Unclear directions leave a portrait subject guessing. "Act natural" leaves them to decide where to put their hands, how much to move and whether you are ready. A useful prompt gives them one manageable action and a clear stopping point. Their expression has room to change while they understand what you are asking.
Start by asking about comfort, movement limits and anything they would prefer to avoid. Explain that they can pause or decline a prompt. Agree before adjusting clothing or touching someone to demonstrate a position. You can usually show a change with your own body, or describe it while they make the adjustment themselves.
Give one action at a time
Begin with a comfortable standing or seated position and make a test photograph. Then ask for a small action: "Turn your shoulders a little toward the window and stop when you can see me comfortably." Wait for the person to finish before adding a direction about their eyes. Several instructions delivered together can produce a rigid pose while they try to remember them.
Use movement that has a clear purpose in the frame. "Walk slowly to this mark, then look toward the doorway" is easier to follow than "give me a candid walk." Show the path, check that it is clear and explain when you will photograph. Make a few frames while they move, then let them return without continuing to perform.
If the result feels stiff, simplify. Have the person release the pose, shift their weight in a way that feels comfortable and settle again. Repeating tiny corrections without a reset can leave them holding unnecessary tension in their neck or shoulders.
Find a useful task for the hands
Hands look more convincing when the action makes sense to the person. They might rest a hand on a chair, hold a jacket they already have, or lightly adjust a sleeve. Ask them to complete the action slowly and then relax. Watch whether the hand presses hard against clothing or grips an object tightly.
Check how hands overlap the face and body. A hand close to the lens may appear much larger than expected. A wrist cut off by the frame can make a gesture difficult to read. Move the camera or widen the composition if the action needs more room. There is no need to assign every finger a position when a simpler gesture gives you the same result.
Some people prefer keeping their hands still. Offer a seated frame with their hands resting comfortably, then check whether the arrangement works from your camera position. The available chair height and the person's own way of sitting should guide the pose.
Move the camera before correcting the person
Your height and angle affect the portrait as much as the pose. Before asking for a different chin position, move the camera a little higher or lower and compare. Check the distance between the face and the nearest hand, and look for overlaps between the arms and torso that make the position hard to read.
Keep changes specific to the photograph. "Move your elbow away from your jacket a little so I can see the sleeve" explains the visual purpose. Comments that judge someone's body can make them self-conscious and rarely help them understand the frame. Offer choices when a position looks uncomfortable.
The photography portfolio can help a person point to a framing or level of formality they like. Discuss what they respond to in an image. A reference can guide the mood without requiring them to copy another person's posture.
Give expressions time to happen
For a direct gaze, tell the person where to look and when you are ready. Make the frame, then let them look away and rest their face. Holding a smile while you change settings is tiring, so finish technical adjustments before asking for it again.
A prompt can produce different expressions without demanding an emotion. Ask the person to look at a familiar object nearby and then return their attention to you. Or invite them to speak about something they choose while you photograph during pauses. Avoid pushing for laughter, intimacy or a personal story they have not offered.
Review together when it helps
Show a small selection early enough to change the session. Ask whether a position feels like them and whether there is anything they want to try differently. Keep the conversation focused on choices they can make, such as gaze or framing. Asking them to critique every detail of their appearance can make the next frame harder.
For a more formal reference, the UCSC Graduation project provides images to discuss before planning an individual portrait. After a useful review, repeat the strongest setup with one modest change. That makes the next comparison clear and gives the person a direction they already understand.