Generally, the hands of both men and women photograph best when they
have something to hold. They photograph worst when they are left dangling.
The hands are one area of the body that clients usually pose very well on their
own if you explain where they are to place them or what they are to hold. If you
watch people relaxing, in fact, you’ll see that they tend to fold their hands or
rest them on their body—instinctively avoiding the uncomfortable and unflat-
tering “dangling” positions.
Place the body and arms where you want them, then find a place for the
hands to rest, or something for them to hold. Hands hold and they rest, they
shouldn’t look like they are broken or take on the shape of a cow’s udder (with
the fingers hanging down). Following this rule simplifies the entire process, al-
lowing you to achieve quick and flattering results while avoiding the very com-
plex process that many photographers go through when posing the hands.
And here’s something to keep in mind: Guys don’t always have to have their
hands in a fist—and if they do, it should be a relaxed fist that doesn’t look like
they are about to join in on a brawl (if the knuckles are white, the fist is too
tight). Women should never have the hand in a complete fist. If a woman is to
rest her head on a closed hand, try having her extend her index finger straight
along the face. This will cause the rest of the fingers to bend naturally towardPOSING 71ABOVE AND FACING PAGE—For both men
and women, hands look best when they
have something to do.