The Photographers Guide to
POSING
Techniques to Flatter Everyone
Lindsay Adler
The Photographers Guide to Posing
Techniques to Flatter Everyone
Lindsay Adler
Project editor: Maggie Yates
Project manager: Lisa Brazieal
Marketing manager: Mercedes Murray
Copyeditor: Patricia Pane
Interior design and layout: Kim Scott, Bumpy Design
Cover design: Aren Straiger
Indexer: Maggie Yates
ISBN: 978-1-681981-94-9
1st Edition (1st printing, April 2017)
2017 Lindsay Adler
All images Lindsay Adler unless otherwise noted
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This book is dedicated to photographers who want to do more than just take pictures .
It is dedicated to those of you who want to help your subjects look their best, feel their best, and know their own worth .
Photography is powerful, and you aim to empower others .
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Words can hardly express how thankful I am for this incredible moment in my life. I am the happiest Ive ever been and every single day I try to appreciate the joy that I have found (and created) with others. I am aware that happiness is not always easily attained, and I have many incredible people to thank not only for the creation of this book but for the wonderful life Ive built.
First and foremost, thank you Mom and Dad. I have some of the very best parents in the world and I believe this whole-heartedly. Thank you for the unwavering support when Ive taken on big projects and even bigger dreamsand now Ive been able to see so many of those dreams come true. Undoubtedly youve both helped to make these happen. In particular, an extra thank you to my mother. You are one of the most dedicated and hardest working people I know, and Im lucky that this work happens to be for me.
Next, a very special thanks goes to my brand manager, Robert Gordon. You have helped me to develop the successful brand and business I have (and love) today. More than that, youve cared for both my business and for me as a friend. I have no doubt that the future continues to hold exciting and rewarding things for both of us.
Thank you Maggie Yates for helping to bring this book to life! You were more than gracious to work with my crazy schedule and constantly evolving ideas, and I appreciate all the hard work youve put in to make this book be the success I knew it would be! Thank you to Ted Waitt for inviting me to create this book. I always have a million ideas swirling around, so I appreciate both the direction and support for the education I value so dearly.
Finally, thank you to my handsome, kind and brilliant man, Chris Knight. This book has been a long (too long) time in the making, and Ive loved being your book buddy. Sitting side by side with you has made the process far more pleasant and youve helped keep up my momentum even when I felt deflated. You certainly are an essential element of the extreme joy Ive found, and Im honored to have you in my life.
About the Author
Fashion photographer Lindsay Adler has risen to the top of her industry as both a photographer and educator. Based in New York City, her fashion editorials have appeared in numerous fashion and photography publications, including Marie Claire, InStyle, Noise Magazine, Zink Magazine, Elle, Rangefinder, Professional Photographer , and dozens more. As a photographic educator, she is one of the most sought after speakers internationally, teaching on the industrys largest platforms and most prestigious events, having been named one of the top 10 best fashion photographers in the world. Lindsay has worked with some of the top brands in the photographic and related industries such as Canon, Adobe, and Microsoft.
A clean, bold, and graphic style has become the hallmark of her work, whether shooting advertising campaigns, designer look books, jewelry, hair campaigns, fashion editorials, or professional athletes. Lindsay is renowned for her creativity and collaborating with designers and stylists in order to create fresh looks.
Author of four books, she is always working on new ways to share her passions and knowledge with others. Each year she teaches to tens of thousands of photographers world-wide through prestigious platforms such as creativeLIVE, KelbyOne, and the industrys biggest conferences.
INTRODUCTION
POSING with CONFIDENCE
Photographing people can feel intimidating, especially when you are still conquering the foundations of photography. Non-photographers dont realize just how much there is to think about! We have to worry about lighting, camera angle, exposure, focus, and all of the other technical elements before we even introduce a subject into the scene. Then, not only do we need to find a flattering pose, we must also do our best to coax great expressions from our subject, even if the person hates having their photo taken. Weve got a lot of obstacles to overcome to get that perfect portrait, and the more you learn, the more smoothly a portrait session will go!
) to boudoir to weddingsand more.
Mastering posing is an invaluable piece of the equation for photographing and flattering your subjects, and there really is a lot to learn. Does posing frighten you? Trust me, Ive been where you are! For years as a portrait photographer I would stick primarily to one or two poses that would yield decent results for my subjects. I was afraid to experiment and even more afraid of photographing different body types. Through years of practice and education, posing is now as natural to me as exposure and composition. I want to share this knowledge and confidence with you using the lessons in this book.