A few basic figure photography tips will really help to ensure that you and you model both get the most out of the session as possible. Working with a professional model – or even an amateur model! – can be an incredibly rewarding experience for a photographer, but everybody could use a little advice here and there.
Tip #2–Put Your Model At Ease
When you’re working with a model, it’s tempting to think that he or she is almost a human version of the artist’s dummy, ready to pose as you wish But you’ll both find the session a whole lot more rewarding and effective if you put the effort in to put your model at ease.
You’ll find that simply exchanging a few pleasantries and staying calm and upbeat during the shoot will really help your model to deliver a more confident performance.
Tip #3– Help Your Model To Prepare
Although a modeling shoot is an interactive experience, it’s vital that everybody knows what is required before they start. A conversation about the shoot and agreement a few basics ahead of time will help the shoot proceed smoothly. For example, are there any particular clothes your model should bring or wear, should they remove any piercings or keep them in, and are there any props you need them to bring? If so, be sure to let them know – because nothing ruins a shoot like spending the first twenty minutes scrabbling around to fix things that could have been dealt with beforehand if only you’d said the word.
Tip #3– Explain Clearly What You Want
For a model, there’s almost nothing worse than working with a photographer who doesn’t set out a clear vision of what’s needed for each shot. Make sure that you have a clear idea in your own head of what you want each shot to look like, and to communicate that as clearly as possible to your model. Giving precise instructions to help your model adjust their pose, and explaining the mood you’re looking to create, will both make a world of difference to the quality of the finished image.
Tip #4–Stay Mobile
While your model is holding pose after pose, or jumping around in accordance with your instructions, it’s all too easy to find that you’re standing stock-still behind the camera. Your images will be incomparably more energetic and interesting if you make the effort to move around yourself too. Not only will you find more interesting angles, which will help to enliven the composition of your shots, you’ll also be giving valuable encouragement to your hard-working model. Working with a model can be a great experience, but it definitely helps to do your homework.
Return from Figure Photography Tips to Photography Tips and Resources
