Killer Pose Ideas for Brand Photoshoots
So you’ve decided to get brand photos done or your a photographer looking to expand your pose repertoire. Welcome to the brand club! Here are a few of my favorite go-to poses.
Disclaimer: For all photoshoots, I prefer directional and movement based posing to facilitate real moments rather than doing stiff poses. This gives clients room to interpret the instruction and make it their own.
Let’s get into a few of my favorite images from my latest brand photoshoot and how I got them!
#1 the Walking blur
This is typically the first style of photo I’ll start new clients out with. After lowering my shutter speed to somewhere between 20-40 (depending on the lighting situation) I’ll have the individual or couple do a few rounds of walking from one side of the frame to the other. I always tell clients they’ll definitely be getting their steps in with me.
NEXT LEVEL: Have your client pick their feet up dramatically as they walk from side to side.
#2 The elusive candid
Here is my favorite random prompt that always gets the best candid laughs: “Say HA HA HA HA really forcefully to that tree over there.” This always draws out really genuine laughter after doing the fakest laugh ever.
NEXT LEVEL: Say HA HA HA HA with your client so they don’t feel as weird lol
#3 The dramatic portriat
I’m a sucker for adding drama to images, especially leaning into shadows to create the most elegant, flattering angles ever. For this image specifically we were in a studio that typically has super dramatic, sharp shadows all across the floor but the only light that day was hitting about a 2x2 square foot space in the corner under the window. I told Jackie to trust me and lay on her side as far in that corner as possible.
I had her prop herself up on her elbow and do a gentle head tilt back and forth as I snapped away. I also had her look at a spot on the wall as if she could see through it. This helps to make the space she’s in feel much bigger than it actually was and keeps her eyes from looking too close together. All about expanding space, elongating lines & chasing light.
NEXT LEVEL: Have them expose their neck to the light. It should feel and look like a nice, gentle little neck stretch. I’ll typically direct something along the following: “Let the light kiss your neck.”
#4 Effortless Movement
In keeping with the effortless, always moving vibes, I love setting clients up either standing or sitting and have them just adjust their clothing. Unbuttoning & re-buttoning blazers, fixing sleeves, adjusting collars, playing with jewelry, taking on and putting off shoes. This kind of direction gives you a huge variety of poses, images and creates a stunning get ready with me / caught a little off guard look.
NEXT LEVEL: Alternate your location as the photographer. Zoom in. Step back. Get full body. Get details. Get crisp images & motion blur.