Posing for Portrait Photography

Using the Arms to Conceal Problems.

fully also gives you the ability to hide problem areas, such as the

neck, waistline, or hips. I look at the client once they are in the pose

to see if there are any areas that, if I were them, I wouldn’t want to

see. If there is a double chin, I lower the chin onto the arms to hide

it. If a see a not-so-flat stomach, I may extend the arms out to have

the hands around the knees.

Observe the Details. The key to good posing is being obser-

vant. Many photographers are in too much of a hurry to start snap-

ping off pictures. Now that we are digital, I tell my young photog-

raphers to take one shot and wait for that image to completely

POSING THE SHOULDERS, ARMS, AND HANDS 61

If necessary, the arms can be used to conceal
a problem area. For example, a pose like this
could be used to conceal a subject’s not-too-
flat stomach.

Posing the Arms.

also gives you the ability

to hide problem areas.