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Shoot: Maternity Poses

Lesson 25 from: FAST CLASS: Posing 101

Lindsay Adler

Shoot: Maternity Poses

Lesson 25 from: FAST CLASS: Posing 101

Lindsay Adler

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Lesson Info

25. Shoot: Maternity Poses

Lesson Info

Shoot: Maternity Poses

This is a segment where I talk about maternity and I'm going to give you my top tips. But I will let you know that four maternity poses there really are just a few essentials. It is really pretty basic. And I think, Ah, lot of what makes different maternity shots would be lighting and styling for a couple of reasons. Really, there are certain poses that are definitely more flattering to the female form. But then also, there aren't many poses that are comfortable. And you want the individual to be comfortable. So you would be making more poses out of maybe your lynch choice and you're lighting and you're styling and things like that. So, really, they're just a few poses. Teoh have narrowed down here, so not too complicated. All right, so the first thing is it OK? Now have you mirror me? It is okay to photograph your subject straight on, but you won't notice the stomach as much. So what you have to do in that case, is actually used the hands to define. So I'm gonna have you cup your left...

hand underneath and your right hand over. Okay? You would actually need to do that because street on you can't quite tell the form isn't defined. But something else to keep in mind is if her hands are street next to her side, we still want to keep it in mind all of those fundamentals opposing for women, which is you want negative space. So I would have her popper elbows out just a little bit not, you know, no uncomfortably so. But so that you can see the side of her body and her form. OK, But in general, even though that's acceptable, the 3/4 view would emphasize and be more typical. So I will just have you turned 3/4 and do the same thing. So either way, it is completely fine. Just No, that's straight on. You definitely need help defining my second tip really important. And I'm gonna photograph he's Also you can see is when she's standing here flatfooted. Remember, flatfoot? Okay, flatfoot. It is not the most flattering. And usually you think OK for women. You don't want to stand flat footed because you are reducing hips and form Well, okay. You're not I mean, that's not the point. Here is the reason for flatfooted not wanting to shoot flatfooted because you can add a little curve so I don't have you do is put your left foot forward and then put upon its toe. Okay? And so if you do that and I would actually I'm gonna do this more dramatically so you can see with an apple box. What it does is it will give you a line to follow another line. Um, so tip number three already said this is maintaining negative space, but that's that's with everything. So ah, big one that I'll see often, uh, somebody a woman's holding underneath her stomach here, and she has her arm back in a few minded, you know, mine. I'll grab just right here in your hand under your son chicken right here. Okay. So from this angle, her arm hides the small of her back. It's just like if I were facing straight onto the camera with my hands straight to my side, I add that much with to myself. So if you are going to photograph somebody from the side like that, you want the hand either further forward, so you can see the small of her back. Okay, which is perfect or much farther back could go and keep going so that you actually have negative space. So watch for those things. Maternity poses are all about the curves in the beautiful line, so you can't hide them. And that's in any of the poses that we have here. Um, number four is hands communicate the mood. So I have definitely seen some kind of like sex. You're sexier maternity shots where it's both hands up, and I've seen hand on the small of the back. It's softer, more maternal cupping underneath. Give me more curve and shape here, so just know that hands become an important part because it's all communicating something different about what you're trying to achieve in the Post. Like I said, there's not really too much that you dio. So it's kind of in the hands what you're trying to say with that photograph. And, of course, then it's the lighting, and you know all that other stuff. Um, and the number five is to vary the eye contact and the head angle so I I would do looking down, had to shoulder that camera. It gives you different poses, but sometimes it's, I don't know I almost think if it's meant to be a quiet kind of intimate moment where she's appreciating her state. Okay, looking at the camera, you know I still get that photograph, but honestly, since it is about curving and about something beautiful, I think that often looking not looking at the camera probably achieves more of what your goals are as a photographer. So these would be my top five things. Remember the differences between the angles? Don't stand flat footed. Definitely maintain negative space. Watch the hands and bury the eye contact.

Class Materials

Bonus Materials with Purchase

Posing 101 Keynotes
Posing 101 Posing Guides

Ratings and Reviews

Samantha Riegels
 

This is a great course for a quick reminder of things to keep in mind when headed out for a particular shoot. It's bullet points. General principals. If you are new to posing, you'll want a more in-depth course where she has live models and is positioning them rather than just talking about posing techniques. But for a Fast Class, I think this is perfect. Wonderful job, as always Lindsay!

a Creativelive Student
 

Fantastic quick but comprehensive summary of the key points for many different types of shoot. As always Lindsay Adlers delivers excellense. Brilliant

Creative Team
 

Lindsay's classes are always informative and interesting.

Student Work

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