Picture Perfect Posing: Practicing the Art of Posing for Photographers and Models

Picture Perfect Posing: Practicing the Art of Posing for Photographers and Models

Released February 2014
Publisher(s): New Riders
ISBN: 9780133742312

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Book description

Photographer, author, and educator Roberto Valenzuela has a proven track record for teaching and explaining difficult concepts to photographers of all skill levels. His remarkable ability to break down complicated ideas into understandable, approachable elements that photographers can truly grasp–and then use their newfound knowledge to improve their photography–made his first book, Picture Perfect Practice, a breakout success.

In Picture Perfect Posing, Roberto takes on the art of posing. For many photographers, after learning to compose an image and even light it properly, a portrait can still easily be a failure if the pose is not natural, elegant, and serving the needs of both the subject and the photographer. Instead of just showing page after page of poses–like most posing books on the market–Roberto actually breaks down the concept of posing by examining the anatomy, starting with the core foundation: the spinal chord and neck. Building from there, Roberto discusses every component of what makes poses work, as well as fail. How should the model hold her hands? Bend her elbows? Position her fingers? Should the model look toward or away from the camera, and why? It all depends on what the photographer wants for the shot, and Roberto discusses the entire process, from the intent of the photographer through the execution of the pose. For those who have been discouraged by an inability to pose their subjects, or who have simply not known where to start in order to "figure it out," Picture Perfect Posing is the essential resource they need to learn how posing truly works, and how they can learn to direct the exact pose they need for the shot they want.  

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. About the Author
  6. Contents
  7. Foreword
  8. Read This First: The Picture Perfect Posing System (P3S)
    1. Why Are Some Photos Used Repetitively?
    2. Why the Amateur Photos?
    3. A Note to Models, Brides, and Anyone Else Interested in Posing
  9. Introduction
    1. What This 15-Point Picture Perfect Posing System (P3S) Is and Is Not
  10. Part 1: The Picture Perfect Posing System (P3S)
    1. 1. Understanding and Posing the Spine
      1. Parts of the Spine You Must Know, and How They Affect Posing
      2. Pose Analysis
      3. On Your Own
    2. 2. Weight Distribution and Its Effect on Posing
      1. Shifting the Body Weight and Crossing the Feet
      2. Shifting the Body Weight and Not Crossing the Feet
      3. Weight Distribution Sitting Down
      4. On Your Own
    3. 3. Joints and 90-Degree Angles
      1. Bending Joints to Avoid Stiffness
      2. 90-Degree Angles on Arms
      3. Arms at 90-Degree Angles with Couples
      4. Using 90-Degree Angles to Sculpt Either a Strong or a Finessed Pose
      5. 90-Degree Angles on the Wrists and Fingers
      6. On Your Own
    4. 4. Three-Point Check Combinations
      1. 3-Point Combination Charts
      2. Collarbone, Chin, and Eye Combinations
      3. Applying the 3-Point Combinations
      4. On Your Own
    5. 5. Creating Gaps with the Lower Back and Elbows
      1. The Gap Effect
      2. Creating Gaps That Look Natural
      3. Using Light to Aid the Gaps
      4. On Your Own
    6. 6. The Hand/Arm Context System (HCS)
      1. Why Are Arms and Hands Such a Problem?
      2. The Hand/Arm Context System (HCS)
      3. Breaking Down the HCS
      4. Something to Think About
      5. On Your Own
    7. 7. Stylizing Hands and Fingers: Advanced Techniques
      1. Posing Male vs. Female Hands
      2. Posing Couples’ Hands and Fingers
      3. On Your Own
    8. 8. Origin of Hands and Fingers
      1. When the Origin of the Hands Is Visible
      2. Hands Placed Across Another Person on the Side Away from the Camera
      3. On Your Own
    9. 9. Avoid Mirroring
      1. One Hand Higher than the Other with Individuals
      2. One Hand Higher than the Other with Couples (Mirroring)
      3. Why You Should Avoid Mirroring in Group Portraits
      4. On Your Own
    10. 10. Interaction and Placement of Subjects
      1. A First Look at the Impact of Interaction
      2. When Both Subject Placement and Interaction Fail
      3. Storytelling through Subject Placement and Interaction
      4. On Your Own
    11. 11. Point-of-Contact Check
      1. Understanding the Point of Contact
      2. Understanding Correct Subject Emphasis
      3. On Your Own
    12. 12. Balancing the Subject Ratio
      1. Finding the Midpoint and Overlap Point
      2. Making Adjustments to the Pose Based on the Midpoint
      3. On Your Own
    13. 13. The Nose X-Factor
      1. Noses Pointed Toward Each Other
      2. Noses Parallel to Each Other
      3. Creating Spontaneous Group Portraits by Implementing the Nose X-Factor
      4. A Word about Style
      5. On Your Own
    14. 14. Subject Emphasis
      1. The Subject Should Be at Least as Bright as the Brightest Point in the Frame
      2. The Direction of Light Should Influence Part of the Pose
      3. Use Framing, Leading Lines, Isolation, Contrasts, Repetition or Size to Make the Subject the Most Prominent Element
      4. On Your Own
    15. 15. Posing with Movement, Feeling, and Expression
      1. Posed Photojournalism
      2. Why Posing the Eyes Is So Important
      3. The Three Parts of the Eye
      4. Techniques for Posing the Eyes
      5. Bringing Feeling, Movement, and Expression All Together
      6. One Last Word
      7. On Your Own
  11. Part 2: Posing Couples with the Picture Perfect Posing System
    1. 16. Posing Couples with the Picture Perfect Posing System
      1. Reviewing the Poses
      2. One Last Word
  12. Conclusion
  13. Index

Product information

  • Title: Picture Perfect Posing: Practicing the Art of Posing for Photographers and Models
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: February 2014
  • Publisher(s): New Riders
  • ISBN: 9780133742312