DAY 257

FASHION & BEAUTY

Couture Posing and Movement

UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE OF BODY LANGUAGE

When instructing a model for a full-length fashion pose, a photographer must be conscious of every inch of the model’s body, drape of the clothing, and facial features.

Start with the direction of the feet and positioning of the model’s legs and torso. Think about on which leg the model should support her weight and how to pose her hips. A timeless pose approach is the contrapposto style. Contrapposto is an Italian term used to describe a figure’s position in classical sculpture where the hips and legs are turned in a different direction from that of the shoulders and head, with most of the weight on one foot so that the shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs.

Photo © Matthew Roharik.

Position the hands where they are inconspicuous. A poorly posed hand or the clenching of a fist can ruin an image. The hands should look elegant and in a relaxed state. Rolling the shoulders forward is also a staple in couture posing. It elongates the torso and tightens the waist.

Be aware of the lines of the clothing and the wrinkling and folds that are caused by the pose. Move the model’s head so that the neck is exaggerated and allow the facial features to convey the feeling of the position of the body. —MR