How to Pose for Commercial Photo

Planning a commercial photo session gives you a competitive edge for positioning yourself to make strides in your career. On top of using headshots to open up career opportunities, you’ll find that having eye-catching photos on your company website or social media pages can leverage your brand.

Considering that 91% of consumers rely on visual content to form their decisions, no professional wants to overlook the importance of scheduling photography sessions. As a premier Miami photographer, I’m excited to share some of the posing techniques we’ll use to help you know how to pose for commercial photo sessions.

Know Exactly What Commercial Photography Involves

If you find yourself wondering what’s the difference between commercial & advertising photography, then it’s worth delving a bit deeper. The lines between what makes a commercial photo different from one we use for advertising can get a bit blurry.

But, it helps to view commercial photo shoots as having more focus on upholding industry standards in a way that highlights your professionalism. With an advertising shoot, we might blur your facial features to sell a pair of earrings.

Meanwhile, we’ll make sure you’re the main focus of the shot in commercial shoots. Using bright lighting, strategic body language and camera angles to generate visual interest makes your photos have a major impact.

Be Confident About Your Choice of Photographer

An experienced commercial photographer knows how to use lighting and composition to bring out their subject’s best attributes. When it comes to maintaining professionalism that elevates your career, you don’t want to leave anything to chance.

You can use this list of seven questions you must ask to hire a photographer in Miami to start fully scoping out your best choice for professional photos.

Build Rapport With Your Professional Photographer

Finding out the answer to what is a commercial photographer is just the beginning. You’ll also want to make sure you’re a good fit personality-wise to get the best shots.

Before every photo shoot, I plan to spend a few minutes warming up with my clients. Taking a moment to share a laugh instantly quenches any nervousness you might feel.

Plus, I love using this time to get a feel for your personal branding and best angles. In fact, I might even be able to snap a candid headshot or two that captures your unique personality.

Pose With Strategic Angling

Body positioning is a critical component of this style of photography. We’ll work with you to find the right angles to bring out your features. For instance, angling your body slightly away from the camera for the traditional head and shoulders pose helps to prevent you from looking too stark or intimidating.

Meanwhile, a close-up over the shoulder gives you a slightly playful look that viewers love. Your photographer might also ask you to lean in slightly to let the lighting and composition work its magic. Profile shots are another great angle for adding interest to your headshots.

Solve the Age-Old Problem of What to Do With Your Hands

If you try to practice posing by looking in a full-length mirror, one of the first things you might notice is how your hands hang down awkwardly. Professional photographers have expert knowledge of how posing your hands makes a difference in creating the right vibe.

For instance, the standard hands-on-hips power pose still works for commercial photos where you want to present a strong, confident attitude. Alternatively, you might want to pose with your smartphone in hand to convey your dedication to the target audience.

Shift Your Weight to Avoid Being Stiff

After a few warm-up poses, you should be feeling fairly loosened up. But, it also helps to use time-tested strategies for maintaining a good body composition. The contrapposto pose refers to a technique Greek sculptors used to replicate natural human poses.

In the photography field, we tap into this technique by suggesting stances that slenderize your physique while generating a sense of relaxation. Posing with one foot slightly in front of the other helps you avoid looking boxy.

Shifting your weight toward your back foot helps to relax the muscles in the front leg, which serves as a focal point. Positioning your legs in the right way further enhances your appearance by adding a gentle angle to your hips, head and shoulders that works well with the camera.

Use Action Shots To Generate Excitement

Making strong visual impressions often means needing to step outside the box. While everyone should have a few classic business headshots, you might need to strike a different kind of pose to achieve your goals.

In the past, I’ve used environmental headshots to showcase clients in their full element. Think of professional chefs slicing ingredients in a commercial kitchen. Or, I might meet a CEO at the corporate headquarters to snap them in action in a sleek office setting.

Often, planning photo shoots in environments that match the client’s lifestyle leads to finding organic moments that truly make a shot pop. Capturing your golf swing or your laughter during a candid moment makes you more relatable to the viewer.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Commercial Photo Shoot? Give Our Miami Photographer a Call

Our photographer is best known for having a distinct photo style that stands out among a sea of standard corporate headshots. Whether you’re going for a daring photo shoot that demands attention or want to show off your commitment to professionalism, she’ll capture your unique essence.

Choosing a commercial photographer who puts you at ease and uses highly precise techniques turns your next photo shoot into a lucrative opportunity to leverage your brand. Contact us today.