Strike a pose

In this all-new book review shootout, we put four books to the test. Read on to learn how The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing by Bill Hurter, Posing Techniques for Digital Portraits (Digital Quick Guides series) by Jeff Smith, Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide by Jeff Smith, and Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers by J. D. Wacker stand up to our editorial review.

We continue our fashion photo series by helping you pose your subjects. If you intend to go "pro", this is a must-read article.

The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing

Providing a concise look at the foundations of posing, this guide illustrates the ways in which key posing strategies flatter the lines of the body, creating definition dynamic lines and a camera-friendly posture.

Photographers learn how to analyze the facial features of their subjects to ensure the most flattering positioning, how to finesse fingers for delicate or strong hand positions and how to adapt a pose for a man woman or child. Strategies for artfully posing couples, large groups, under- and overweight clients, the elderly, and everyone in between are detailed.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

You've mastered lighting and composition, you've got color down to a science. And if you were taking pictures of a beach, a tree, or even a turtle, you'd create a wonderful artistic creation. But people are so darned challenging. You can take an otherwise attractive person, pose him in the wrong way, and rather than saying cool, you're looking at a dork.

If, instead, you want your subjects to look their best, consider reading this book. Like most of the Amherst books, it's expensive, but it could be worth it if you get just one great shot.

The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing by Bill Hurter, published by Amherst Media Inc., is 128 pages and has a retail price of $34.95. We give The Portrait Photographer's Guide to Posing a rating of 4 out of 5.

Posing Techniques for Digital Portraits (Digital Quick Guides series)

Amateur digital photographers will gain mastery of professional posing techniques in this clear and concise guide to expert portraiture.

We liked the information on proper face and body angles; effective positioning of the arms shoulders and hands; tricks for concealing the waist and bust; and pointers on elongating and shaping the legs are accompanied by practical advice on how to flatter the figure and find appropriate attire for both male and female clients.

Simple solutions to arranging multiple subjects complete this guide to capturing every subject at their best.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

This is great. It's small enough to keep in your camera bag, it's not nearly as expensive as most of the Amherst books, and it's easy to simply thumb through and find a pose you'd like your subject to emulate. Plus it's got some good tips that can easily be used right in the middle of the shoot.

Posing Techniques for Digital Portraits (Digital Quick Guides series) by Jeff Smith, published by Amherst Media, is 96 pages and has a retail price of $14.95. We give Posing Techniques for Digital Portraits (Digital Quick Guides series) a rating of 4 out of 5.

Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide

Photographers learn how to gauge the needs of their clients before placing them into a stale, pre-conceived pose that hardly fits the clients personality or preferences.

Provided with a two-pronged approach to fail-safe posing, photographers learn first to determine what the mood of the portrait should be and how to use an appropriate posing genre -- traditional, casual, glamour, or journalistic.

Photographers are then shown how that genre can be used as a basis to produce a pose that best suits the clients -- allowing them to create dynamic yet natural-looking pose that the subject"and the intended recipient"will love.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

We liked this book a lot. It's a little different from the other guides in that it both helps you create a specific mood and then posing to reflect the mood. This is probably something someone going "pro" is likely to want to invest in. It's a little pricey for the run-of-the-mill amateur. But, hey, there's nothing run of the mill about you Connected Photographer readers, now is there?

Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide by Jeff Smith, published by Amherst Media, is 128 pages and has a retail price of $34.95. We give Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide a rating of 4 out of 5.

Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers

Photographers are guided through every aspect of posing, beginning with the consultation and continuing with specific tips for posing children, high school seniors, wedding parties, families, events, teams, groups, and pets in this comprehensive manual.

Maintaining that good posing is 80 percent mental and only 20 percent technical, this guide stresses the importance of communication between photographer and subject to creating a portrait that not only captures the subject's personality but also makes the subject comfortable fostering repeat business.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

As we've worked through this product review shootout, we've gone from books that might interest photo enthusiasts to books that are specific to those who want to make money taking pictures. Without a doubt, people pictures are where you'll make the most money as a pro -- and your bread and butter will be wedding pictures and school photos. This book shows you how to take these classic picture types, and also, in effect, outlines a program for the sort of photo products you'll eventually sell to clients.

Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers by J. D. Wacker, published by Amherst Media, is 128 pages and has a retail price of $34.95. We give Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers a rating of 4 out of 5.