Part Two C - Posing a Woman
by Chuck Gardner
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Photographing a Woman  Here the key light is a
window to the right of the female subject. The process of posing a woman starts
also starts with the feet, by putting one forward and shifting the weight of the
one in the rear. A woman looks naturally feminine with her shoulder pointing
towards the camera with her head turned and tipped towards it. Either the right
or left shoulder can be placed closest to the camera with the head posed turned
and tipped to either one. The lighting on the face will be identical, but the
light on her clothing and its appearance will differ as will the side of her
face shown in a 2/3 view.
If the woman places her left foot forward and shifts her weight to the right leg in the rear the front of her left shoulder will be closest to the camera and her body will be facing the key light more or less squarely (i.e. broad lighting). This will place a great deal of light on her clothing but it will be at a relatively flat lighting angle which will diminish detail. If the woman switches her feet and shoulder positions with the right shoulder forward and higher the angle of light on the clothing will be more acute (i.e., short lighting) which will be less bright, but emphasize detail such as bead work on a wedding gown. Which looks best depends a number of different factors so the best advice is to try both and let your eye decide. Large and older women may look better if posed more like a man with their heads more squared and centered relative to the shoulders. Once you decide which foot and shoulder to put forward simply turn and tip her chin toward the higher shoulder. Watch the side of her neck. If you see the cord-like muscle on the side of her neck (i.e., the sterno cleido mastoid) portrude her head is turned too far. Use a camera position that is 6-8 inches higher than her eyes. When the hands are in the picture, position them so their edge rather than the broad and bright palms or backs are facing the camera and the fingers are curved rather than straight. A good way to pose a bride with close-up with flowers is to start by having the bride, without the flowers, place her hands together in a praying pose then slide the fingers of the upper hand down to the middle of the lower hand's upturned palm. The hands and arms will fall into place perfectly. Once the hands are posed, insert the flowers. Use the same technique in full length photos, but start with the hands down below the waistline. Goto Next Page > Goto < Previous Page Goto Class Outline Goto super.nova.org my home page. |