_RNE3728Flow-Posing_ErnestoSue_RaleighNCCanon-EOS-5D-Mark-III.jpeg

What is flow posing:

Flow posing is the process of getting a series of poses in a matter of minutes. For example getting 20 plus poses in about 5 minutes.
This involves giving your clients rapid instructions and possibly forcing them physically into the pose.
Professional models have a great ability to pull off flow posing effortlessly because the understand their body, facial expressions and have years of experience.
As photographers, we love working with experienced models because we don't have to do very much with posing.
However when you are working with an inexperienced subject, well there's some work to do.

What are some benefits to flow posing?

You get a quick series of images/poses in a very short period of time.
You look like a superstar commanding the seen with a series of orders.
But you can also look like a crazy person if you are not organized and you don't know what you want.
Time is money -- Knowing exactly what you want allows the shoot to go quickly. So flow posing would be great for photographers who shoot a lot of subjects on a daily basis and need to get them in and out quickly.

What are some issues with flow posing?

Depending on the subject you are working with if they don't take instruction well then it will be a disaster.
If you as the photographer who can't provide proper instructions it will be a disaster.
If your subjects don't like to be touched it will be a disaster.
Getting great poses but no real expressions.

So how do I use flow posing without these shortcomings?

If I can't verbally give the proper instructions or the subject cannot follow my instructions I get them to mirror what I am doing.
For subjects that just don't understand my directions and I need to physically get them positioned...I first asked for permission to touch and then I position them accordingly.
Getting great expressions is key to this process because without expression the pose is stiff.
Sometimes providing vague instructions can help and here's what I mean.
Get the client posed exactly how you want them and say something like I want you to connect with the wind. Feel the warmth of the sun.
Look, I have no idea what that meant and they probably don't either, so they will interpret that into whatever they think it meant. First I will get maybe a confused expression and then something real.
If you are confident in what you are saying they will think it's normal photography jargon.
The expression is key, I can't say it enough...get that right and your pose will be complete.

Quick tips to flow posing:

Slow down - I know it's counter-intuitive but it is the most effective way.
Yes, I know you will not get 20 images in 5 mins but you will get better images and a happier client.
Go with the flow - As it implies, have a flow, transition your subjects from one pose to the next with small movements. Don't attempt big posing changes as your subjects will get very frustrated. For example:
- Asking your subject to move their hands from their hips and to cross it, this would be considered a small movement.
- Having them gently taking their gaze from the camera to their shoulders is a small movement.
- A large movement would be asking your subject to quickly move from a standing pose to a sitting pose and expect everything to fall into place.
- Asking your subject to break their foundation is a large movement.
These big movements break up the flow and create frustration not only for you but for your client.
For example, having their feet apart and then asking them to cross it, is a big move.
In conclusion, having to think about small movements and not large movements can save and give you so many options that it will allow you to easily go with the flow.

If you would like to attend one of my workshops, please join our meetup group and check for the next available workshop. If you don't see any upcoming workshops just contact me directly and we can put something on the calendar.

If you like what you see, please share with your friends and family. Also, please click the heart button and/or post some feedback below.

Sign up to our newsletter to get our latest news and promotions.