1. Factors That Impact Posing.
By positioning Playboy Playmate Holley
Dorrough toward the lower right of the
frame and posing her body like a trian-
gle, I was able to create more negative
space than is normally allowed by photo
editors for images in publication. In
essence, I broke the rule of “cropping
tight” or “filling the frame,” as is tradi-
tionally done by professional photogra-
phers. The image is effective, however,
because the triangular pose of her body
is mirrored in the geometric shape of the
negative space in the image. Notice, too,
all the diagonal lines formed by her
body. While most photographers use a
three light setup to accomplish high-key
lighting, I opted for a Chimera Octa
octabox (softbox) assembled in its 7-
foot width. When positioned slightly
higher than the model and with a down-
ward tilt, this allows enough light to spill
over onto the white to render it almost
shadowless. (Camera:Canon 5D;Lens:
Canon 85mm f/1.2L, USM lens, effective
focal length 85mm;ISO:100;Shutter
speed:^1 / 160 second;Lighting:Hensel In-
tegra Pro Plus 500 monolight fitted with
a Chimera Octa57 octabox;Aperture:
f/4;White balance:6000K)14POSINGTECHNIQUESFORGLAMOURPHOTOGRAPHY
P
osing is about crafting the desired results, not settling for contrived
confusion. The wrong pose can send the wrong message to the
viewer. It can also cause the subject to feel insecure during the shoot or
when viewing the end result. In glamour, beauty, and nude photography,
posing should convey a message and, in most cases, tell the viewer some-
thing about the subject. Use the wrong pose, the wrong light for the pose,
the wrong clothes for the pose, or the wrong scene for the pose, and you’ll
wind up with the wrong image—usually an uninspiring image that no one
will want to purchase or publish.
Cultural Perceptions.
It’s often said perception is everything, and that statement certainly holds
true with posing. Find a contortionist model and pose her in a way that
showcases her abilities and the audience will say, “Wow, she’s flexible, how
did she do that?” Light it from the wrong angle, though, and someone will
call your photography a “cheap shot”—especially if the pose reveals more
of her anatomy than is normally found in a glamour photo. They may even
label you as a degenerate whose photography shows no respect for the
subject. Models generally avoid that type of photographer like the plague.
Place a model’s legs in an unladylike position with the wrong clothes
(or lack of clothes) you’ll get the same reaction. Let’s imagine, though,
creating another image of that same model in that same pose. In this shot
she’s wearing jeans and a cowboy hat while sitting on a fence with a pair
of gloves in her hands. Seeing this shot, viewers may observe that she looks
like a tomboy or a tough cowgirl. Her reputation as a lady, however, won’t
even be questioned.
Let’s look at another scenario. In this image, a glamour model is
shown wearing a pair of driving gloves and racing helmet. She is dressed
in a racing jump-suit covered with sponsor logos and posed next to a race