T

he full-length standing pose can be strikingifyou have the ideal situa-
tion—the right client, in the right clothing and shoes, in the right scene.
As we will see, though, there are a number of potential problems. For
that reason, you and your clients may prefer to do three-quarter-length or
waist-up portraits when photographing standing poses.

Full-Length Standing Poses.

Unfortunately, the decision to do full-length portraits is more often made by
photographers who want impressive images to hang in their lobbies than by
clients who intend to buy this style of image. There are exceptions, of course.
Sometimes, a client wants to include a car, house, the ocean, or another larger
vista in their image. In this case, a standing full-length composition is likely
the best way to accomplish their goal. In a situation like this, your objective
should be to take up as much of the frame as possible with the subject. This
ensures that they don’t get lost in the scene. It also helps address the fact that
clients want to see the subject’s face above all else.
Potential Problems.The standing, full-length pose has two major prob-
lems. First, there is no way to hide the major problems that most clients have
(weight issues, etc.). Second, this type of pose greatly reduces the facial size,
and that can result in fewer sales. I always tell my clients that if there is area-
sonto take this type of pose (for example, they want to show their dress and
can’t sit in it, or they want to show off their long legs), then we will do it. If
there isn’t a good reason, we will pose them in seated or laying poses. This
allows us to achieve a full-length image while keeping our options open when
it comes to managing problem areas.
If weight is at all a concern, gently explain to your client the other styles
of posing would be more flattering. This is one time when it is particularly
hard for many male photographers to understand why female clients want to
do poses and select clothing they obviously should not.
If you are a man over forty, think back to the first photo you had taken
after the aging process started working against you. I have seen grown, mid-

84 JEFF SMITH’S POSING TECHNIQUES FOR LOCATION PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

6. Standing Poses.

Some situations dictate a full-length image.

Here, the subject is slim, the background is

beautiful, the dress has a unique hemline

that looks best when standing, and the sub-

ject is wearing high heels. All the ingredi-

ents are in place for a successful standing

full-length pose!

In this case, a standing full-length

composition is likely the best way

to accomplish their goal.