their legs and feet down on the ground for a good, up close, head shot like this picture. You can place their hands on their face, or in their hair. It’s always cute to have a slight head tilt, too. I ask them to be natural. I also make sure to get photos with both hands crossed down and horizontal to the camera. After my close-up shot, I pull back and at a slight angle, I will have them bring their legs up with their feet crossed. This is always a simple and fun shot. The reflector is on the ground just below my subject’s face.
If they are in taller grass, I like to have them lay down on their side. I love how it can frame an image. I like to keep the arms in close for this shot. I have my girls move their shoulder and chin to find the right angle. This image is one of my favorite laying on the side shots! You can also bring the top hand up to her hair, but just make sure her elbow is tucked down below her waist instead of on top.
Last but not least for laying down shots, I like to shoot a laying down – back shot. This is the trickiest pose possible. It’s all about the angle! I have her lay on her back and split her hair close to her shoulders. As for this image, she didn’t want her hands above her head. Lucky for me, she had this amazing scarf on, so I placed her hands on her scarf to frame the image without taking away from her face. I tend to not use a reflector for this pose.
Chelsea Atkins is a natural light photographer specializing in high school senior portrait photography. She is based in Ridgefield, Washington and has clients from all over the state of Washington and Oregon. Chelsea’s passion for photography started when she was a young girl. She began her business in 2011 and not long after decided to specialize specifically in senior portraits for girls. Being a wife to her husband, Justin; and a mom to their son, Easton; and their daughter, Harper, Chelsea knows firsthand that life is no longer about her. That is why it is so important for her to offer a once in a lifetime experience for her senior clients. She wants to focus on their true beauty inside and out, letting them shine, while making sure they know how important this time in their life is.
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