Portrait posing can feel tricky. A poorly executed pose risks creating images that look stiff or awkward, while successful posing brings energy and variety, making your work stand out. This process can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Coming to you from Martin Castein, this helpful video offers a system for posing that simplifies the process while allowing you to create dynamic, engaging portraits. Castein highlights the importance of starting with foundational poses and building variations from them. He begins with a front-on pose, emphasizing the value of setting boundaries. By limiting the subject's movements to certain parameters, you foster creativity within those limits. Whether standing or seated, the front-on pose allows for a range of subtle adjustments in arm placement, head position, and body angles to create variety without overcomplicating the shoot.
Castein stresses the value of including seated poses in your repertoire. Starting a session with seated shots can make both you and your subject more comfortable. A chair or stool introduces opportunities for leaning forward, reclining, or creating symmetrical compositions. These adjustments bring variety and are an easy entry point for subjects who may feel less co nfident about posing. Castein suggests using these straightforward changes to keep the session fluid and prevent your subject from feeling overly restricted.
Beyond front-on poses, Castein transitions to side-on angles. This position changes the viewer’s perspective, offering fresh ways to capture the subject’s form. Adjusting the placement of arms, legs, and head creates an entirely new dynamic, whether the subject is seated or standing. Side-on poses also let you incorporate movement, helping the shoot feel more natural. Castein advises against relying on static poses, instead encouraging your subject to move continuously within the confines of the pose. This natural movement generates organic variations and prevents the awkwardness that comes with overly rigid direction.
One of Castein's standout recommendations is using back-angled poses where the subject turns slightly away from the camera. This subtle shift offers a distinct look that breaks up the repetition of front-facing or side-on shots. The movement involved in transitioning into this pose can also produce hair or fabric motion, adding an extra layer of dynamism. Castein reinforces the importance of maintaining a "visual repertoire" of go-to poses and variations that you can adapt during the session. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Castein.
If you would like to continue learning about the art of portraiture, be sure to check out our range of tutorials on the subject in the Fstoppers store.
