eliminate the shadows in the same areas. This can be done by simply turning
the body of the subject toward the main light.
Waistline.
Remember the old adage: no one is ever rich enough or thin enough. The
waistline will appear wider if it is squared off to the camera and will appear
thinner if it is turned to the shadow side of the frame for standing poses.
The minute I have a client sit down, I want to hide the waistline from
view. As you will see in most of the portraits in this book, if the client is doing
anything but standing, the waistline is obstructed from the view of the cam-
era; in a seated position, the waistband of the pants will cut into even the
thinnest waistline. If the seated person is thin, instead of covering the waist-
line you can have them straighten their back almost to the point of arching
it. This will help flatten out the stomach area.
Now, imagine you are in a session with a man who works out and has a
washboard stomach. If he wants to show off his muscles in a portrait for his
wife, you could have him put on a jacket with no shirt underneath and leave
it open. You would also want to use both lighting and posing to bring out the
Photographing the body at an angle (right)
creates a much more flattering view than
photographing it straight on (left).