A Field Guide to Being PhotographedTORAREKATA ZUKAN
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Chapter IV
Pose and Posture

Building your body position in sequence: feet, hips, shoulders, jaw, gaze, expression.

Articles in This Chapter

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FIG.027

When in Doubt About How to Stand: Build from the Feet

Good posture has a sequence. Starting from the feet eliminates second-guessing on set.

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FIG.028

The Order: Feet, Hips, Shoulders, Jaw, Gaze, Expression

Building posture in this order protects the face from tiring before the shutter fires.

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FIG.029

Turning Only the Neck Creates Creasing

Twisting the neck without the shoulders creates wrinkles at the throat. Rotate from the shoulder instead.

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FIG.030

Where to Put Your Hands: Using Props When You're Not Sure

Hands with nothing to do look tense. A simple prop resolves this without looking forced.

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FIG.120

Round Face: Using Shadow to Define the Silhouette

The goal is not to minimize the face, but to make the silhouette legible using light angle and positioning.

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FIG.121

Long Face: Compositions That Soften Vertical Length

Camera angle, cropping, and horizontal elements that reduce the impression of face length.

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FIG.122

Wide Jaw: Using Angle Rather Than Frontal

Why turning slightly creates better dimension than shooting straight on for wide-jaw face shapes.

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FIG.123

Heavy Lower Face: What Jaw Angle, Light, and Collar Can Do

Softening the lower face through chin position, lighting, and neckline choices.

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FIG.124

Narrow Chin: Adding Visual Stability

How to compensate for a receding chin with shoulder width, gaze, and expression.

A Field Guide to Being Photographed

Practical knowledge for people being photographed — built from portrait sessions and workshops.

JA·EN

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