Posing for Portrait and Glamour Photography : Techniques for Digital Photographers

A complete guide to creating alluring photos, this book is divided into four parts—the body, studio, locations, and the outdoors—with each covering an important aspect of posing the human figure to look its ideal best. Beginning with the basics of body and hand and head posing, this study details the corrective posing techniques that enhance the appeal of a subject while minimizing any concerns they might have about their appearance. From there, award-winning photographer Joe Farace educates readers the importance of knowing what lens to shoot with, understanding the benefits and limits of black-and-white shots, and mastering the use of a flash. In addition to real-world posing techniques, the author presents real subjects—ranging in age from 18 to their late 40s, with a variety of looks and figure types—demonstrating the effect of careful posing on the types of subjects photographers are most likely to encounter in their professional lives. Armed with these techniques, photographers have the skills required to approach each glamour session with greater confidence, ensuring that they reap the rewards after the shoot in the form of better, more salable images. Front Cover 1 DEDICATION 2 Copyright 2 Contents 3 Acknowledgments 5 About the Author 6 Introduction 7 How the Book Is Organized 8 What’s in the Book? 8 Sidebar: Real People 10 Sidebar: Why I’m Not Switching Camera Systems 13 Part 1: POSING Basics 15 1. Posing the Body 17 Sidebar: The Polished Portrait: Posing “Rules” 18 Posing Categories 20 Tips for a Seamless Shoot 25 The Three Photographic Phases of Development 30 The Art of the Pose 35 Sidebar: Posing Is a Joint Effort 35 2. Corrective Posing Basics 39 Strive for a Perfect Capture 39 Sidebar: Soft Focus in the Digital Darkroom 40 Sidebar: The Polished Portrait: Corrective Posing 44 Hiding a Subject’s Flaws 46 Sidebar: The Eye of the Beholder 48 Posing Rules, Guidelines, and Suggestions 50 The Right Look 54 3. How Lens Choice affects Pose Selection 57 A Basic Lens Kit 57 Fast Lenses 59 Sidebar: The Lens Multiplication Factor 61 Sidebar: Special-Purpose Lenses 62 Full-Length Poses and Wide-Angle Lenses 64 The Pros and Cons of Using Zoom Lenses 68 Sidebar: She Didn’t Break My Heart, But I Broke My Lens 70 Part 2: Working in the Studio 74 4. Seamless Posing 75 High Key, Low Key 76 On Location 80 Sidebar: Do You Really Need a Flash Meter? 81 A Basement Studio 82 Sidebar: Scenic Backgrounds 83 The Polished Portrait: Killer Curves 84 5. Using Props 87 Sidebar: Halloween Costumes 90 The Environmental Portrait 92 Case Study: Big Props Can Be Fun 93 Sidebar: Unsharp Mask Sharpening 104 Make It Personal 105 Sidebar: Exposure for Monochrome 107 Part 3: Shooting on Location 109 6. Using the Environment a s Part of the Pose 111 Sidebar: Black & White Portraits Create Impact 112 Windows 114 Outdoor Portraits and the Law 114 Working at Interesting Locations 115 7. Turn Your Home Into a Studio 121 Making Do 121 Sidebar: Green Eyes 122 Full-Length Shots 127 Other Indoor Locations 127 The Downside of Shooting at Home 130 8. Making Nature Work for You 133 Practice, Practice, Practice 135 Find New Locations 135 Keep Your Lighting Tools Simple 135 Avoid Distracting Backgrounds 138 Backlit Portraits 140 Colored Flash 140 Posing Aids 142 Made in the Shade 142 Need a Subject? Draft a Friend 146 Conclusion 149 Sidebar: The Polished Portrait: Zero to Sixty 152 Index 157 Back Cover 160 A complete guide to creating alluring photos, this book is divided into four parts - the body, studio, locations, adn the outdoors - with each covering an important aspect of posing the human figure to look its ideal best