Photography Tips & Tricks: Posing Teens & Adults

Let's talk about photographing teens and adults. Maybe your best friend asked you to take her son's Senior pictures. Or your SIL wants some maternity portraits done. You agree, but now what? In all honesty, teens & adults are the easiest group to shoot. (With a camera! Don't read that wrong!) You tell them something once, and they do it. The complete opposite of the toddler stage! :)

With teens, come up with a fun background. Brightly painted brick walls are cool, or a wall with graffiti painted all over it. Just make sure you match the teen's personality. If you're taking portraits for a teen that is totally into computers and wants nothing to do with sports, don't take him down to the local baseball field to take his pictures. He's not going to be happy, and you're going to get a lot of frumpy face pictures.

Here's a tip for shooting adults that has made many of my clients happy: If an adult has a large or predominant nose, shooting down on them will help reduce the appearance. I'll have clients sit on the floor, then I'll stand on a chair and have them look off to the side a bit. You won't believe the difference.

Also, never, ever shoot straight at a person. You need to have your subject tilt their head slightly to one side. Also, by having them pull back their shoulders and point out their chin, you'll help get rid of that double chin that many of us are blessed with. They may feel uncomfortable for a moment, but remind them that it's only for a minute and it will make all the difference in the world.

Have some photos you want to share? Post them on your blog and then leave a link in the comments here. I'd love to see them! (Family friendly only, please!)

Next week we'll talk about photographing families and large groups. Join us then!