ADVANCED DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Posing Men:
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Lower camera height implies a sense of authority
and power.
The body never faces the camera squarely.
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Sitting on corner of desk, chair, sofa, etc.
Avoid “straight-ons”
Use longer focal lengths to separate the subject
from the background
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When sitting, legs should
be apart and slightly
turned from camera
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Use longer focal lengths
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Masculine poses require that the head never be
turned opposite to the body.
Head tilting toward far shoulder
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Posing Women:
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Higher camera height
The body never faces the camera squarely.
Sitting poses should always show subject with
straight back and many times, slight lean
forward.
Use a graceful “S” curve to accentuate
feminine traits
Head tilting toward the near shoulder
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Avoid “straight-ons”
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Try masculine poses
especially for business,
mood, etc.
© copyright cps photography
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Don’t be afraid to get in
close! “Cropping tight”
can emphasize facial
features and lead the
viewer’s interest into the
photograph.
Use longer focal
lengths to separate the
subject from the
background
ADVANCED DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Posing Small Children:
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Higher camera heights accentuate small size
Accentuate their size by keeping them small
within the frame
Use props – toys, stuffed animals, etc.
Avoid “straight-ons”
Use longer focal lengths
Get in “tight” on little faces!
Posing Groups:
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Triangular compositions work well.
Keep subjects close
Try posing on the floor
Try different angles and viewponts.
Make men a little taller than women
Stagger head heights
Avoid “straight-ons”, arms around
shoulders, “grip & grins”, etc.
Try sitting kids on floor to avoid rigidlooking “posed” shots
ADVANCED DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Posing Couples:
• Show warmth by moving them toward each other
• Show hand-to-hand or hand-to-body touching
• Keep heads close together with little or no space in
between
• Keeps heads tilted toward each other
• Mix up your poses! (ie. sitting, standing, sitting on
floor, etc.)
• Avoid “straight-ons”, arms around shoulders, “grip &
grins”, etc.
LIGHTING AND BACKGROUNDS:
Avoid Harsh, Direct Lighting:
• For indoor portraits, try window light
• For outdoor portraits, move subject(s)
into shade - Avoid distracting/
overexposed backgrounds
• Try larger apertures for smaller depth of
field (ie. to separate subject from
background)
• Avoid harsh, glaring sunlight (Creates
harsh shadows, causes squinting, etc.)
• Try using trees for shade & background
• Try using the shade of tall buildings for
softer light and less distracting
backgrounds
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Carl P. Stillitano – Instructor
CPS Photography
520 Broadway Pitcairn, PA 15140
412.372.4460
www.cpsphotography.com
[email protected]
All content & images - copyright cps photography
Turn subject so that their backs
are to the sun. This creates a
backlight or “rim-light” on
subject