out the ads and pages that have interesting head-and-shoulders images. These
images are what set the standard for beauty in your clients’ eyes.
Include the Body.You may be wondering why I’ve talked so much about
hiding figure flaws in a chapter that is supposed to be about head-and-
shoulders portraits. It’s because of another change I made in the way I posed
many of my head-and-shoulders poses in order to make them more mar-
ketable. Like most photographers, I thought of a head-and-shoulders pose as
a standing pose with the arms folded or leaning on a tree. Then, I realized
that I could also create a head-and-shoulders image by posing the subject
laying down on their stomach with their face closer to the camera and their
body behind them at an angle.
We selllotsof these poses, because they have the larger facial size the par-
ents like and show most (if not all) of the body, which the senior likes. They
also allow us to show more of the scene, which works really well for outdoor
sessions. I like to have the subject lay on their stomach with their faces closer
to the camera. The body is placed diagonally behind the head so the side of
the hips and legs shows as the body extends into the background. Combine
this style of posing with scenes that have a greater depth and you will create
portraits that show the beautiful surroundings while satisfying both the older
and younger buyers.
Expression.With the larger facial size, you should always have the client
look at you as you direct them through the expressions you want them to
When using a posing aid in your head-and-
shoulders portraits, you should never let any
weight rest on the fleshy parts of the fore-
arms or biceps.