In terms of the body, there are three different portrait poses you need to consider:
Head shot: Kinda self-explanatory. This is a great chance to focus on your BFF’s expressive eyes, which is achieved using the rule of thirds. The goal is to crop as close as you can to her face so nothing else distracts from her. This is also a perfect opportunity to use techniques such as framing. This can be as simple as her hair curtaining the sides of her face. And don’t forget to use the hands to bring additional attention to the face. I’ll show you some more examples in future posts. Make sure when you use this pose, though, you don’t move too close to her; otherwise, her nose will look larger than normal. Best to use a telephoto type lens (i.e. enables you to shoot from a distance).
Three-quarter length pose: This pose starts anywhere from mid-thigh to the waist. Avoid cropping the picture so that the cut off part occurs at a joint such as the ankle, knees, or elbows. The body parts will end up looking amputated. Not the look you want to aim for.
Full length pose: This includes the whole body, and your friend can be either standing or sitting. When standing, it’s best to have your friend shift her weight to her back leg (hint: one leg should be at slightly back from the other one). And the feet shouldn’t point directly at the camera. I’ll be showing more examples of standing and sitting shots in future posts.