This is probably the most important part of the body if you

photograph women. While men gain weight in their dou-
ble chins and stomachs, woman gain weight in their thighs. Unless
you are a woman or live with a woman, you never will realize how
much women worry about this part of their bodies.

Avoiding Full-Length Poses.

The majority of portraits should not include this part of the body.
(Full-length poses tend to be favored more by photographers than
clients, anyway.) For any client with whom weight is a serious issue,
it is especially important that you guide them away from poses that
show the hips and thighs.
Notice I said “guide.” Some photographers use about the same
amount of tact as a football coach. On a good day, a client can
expect to hear things like, “Well, with hips like yours.. .” or “You
are a little hippy, so we probably shouldn’t show them in the
photograph.”
Anytime you have to talk with a client because what she wants
to do isn’t what she needsto do to be happy with her session, you
should use past clients as an example. A good way to explain that
full-length poses shouldn’t be taken would be, “Most woman go
shopping for an entire outfit, and for that reason they want to take
poses full length. However, a lot of women worry about their hips
and thighs appearing heavy, so usually it is best to take the poses
from the waist up. Now, is there anything you would like to do full-
length poses, or do you want everything from the waist up?” Saying

78 POSING FOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

6. HIPS AND THIGHS.

Some photographers use

about the same amount of tact

as a football coach.