For many photographers, the majority of their subjects aren't models and aren't trained in posing. And so, it falls to the photographer to really be able to guide the subject to finding suitable looks. This great video gives you some quick tips on how to do just that.
For a long time, I had specific poses in my head and I would calculatedly instruct my subjects into the exact look, then be frustrated when it came out stilted and awkward. It finally occurred to me to "direct rather than pose" as this helpful video from Mango Street puts it. People who aren't used to it have difficulty breathing life into a very precise look because they're too busy trying to utilize all their bodily awareness to ensure they're doing exactly what you want. It helps much more to make the posing feel like it isn't posed at all by getting them to act naturally, if not a bit exaggerated in front of the camera. This often means removing the tendency to be static for portraits and keeping both yourself and the subject moving through space. Do you have any tips for shooting non-models? Share them in the comments!
One of the many topics I struggle with, for sure... In fact, I don't even do "posing"; I just let my models do whatever they're comfortable with and we build on those initial moments. Initially I only have very high level ideas what I'm looking for anyway, so... I would highly suggest not coming off as creepy whatsoever though, so when you do find yourself needing to ask for something that might be awkward it won't be taken as creepy because he/she will know you have the pictures' best interest at heart. When asked to go shoot groomsmen getting ready in their suite, I follow the same rule, except it's not a matter of being creepy, it's a matter of not being a dick. High level idea what I have in mind, let them do what they're comfortable with and just build on those moments.
I love allowing people do their own thing! Expressing themselves on how they want to be seen will always be more natural than posing someone who is feeling awkward in front of the camera. When I work with models who are maybe less experience than previous models I've worked I just tell them to pose as if they are in front of a mirror and they are messing around when no one is looking. If all else fails I just shoot them straight on or at an angle and those are two main poses that never go wrong. https://keithanthonyimage.myportfolio.com/
I remember watching Peter Hurley and Sue Bryce videos and the 3 rules, squinching, open lips for female models and moving the chin forward and down, work like a charm for most of my non-model models. Especially mentioning how Peter Hurley shows his models the catalogue of famous people posing for pictures and the old pictures of Brad Pitt before he knew how to squinch :)
Also Sue Bryce teaches that - soft hands, balerina style, floating in space, not tense and not cupping any part of the body too firmly.