Lengthening Shorter Legs.If your model has shorter legs, try hav-
ing her sit on the corner of a couch. Then, ask her to hike up her skirt to
mid-thigh level while bending her legs at the knees. Presto—you have long
legs! You can also have her wear heels and place one foot up on a rock, step
stool, etc. Pair this with a low shooting angle and you’ll make the model
appear taller. Some shorter models appear to have longer legs if
you simply sit them in a car with the door open (legs to the side)
while wearing shorts.
Another simple pose for shorter models is to have them in lin-
gerie or a bikini while resting on their hands and knees. This works
great at the beach with a model in swimwear and for models in lin-
gerie on top of a bed. Carefully explain this pose to the model, too.
If need be, demonstrate it or show her some images from your portfolio
that employ the same pose. You can modify this same hands-and-knees
pose by having the model lean down more on her arms. This will naturally
prop her buttocks higher, which can be very provocative.
Bare Legs.When including bare legs in an image, such as in bikini, lin-
gerie, or nude photographs, be observant and look for unattractive knees
and other negative distractions—like scars, bruises, razor burn, etc. If your
model needs to shave, let her know politely that it’s important for the
shoot that she have long, silky legs. You can also use vegetable oil to give
the legs more of a sheen (instead of the typical shine found with the use
of baby [mineral] oils).The Feet and Toes.
The key to including the feet in a glamour or nude image is that they
should do something for the subject’s appearance—and preferably in a
graceful manner.
Direction.Normally, the foot the model has more weight on is slightly
turned and the foot of the accent leg is pointed toward the camera. This
gives the model a poised look. In most cases, the toes should point in the
same direction, not opposite directions, though a perpendicular placement
works well, too.
Point the Toes.When the toes are pointed, the feet become visual
extensions of the calf, making the legs look longer overall. Pointing the
toes also flexes the muscles in the calves, making them look more trim and
toned. This foot position can be achieved by having your subject wear
high heels, or (if a barefoot look is preferred) by having her position her
feet as if she were wearing high heels. High-heels also tend to tighten the
calves and buttocks of the human body and can often make your subject
appear taller. They also provide more separation of the ankle from the calf.When the toes are pointed,
the feetbecome visual
extensions of the calf.THEHIPS,LEGS,ANDFEET43