Comments on: How to Pose Hands in Portraits http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:38:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rick V http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214827 Rick V Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:36:15 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214827 Very interesting comments. I think the most compelling are the ones that cause the hands to be a contributing but clearly subordinate element of the photo that are not allowed to detract from the image. My fundamental problem is that I do not find hands (or feet for that matter) particularly attractive in the first place. Very interesting comments. I think the most compelling are the ones that cause the hands to be a contributing but clearly subordinate element of the photo that are not allowed to detract from the image. My fundamental problem is that I do not find hands (or feet for that matter) particularly attractive in the first place.

]]> By: Sean http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214825 Sean Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:32:04 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214825 This topic resonates with me from a bad experience about 24 years ago... I was in the wedding party of a wedding on the beach in Maui. The local photographer micro-managed every aspect of our posing, from the tip of our head down to our toes and everything in between. The lasting memory was of him constantly telling me to place my hands in my pockets but leave the thumb on the outside... I did as I was told but it felt terrible and very unnatural because that's not what I normally do, actually I never do it. As a result the photos were terrible, I still bristle at the thought of that photographer insisting that I do something that I never do with my hands. I agree with the tip to consider leaving hands out of the shot if they are distracting, but if you must get the hands do your best to find a compromise to get the shot you want while not asking the subject to pose in a way that feels uncomfortable or unnatural for them. This topic resonates with me from a bad experience about 24 years ago…

I was in the wedding party of a wedding on the beach in Maui. The local photographer micro-managed every aspect of our posing, from the tip of our head down to our toes and everything in between.

The lasting memory was of him constantly telling me to place my hands in my pockets but leave the thumb on the outside… I did as I was told but it felt terrible and very unnatural because that’s not what I normally do, actually I never do it. As a result the photos were terrible, I still bristle at the thought of that photographer insisting that I do something that I never do with my hands.

I agree with the tip to consider leaving hands out of the shot if they are distracting, but if you must get the hands do your best to find a compromise to get the shot you want while not asking the subject to pose in a way that feels uncomfortable or unnatural for them.

]]> By: George Norkus http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214819 George Norkus Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:14:35 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214819 This great article struck my eye because It happened to me just last weekend! It was very dark, the lights were terrible, and I was filling time shooting equipment. While between sets covering "bad bands", (*sorry I ment to say bar bands), a lady asked me to "practice" photographing her. Having set up for the bands and not a model-like pose, I asked her to stand in front of a large black curtian while I fired off a few. Wonderful, she even seemed to know a few poses. Maybe she was a model on other days. Of the three photos I took of her, a couple turned out very well until I looked at them at home. Her hands were directly flat to the camera and stuck out like a "sore thumb". Looking at them later, I was thinking about blacking her hands out since the rest looked so good. This fine article addresses a good point that I, given brighter conditions, would have caught. This great article struck my eye because It happened to me just last weekend!

It was very dark, the lights were terrible, and I was filling time shooting equipment. While between sets covering “bad bands”, (*sorry I ment to say bar bands), a lady asked me to “practice” photographing her. Having set up for the bands and not a model-like pose, I asked her to stand in front of a large black curtian while I fired off a few. Wonderful, she even seemed to know a few poses. Maybe she was a model on other days.

Of the three photos I took of her, a couple turned out very well until I looked at them at home. Her hands were directly flat to the camera and stuck out like a “sore thumb”. Looking at them later, I was thinking about blacking her hands out since the rest looked so good.

This fine article addresses a good point that I, given brighter conditions, would have caught.

]]> By: Lynn Clark http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214784 Lynn Clark Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:57:35 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214784 hands are so tricky! I mostly shoot boudoir, and there is nothing sexy about a nervous/tight looking hand. I often have my clients simply shake out their hands when they're getting nervous butterflies, then place them somewhere on their body. Or I give them something to do with their hands. When I do headshots, hands go in the pockets with thumbs out or just thumbs in, which I think relaxes the shoulders. hands are so tricky! I mostly shoot boudoir, and there is nothing sexy about a nervous/tight looking hand. I often have my clients simply shake out their hands when they’re getting nervous butterflies, then place them somewhere on their body. Or I give them something to do with their hands.

