W
hen you begin working with a model, should you pose them sit-
ting, standing, or lying down? Well, it all depends. You must first
decide on the purpose of the image and the message that you want
to convey in it.
The pose you choose will also affect the composition of the
image. If a model stands, she normally stands tall, filling the verti-
cal frame. If she sits, she will normally be positioned lower in the
frame. If she lies down, she’ll usually be composed in the upper or
lower one-third of the image. What if we place her on her hands
and knees? What type of pose is this now? It would fall into the “lying
down” category, because the word “lie,” in terms of position, means the
state of reclining along a horizontal plane. (At least that’s what the Asso-
ciated Press Stylebook states. And you thought writing was easy?)
In this chapter, I’ll give you some words of wisdom as to how I select
the right basic position for glamour posing.
Sit.
Sitting is one position that can frequently produce unflattering looks for
the model. If the photographer isn’t careful to adjust the pose and cam-
era angle, sitting can lead to tummies bulging, tushies flaring out, and
even lines or creases across the abdomen. The key is this: more clothes
help to eliminate these potential problems; less clothes tend to amplify
them. But that’s the easy fix—let’s address the not-so-easy options, be-
cause glamour photography often requires the model to be more scantily
clothed than traditional portraits.
Hiding the Stomach Area.Again, a model who is barely dressed or
nude will have more problems when it comes to the stomach area and
body creases in this position. So if my model’s body isn’t cooperative in
this position, and I have to keep her sitting, then I have her lean back on
6. Sit, Stand, or Lie Down.
The pose you choose
will also effectthe
composition of the image.70POSINGTECHNIQUESFORGLAMOURPHOTOGRAPHY