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January 19
27 min. to read
Because you must have a sharp view of details, master the photography basics, and know the answers to the client’s questions “What to do with my hands?”, “How do I sit down?”, “Where should I look?” and many others. That’s why in one article we’ve collected useful photography tips and posing ideas in one article. They will turn your shooting process into an easy pleasure, be a fresh breath of inspiration, and help you to get aesthetically pleasing portraits of a full body.
The definition “human body photography” is widely used in the world of medicine. Here it’s a special technique that helps doctors detect melanoma in the early stages in patients with eczema, psoriasis, and other suspicious neoplasms. This occurs due to the use of a high-resolution, professional medium-format camera that captures images of a certain sequence of poses. They allow making an image of the whole body for further diagnostics.
However, in the 21st century, this definition is also known beyond medicine, namely in the photographic industry. Creative people around the world actively use it as a genre of photography. In it, they convey the natural beauty and features of a particular body, as well as create a specific mood or tell a particular story in a creative way. It helps clients visually explore their attitudes toward themselves and look at their bodies from the head to the toes with different eyes.
A photoshoot with the participation of the human body is quite difficult, especially if it’s a couple or group of people and the main object isn’t a professional model. After all, it’s important that the client feels relaxed and comfortable. Because only in this way you’ll get the most natural pictures.
The stiffness of the client’s body from not knowing what pose to take is the first problem that most photographers face during the shoot. So if you don’t want to see the confused look of the main object, at the beginning of your cooperation find a common language with him or her. You have to get trust so that the human feels comfortable and understands what exactly is required of him. Then give your client clear instructions regarding poses before you’ll press the shutter button. Keep in mind, 80% of a photo session falls on the preparation of the model, and only 20% – on the shooting process.
In order to get beautiful body photography, take into account the following important nuances:
When everything is ready for shooting, it’s very important to work quickly. Don’t make the model stand in one pose for a long time and wait for the settings of equipment and staging of props. The person should be posing enthusiastically during the whole shooting and not feel annoyed or tired.
Below, we’ll share with you some tips on how to take full-body pictures that will help you to achieve the desired results no matter what camera you use: DSLR or mirrorless.
Color is one of the most significant things in any photography. It is able to reflect certain moods: dark tones – sadness and mystery, light – freshness and novelty, and bright – cheerfulness and energy. So, why not create an interesting color palette using a triad scheme that would maximally echo the tone of the skin, hair, and eyes?
Full-body photography is about diversity. So, you can involve several people to show the different shapes, ages, nationalities, ethnicity, growth, etc. Also, you can create an exciting picture with both people with different views on life. For example, one woman is seating in the lotus position and meditating, while the other one is smoking.
When it comes to cropping, most photographers face doubts and take full body shots. But capturing a certain part of a woman’s or man’s beauty can better acquaint viewers with the main object. So, don’t be afraid to crop the client’s body. But keep in mind the following rules:
High-key is a technique where most of the frame has a lot of light and is bright. Only some fragments remain dark or have a medium tone. Such an effect leads to loss of texture of the skin and thereby makes a body like painted on canvas. That’s why it creates an ethereal view of anybody. In order to get a high-key effect, first evenly illuminate the background and the main subject. Then play with settings so that you get the effect of overlighting.
Do you want to add fresh notes to your portfolio? Then experiment with different close-up body frames. Focusing on a unique area of the body (birthmark on the back, navel with water drops on the skin, graceful curve of the neck, beautiful collarbones, or other) you eliminate all distractions and show true beauty. Use a macro lens to achieve the desired effect.
Stories are always filled with lively emotions. So, why not come up with a sensual story or take it from real life and show it in full body image? A famous writer and motivational speaker without hands, Nick Vujicic, together with his newborn daughters or a woman who breast cancer survivor, are nice examples.
You don’t necessarily need to show only the naked body. You can also include original props in your shot, which give special interest. Put on the back a twig with dried flowers, give the main object a coral, or decorate the body with balloons. You can try everything.
