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Books
Model Issues
Positioning
Hand Posing
Groups and
   Couples

Lighting
People Kits
Session Plan


Recommended books

  • The Pro Lighting Series - Portraits
  • Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography
  • Understanding Exposure
  • Posing and Lighting Techniques for Studio Portrait Photography
  • Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers
  • Corrective Lighting and Posing Techniques for Portrait Photographers
  • High Impact Portrait Photography: Creative Techniques for Dramatic, Fashion-Inspired Portraits
  • Studio Portrait Photography of Children and Babies
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    I sincerely hope you enjoy reading and practicing some of these tips in your own portrait photography. If you would, please consider a small, $2 secure donation through PayPal to help defer the costs of hosting this page to literally tens of thousands of readers a week. Thank you and enjoy!

    Photoshop CS4 and Digital Photography

    Dealing with People Issues

    Model Issue Resolution
    Round or Fat Face Pose model 3/4 to the camera
    Use short lighting
    Raise camera angle slightly
    Thin Face Pose model facing the camera
    Wrinkly Face, Deep Lines Use softer, frontal lighting
    Blemishes or Scars Shadow problem areas, or reposition
    Big Nose Raise chin slightly
    Pose nose straight into lens
    Small nose Pose nose at an angle to camera
    Square jaw 3/4 pose, higher camera angle
    Multiple chins Stretch neck, lean head toward camera
    Different sized eyes Largest eye close to camera, other in shadow
    Largest eye away creates evening effect
    Deep set eyes Light into eyes
    Blinkers Time shot after subject blinks
    Large Ears 3/4 pose
    Only show one ear
    Shadow second ear
    Eye Glass Wearers Shoot with empty frames
    Position glasses away from lights
    Bring lights in from very high, or bounce off ceiling
    People with Dark Hair Check to make sure that background doesn't show through hair, restyle if necessary.

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    I sincerely hope you enjoy reading and practicing some of these tips in your own portrait photography. If you would, please consider a small, $2 secure donation through PayPal to help defer the costs of hosting this page to literally tens of thousands of readers a week. Thank you and enjoy!

    Basic Positioning Tips

  • Position body and head facing different directions.
  • Masculine pose: tilt top of head toward far shoulder.
  • Feminine pose: tilt top of head toward near shoulder. Note: Women can typically pull off either of these two poses.
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    Hand Posing Tips

  • Don't show flat surfaces of hands, show finger edges.
  • Fingers should not be facing into the lens.
  • Bend fingers at all joints.
  • Male hands should be more closed, female should be more open.
  • Use opposing diagonals: ie head resting on arm; each pointing in opposite directions.
  • Fingers should not be intertwined.
  • Never rest a head on a fist.
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    Stuff you should have available for your models

  • Fresh combs
  • A mirror
  • Hair spray
  • Hair clips
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    Session Plan

  • Start with head shots.
  • Move to head on hands, let the model pose naturally.
  • Finish with 3/4 and full length.
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    Shooting Groups of People
    As a rule, the image should express a tone that all in the group are unified; either touching each other physically, or visually overlapping.

    Clothing Choices

  • Everyone should have the same toned clothing, either warm or cold.
  • Brightly clothed individuals should be placed in the middle.

    Posing Tips

  • Make men a little taller than women.
  • Stagger head heights.
  • Pose groups one person at a time, in relation to each other.
  • Pose men to the right of the frame, women to the left.

    Open Poses are defined as images with physical or visual space between people. Closed Poses are defined as images where individuals overlap each other, with no visual space between them. Note: Mixing Open and Closed Poses works well for large groups.

    Posing Couples

  • Front to Front Pose - fronts of both people facing, or touching the other.
  • Fronts facing forward - fronts of both people facing forward, possibly at an angle, one front to the other's back.
  • Avoid space between heads to create intimacy.
  • Use lots of negative space around couples in the frame.
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    I sincerely hope you enjoy reading and practicing some of these tips in your own portrait photography. If you would, please consider a small, $2 secure donation through PayPal to help defer the costs of hosting this page to literally tens of thousands of readers a week. Thank you and enjoy!

    Suggestions for Lighting
    Match the mood of image to lighting.

  • High key --> happy
  • Low key --> dramatic

    An Example of a High Key Lighting Setup (four light setup)

  • Main and fill lights close to the same output (1:1 to 2:1 max ratio).
  • White clothing, white background.
  • NO SHADOWS.
  • Overexpose background by 1 stop.
  • Point background lights at opposite edge of background.
  • Meter background at its center, set background lights to +1 stop main (ie. f11).
  • Subject should be halfway between camera and background.
  • Two umbrellas should be the main source, equal powered, and when combined rated at f8.
  • Shoot at f8.
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  • Recommended books

    Photoshop CS4 and Digital Photography

  • The Pro Lighting Series - Portraits
  • Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography
  • Understanding Exposure
  • Posing and Lighting Techniques for Studio Portrait Photography
  • Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers
  • Corrective Lighting and Posing Techniques for Portrait Photographers
  • High Impact Portrait Photography: Creative Techniques for Dramatic, Fashion-Inspired Portraits
  • Studio Portrait Photography of Children and Babies



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