Whereas things like camera settings and lighting can be quantified and thus committed to memory in a straightforward manner, posing and directing a subject is a bit more nebulous and often gives photographers a fair amount of trouble. Peter Hurley is well known as a master of directing and posing, and in this excellent video tutorial, he shares some of his best advice that is sure to improve your own work.
Coming to you from our friend, Peter Hurley, with B&H Photo and Video, this great video tutorial discusses posing and directing for headshots. A lot of us (myself included) struggle with posing and directing subjects, but the majority of the best headshot photographers will tell you that more than anything, being successful is really about psychology. It is a very social genre that really requires the photographer to be able to quickly establish a rapport with the subject, understand how to make them feel comfortable, and bring out a natural look. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Hurley.
If you would like to learn more from Peter Hurley about how to take great portraits, be sure to check out our multiple tutorials with him in the Fstoppers store!
No matter the gear you have... The most important is the connection between photographer and subject/model.
I think empathy is the key...