If there are many colors in one photo, it distracts from the main object and creates a motley effect. That’s why many experienced photographers bet on monochrome. It’s the combination of different shades of one color and lowering the color temperature that allows you to get pleasing to the eye image, the focus of which is the object with its special shape and skin texture. You can try black and white gamma or pay attention to nude shades.
Do you want to focus only on the shape of the body? Place the person so that the light source is behind him. Thus, you get a beautiful silhouette, which is also a great effect. The most interesting full-body shot example is if you put a person into one of the yoga asanas in front of the sunset so that his body covers the rays.
Is it possible to capture the body without the object himself? Augers! You only need to use tricky lighting and put the person so that his or her shadow is reflected on the wall. You can also include the main object by stepping back a little. And to show creativity, many photographs use such a technique as “gobo”. It creates a shadow in the form of a chimeric pattern if attach a piece of lace, blinds, or another item is in front of the light source.
Freezing the moment of the movement in the still image is a powerful way to show dynamics. You can achieve this effect in two ways:
A portrait with a painted full body is beautiful avant-garde art. So, plunge into it with your head fixed on the camera riot of colors that create beautiful and realistic patterns. If you have never been engaged in body art, cooperate with an artist who creates masterpieces on the body. And putting models in certain poses and fixing them on the camera for getting natural or abstract photography will be your role. 5 painted models on the background of large tropical leaves that together create a colorful frog – this world-famous work of Johannes Stoetter can be a fresh breath of inspiration for you.
The texture is a powerful composition element that gives the photo more depth and a sense of tactility. If you add translucent fabric instead of clothes will make the human form clear. In order to achieve the maximum desired effect, place the light source sideways.
Full body photo underwater is one of the most beautiful options. Since our body moves more smoothly underwater, it gives a wide field for experiments. So you can try this genre. But don’t forget to take with you a special camera, waterproof lenses, and light for focusing.
The success of a shoot depends on posing. The correct execution of full-body poses by the model is a 100% stunning result. But if you’re a beginner photographer, you may face a lack of inspiration. Don’t worry! Below, we’ll consider with you the best ideas for poses that will make shooting an easy process.
Many photographers don’t know what to do with the hands of models. In fact, there are several simple positions:
In order to get relaxed touches on the woman's body in full body photography, ask the model to stand as she waits for the bus or her turn to the museum. You’ll notice how she will take a relaxed pose and her shoulders will become automatically asymmetrical.
If you have ever heard about an S shape, you know how attractive it looks. So, why not include it in your composition by asking the model to bend her one knee?
Not only a bent knee can achieve attractiveness. The model just has to abduct the hip to one side to create the S shape.
The position of the head plays an important role in body photography because it can tell a lot. For example, to achieve confidence, pull the model’s chin up. Also, this position of the head can even correct the face, visually decreasing the large forehead. And if the head isn’t fully turned to the camera, it visually makes the face and the figure slimmer.
Do you want to create something that is taken from real life? Then let your model lie down on a soft bed, sand, or wooden surface, resting at this time on the elbow and keeping the legs slightly bent at the knees.
Stairs are an interesting location for posing, no matter where they are: in the subway, pedestrian crossing, park, or at home. So, include them in the list of your shoot locations. When you’ll be ready, ask the model to sit on the stairs not straight but at a slight angle. Her legs should be slightly extended in front of her and crossed at the ankles. One hand at the time is on the stairs near the body and the other is on the knee.
Now you know how to take full-body pictures. But the work only with camera, lighting, and models isn’t enough for harmonious completion of the desired idea. Post-processing is always required. Luminar Neo will help you to edit your body photos at a high level. This photo editing software which works on the basis of AI can do amazing things. Here you can correct colors in a photo with high-key technology, adjust contrast, change the background, retouch the face, and do so much more..
A full-body portrait is different from an ordinary portrait, where the head and shoulders only appear. After all, here you need to make more effort in terms of finding locations, creating an image, and selecting appropriate poses. But the main task is to make the model feel easy and relaxed. You can achieve this by using to practice the tips and poses that we wrote about in our article.
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