Jeff Smith's Guide to Head and Shoulders Portrait Photography

Subject Seating.

Many head and shoulders poses have the subject in a sitting position, so, like

most photographers, I use the typical posing stool for many of my shots. This

is fine—just be sure to adjust the height of your posing stool so that the short-

est person you photograph will be able to touch the ground. People have to be

grounded to feel comfortable and relax. If you prefer a taller stool, choose one

with a crossbar to rest the feet on (like a barstool). I have a variety of chairs,

stools, and ladders available to help add to the variety of poses I can create.

A Fan.

When creating a head and shoulders portrait of a woman with long hair, using

a fan can increase the drama, boosting the volume of the hair and adding

TOOLS OF THE TRADE 21

When the subject has long, full hair, a fan
can add flair to the image.

People have to be

grounded to feel

comfortable and relax.