How to find better poses in your next photograph.

Better Poses in Photography

In art class I learned the rules of line.

·          A vertical line makes the viewer feel solid, firmness.

·         A Horizontal line gives the feeling of rest, stillness, stagnant

·         A diagonal line feels like action and activity; the steeper the diagonal, the faster and stronger the activity.

·         S curves in Greek and Roman art demonstrate and show the female figure

So, in your next photograph, watch the lines and use them to say what you want to say.  And when in doubt, action trumps inaction.

What are your thoughts?  I would love to hear your comments

Four ways to loose 10 Lbs. in your next photograph!

4 ways to lose 10 lbs in your next photograph

Here are 4 ways to lose 10 pounds for your next photograph.

1.   1.    Wear something dark. In a photograph dark cloths tend to look smaller and light clothes tend to look larger.  So, wear something dark.

2.   2.   Hide part of your body.  You can position yourself behind a desk, chair, or another person to reduce some of your size.  What is not seen in the photograph is not seen to be there.

3.     3.Turn your body from stand straight to the camera to turning to a 45 degree angle.  This 45 degree angle usually looks smaller than profile or straight on images.

4.   4.  Short or Rembrandt lighting. If you are facing to camera left, the main light should be placed also to the left of the camera with a fill light to the right.  This will make your face look lighter away from the camera and darker towards the camera which will help your face seem like it is smaller than it is.

5.  5.   If you are standing, place one foot in front of the other and place your weight on your rear leg. This will make you look slimmer.

Lots of luck, and look beautiful

Are they listening to You?

 Are They Listening to You?

My wife and I were talking about a mutual friend and she made the statement that “He thinks he has something to say.” We were talking about his seeming frustration when it seemed others were not listening.

Are people listening to you? Most of us have something to say.  Are they listening?

My Rhetoric Professor in college graded on two major categories.  One was “do you have something to say?” or content.  The other was “Did you say it well?” or delivery.  Here are key elements of those two categories.

 Do you have something to say?

·         This is audience dependent. Are they interested? Is it below them? Here is where feedback is critical.

·         You must have valuable content and convincing arguments.  Titles (Pastor, Doctor, Professor) don’t work (at least in the U.S.) like they did years ago. Your audience must be persuaded by something other than “because I say so.”

Do you say it well?

·         This goes beyond good grammar. Do you say it with passion, with concern for the other person? Do you listen to their questions and comments and allow them to modify your thoughts, or do you just argue to win an argument?

·         Most people don’t read today.  Video would be better. (I should practice what I preach.)

·         Short is better than long.  Many have a short attention span.

Keep listening and getting feedback. Adjust your message and delivery based on your feedback.  Listen before your speak. Relationships and trust-building are valuable, and actions often trump thoughts. 

First three steps for a career in modeling.

First three steps in becoming a Professional Model

I have worked with models for decades. They often ask me how to get from being unknown to a paid model position.

Many have wanted the attention, the fashionable cloths, the glamour of being a model.  Here are the first three steps to take.

    1.    Make a declaration.  Let people know your interest in modeling. Sign up at such internet sites as Model Mayhem (modelmayhem.com), or One Model Place (onemodelplace.com). Take any images you have of yourself and get listed (it’s free).  Answer all who write you. Check out the work of the photographers and book sittings with the ones you trust. (Tip: if they do not allow you to bring an escort, you may want to think twice about working with them.) Be professional. If you say you will be there, be there on time and ready to work 

2.   Practice. Get a full length mirror, some fashion magazines and practice getting into the poses from the magazines. As you practice, watch for details like hand and feet placement, where they eyes are looking and the expression on the face.  The poses may feel very uncomfortable at first. You may feel foolish posing in the mirror, but we all feel foolish learning new things, but with practice you will feel more comfortable with the poses.  The quicker you can look like a model to the camera, the quicker your rise to fame will be.  

                                                                              

    

Im  3. Improve your portfolio and images.  The better your photographs look, the more calls you will get and the quicker you will be paid to model.  Great images may be costly. I would recommend a makeup artist (MUA) and the best photographer you can find and afford.  Try to get as many different looks as you want. Some photographers may trade for photographs, but often the better ones will want payment.

When you are on a photo-shoot, always act professional (even when the camera is not pointed at you) and demand professionalism of everyone else there.

If you find these ideas helpful, please follow this blog. Leave any comments and questions you might have, and I will answer. New information will be posted in a few days.

Thanks. Allen

Dba Artistallen.com

How to take better photographs, improve the background.

I had a photo - shoot this week of a beautiful young model, but there was a challenge with the background.  We were in buildings with broken glass, doors and lots of holes in the roof.  Because the eye tends to go to the brightest place in the image, you as a photographer want the brightest place to be the face of the subject. But if they are in a building like I had it is hard to position the subject so that there is not a bright spot behind them competing for attention.

Sometimes I did well

Sometimes I did not do well. And you can see from the images below how the brighter places compete for attention.

But we both had fun and we did get some beautiful images, which is what really counts!