Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-To-Toe Guide

by Jeff Smith

Book Overview

Aiming to help portrait photographers yield pleasing results with a variety of body types, this tutorial evaluates the subject's appearance and suggests refining poses, providing tips to make sure... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1584281340
• ISBN13: 9781584281344
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Amherst Media
• Length: 124 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Very good book on posing

When you're working with professional models, posing becomes very easy, because the model will assume a succession of interesting basic poses and variations that the photographer can work with. All you might need to do is offer suggestions to refine and fine tune a good pose to make it a great one. That's not the case when you're working with non-professionals, which is the case with most portrait work! Your subjects may be ill-at-ease, not know what to do, and worried that their portrait will not turn out well. This book gives the photographer the knowledge and confidence needed to create interesting and flattering poses for a variety of portrait situations. If you read this, you'll be much more adept at portraiture, and your subjects will be relaxed and more readily photographed in attractive ways. This is an essential tool for beginning portrait photographers, or veterans who want to improve their skills.

Valuable insights and good fundamentals

This book is full of nuggets of insights. Very first chapter; 'Six things you should never do' pays for the price of the book. I am not a professional photographer but insights in this book have helped me take better portraits. I am surprised by a very negative review on this book. That reviewer must be confused about another book. There is no question posing is a difficult topic and it is wrong to expect one single book will make you master of portrait photography. Nonetheless, this book will help you avoid some basic mistakes. After reading this book, I looked at pictures I had taken before and I noticed several basic errors I made. Now I won't be making those errors anymore. This book is well illustrated with excellent photographs and is presented in very logical order. Out of several books I bought on this topic, this is the one I keep referring to again and again and it never disappoints. There are few drawbacks. There is limited information on lighting. Book focuses on mainly studio portraits and assumes you are a professional photographer with all the equipment; information on outdoor portraits is limited. Also this book focusses only on senior portraits. Author Jeff Smith has other books on lighting and outdoor portraits. Overall this is a good book on posing if you keep above limitations in mind.

Ground Rules of Portrait Photography

Photography, as well as other arts, is very subjective. What may be beautiful or correct for someone, could be boring to someone else. Even then, there are certain basic rules to follow in order to obtain at least acceptable results. This book by Jeff Smith is what I was looking for. He uses a plain and simple language to explain the most important aspects related to making good photos of people, whether professional models or not. He goes step by step, pointing the basic details to be looked at when taking a photo: lighting, the face, hands, arms, clothing, backgrounds, even the photographer's attitude and behavior. He sets the ground rules from which a creative person can grow. I recommend this book for non professionals interested in stepping forward to take better photos of people.

Clever Poses, Great Comments

There are several things I really like about this book: First, is the fact that the thinking is up to date. The traditional poses of GrandMa's pictures just won't do in today's market. Second, he points out that the only reason for taking a portrait is to produce a picture that the customer likes, that's the only way you can make any money. Third, is the understanding that there is nothing wrong with any pose if that's what the customer wants. That is, treat the customer with respect. Finally there are some very interesting hints, in taking a picture of a girl on a motorcycle, he also took a picture of just her face. The comment is made that the girl wants the picture of the bike, but the picture of just her face appeals to older people such as her parents. That's an easy way to make additional money out of the same basic setting. You may not like all the poses given her, but if the book gives you just one or two ideas for your next portrait shoot, it is well worth it's low cost and the time it takes to read it.

One of the best books on posing!

I have not had any formal training in photography, but read or watch anything I can get my hands (anything I can afford that is). I'll take notes on what ever it is I'm leaning. This is by far one of the best books on posing I've read. On just about ever page I leaned something new. Mr. Smith brings together all the small details of a good pose in a nice simple package. From expressions, deadly sins, legs, and more Mr. Smith does a great job in covering all the subjects. I shoot weddings, and was easily able to apply all the information.