When I do headshots, hands go in the pockets with thumbs out or just thumbs in, which I think relaxes the shoulders.

]]> By: Bob http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214756 Bob Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:09:23 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214756 Advice I have been given - if women's hands are in the photo they should be angled so they are shot from the side, and they should be open, minimize jewellry (rings, watches, bracelets) it can make the hands look stubbier, and mens hands should be closed, not tight fists but loosely closed. If you look back at Yousef Karsh, there is hardly a portrait he took that didn't include the hands of his subject, they can be an important part of the image. Advice I have been given – if women’s hands are in the photo they should be angled so they are shot from the side, and they should be open, minimize jewellry (rings, watches, bracelets) it can make the hands look stubbier, and mens hands should be closed, not tight fists but loosely closed.

If you look back at Yousef Karsh, there is hardly a portrait he took that didn’t include the hands of his subject, they can be an important part of the image.

]]> By: Russ O'Connell http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214750 Russ O'Connell Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:53:04 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214750 I let the hands do what they want, at times they are the most interesting thing to photgraph. Elderly hannds holding a rosery, playing an instrument, or just sitting there can be extremely graphic, and emotional. At times I'll pose the hands on a dark background, and shop them to bring out the aging and wrinkles. In a portrait, if the face is the focus, your eyes are not usually drawn to the hands, look at your framing and then worry about what to do with them. I let the hands do what they want, at times they are the most interesting thing to photgraph. Elderly hannds holding a rosery, playing an instrument, or just sitting there can be extremely graphic, and emotional. At times I’ll pose the hands on a dark background, and shop them to bring out the aging and wrinkles. In a portrait, if the face is the focus, your eyes are not usually drawn to the hands, look at your framing and then worry about what to do with them.

]]> By: Timmy Burciaga http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-214740 Timmy Burciaga Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:06:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-214740 Kara, as one who has shot many weddings, I always speak with the family beforehand to determine what they want, and then make a list, this issue could have been pointed out to the photographer. We are photographers, not mind readers, I don't know who Aunt Martha is, tell me if you want photos of her and the kids. As far as hands, if above the belly fingers composed in a upward position looks nice, if at the belly or below a cupped look works better. Kara, as one who has shot many weddings, I always speak with the family beforehand to determine what they want, and then make a list, this issue could have been pointed out to the photographer. We are photographers, not mind readers, I don’t know who Aunt Martha is, tell me if you want photos of her and the kids. As far as hands, if above the belly fingers composed in a upward position looks nice, if at the belly or below a cupped look works better.

]]> By: dOnk http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-213473 dOnk Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:51:50 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-213473 After reading this article I checked some of my shots and it's true. Hands and fingers can tell if a person is relaxed or not. Thanks! =D After reading this article I checked some of my shots and it’s true. Hands and fingers can tell if a person is relaxed or not. Thanks! =D

]]> By: Carine Fortsch http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-213437 Carine Fortsch Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:30:11 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-213437 I am our school`s photographer and especially, when photographing teenagers it is quite a challenge to get them to not show signs with their hands. There is always a joker or two who loves to do something silly with his/her hands. And then... the photos at the dances. It so often happens that the boys stand behind the girls and embrace them. Watch those hands!!!! They tend to stray without anyone noticing. I am our school`s photographer and especially, when photographing teenagers it is quite a challenge to get them to not show signs with their hands. There is always a joker or two who loves to do something silly with his/her hands. And then… the photos at the dances. It so often happens that the boys stand behind the girls and embrace them. Watch those hands!!!! They tend to stray without anyone noticing.

]]> By: Erik Kerstenbeck http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/comment-page-1#comment-213406 Erik Kerstenbeck Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:40:39 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-pose-hands-in-portraits/#comment-213406 Hi Here is my attempt with a bottle of Champagne and a Trash The Dress session http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/le-reve/ Hi

Here is my attempt with a bottle of Champagne and a Trash The Dress session

http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/le-reve/

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