Posing a middle aged people

[nailer]

A friend has asked me to photograph his wife as she says he never takes a good picture of her.

I would guess they are a couple in their early 50's.

I'm ok with toddlers and babies but a little short of ideas for these people and especially his wife for the lone shots.

Any suggestions where I can get tips for posing? I've got plenty for younger people but cannot see these people in thos type of poses.

thanks in advance

[Wilt]

Turn their bodies at a modest angle to the lens...serves to hide how wide or how paunchy they really are.

Shoot from a slightly higher angle than usual, so that they need to raise their chins a bit, to help stretch taut the jowls and double chins.

Head tilt toward high shoulder for the female, toward the low shoulder for the male

One foot slightly forward to the camera, the weight shifted to mostly the back foot.

Hands held so that you do not shoot the back of the hand, but see more along the edge of the hand, to minimize ugly knuckles.

Narrow lighting, to slim faces made full with weight.

[dave kadolph]

Narrow lighting?

An explanation please.

[Wilt]

Broad lighting = main light strikes the side of the face which is facing more toward the lens; tend to make thin faces look fuller.

Short lighting (or narrow lighting) = main light strikes the side of the face which is facing less toward the lens; tends to make round faces look less full.

[_aravena]

Depends on what she looks like. My mom went to Glamour Shots and oh my, I couldn't believe what they did for a woman her age. Never the less, what Wilt said is good. What kind of poses are they looking for exactly?

[nailer]

Thanks Wilt - I think I follow that - if I don't she'll end up looking like quosimodos sister ;-)

aravena - not sure as they haven't said as yet but wanted to be one step ahead

[_aravena]

True. I mean if you're going traditional, look at portrait studio websites. They have tons of examples.

[Wilt]

Thanks Wilt - I think I follow that - if I don't she'll end up looking like quosimodos sister ;-)

And you won't have to worry about asked to come back in a few years, to take more photos! :lol: