Non-Model Subjects.In the case of private glamour photography,
most subjects are over thirty-five years of age—and some are even close to
sixty. Some have endured the body-altering childbirth process; others have
never had children. Some are not photogenic, and most have no experi-
ence in front of the camera. This makes posing more challenging. As a re-
sult, it’s extremely important to understand your subject and to meet them
at least once before any shoot. After this meeting, you’ll know how to pre-
pare for successful posing. The following are just a few of the qualities you
should be considering by the end of this consultation.
This was Sheila’s first shoot with a professional photographer. As with other first shoots, my objective was to have her relax, feel
comfortable, and become confident in her abilities. Models often are intimidated by complicated photography equipment—the
stands, lights, modifiers, cords, and other gear used during a regular shoot can be a little overwhelming. When I notice this, as
with Sheila, I’ll walk the model over to a window or glass door and shoot with the light filtering through it, a simpler setup that
tends to put them more at ease. In these scenarios I’ll place the model—sometimes in the mirrored poses—on each side of the
door/window, looking for the best light. These two images represent the best shots from this scenario. (Camera:Canon 5D;Lens:
Canon 85mm f/1.2L, USM lens, effective focal length 85mm;ISO:100;Shutter speed:^1 / 400 second;Aperture:f/1.2;White bal-
ance:4700K)
18POSINGTECHNIQUESFORGLAMOURPHOTOGRAPHY