ders shouldn’t form a horizontal line through the frame; a diagonal line
makes the portrait more interesting and the subject less rigid.Arms.
The arms complete the composition in poses taken from the waist up, so it
is important to pose them carefully. This starts by keeping them separated
from the waistline. If you do not, you will enlarge both the arms and the ap-
pearance of the waist.
Long Sleeves.Arms often have problems that can only be hidden by
clothing, which is why I suggest that everyone wear long sleeves. Models may
have perfect arms, but our clients are plagued with a variety of problems—
arms that are too large or too bony, loose skin, hair appearing in embarrass-
ing places, stretch marks, bruises, veins, etc. If weight is an issue, I also
suggest that the client wear long sleeves in a darker color.
Posing the Arms.To learn how to pose the arms, watch people as they
are relaxing. They fold their arms, they lean back and relax on one elbow,FLATTER THE CLIENT 47FACING PAGE—Posing the shoulders at an angle
creates an appealing base for your head-and-
shoulders portrait. It also makes the subject
look more relaxed.RIGHT—If the appearance
of the subject’s arms or shoulders is at all a
concern, long sleeves are a good option.
Arms often have problemsthat can only be hiddenby clothing.