Feet Up approach to Portraiture Photography

Guide to portraiture photography- Joe Zeltsman’s Tutorial

 

 When I started my journey in photography, I was lucky to stumble upon Joe Zeltsman’s online tutorial about how to pose men, women and children and large groups. Its been some time ago and I can not find the tutorial online but KF Photography was able to find in an archive of his portraiture techniques and his original images that he posted to show examples.

 I do not in anyway own anything or make claims to the link I am providing for Joe Zeltsman's Tutorial.

 I read this online and ever since, I have used these techniques to photography portraits. I recommend to you all while you can still find his original words and photos to take time and read this!

 Thank you KF Photography for providing this information that we can pass along to other photographers, it’s those who arrived before us that help us continue teach the world.

 

I always, ALWAYS use the feet up approach to start posing my subjects. On location or in the studio, the technique stays with me. I have had coordinators joke and call this feet up position, “pageant feet”. I really wish you would all stop making that comment; it’s hard for my clients to take the next steps seriously. Tell a bunch of groomsmen “pageant feet” and watch them go into the biggest group of uncooperation you have ever seen! So, thank you wedding coordinators for making a bunch of men who already hate to be dressed up, feel even more uncomfortable.

 I have guys who seem to fight me on the “C” shape pose for men that fits them the best in showcasing masculinity. They seem to think standing stoic and square to the camera is the best way and only way. Then when I present the online proof album, their mother’s and brides choose the pose I created verses the one they wanted to do. This is just ANOTHER reason among many to choose a professional seasoned photographer for your photography needs.

 Why do I use the “feet up” approach to portrait photography? It allows me to keep my subject in one spot. It stops shuffling of the feet therefore, stops them from moving around and losing the composition. It helps tremendously in group portraits.

 

Why does this matter so much to me? Let me set up the scenario.

 

On location at a park or garden:

You have 1 person to photograph. Among you are obstacles. Trees, power lines, people walking around, cars and sunlight to name just a few. It is a good practice to always evaluate your background. You do not want a tree coming out of someone’s head or unsightly power lines or cars in the background. This will distract from your over all composition. It pushes the eyes of the viewer right to the object that isn’t appealing to the eye.

Sometimes you have a great background and can place your subject’s head in front of such obstacle to cover it up, like for instance a car. If you place your subject using the feet up technique you can then tell them to turn in any direction and they will twist at the torso and the feet stay in place, so will the general placement of the head, even using “C” Shape or “S” Shape poses for men and women.

 

In The Studio:

 You have to photograph a group, helps to use this technique to keep them from moving and since your lights (if you are using strobe, etc) are at angles. You want to keep the light the same, if a subject(s) shift; you will notice a difference in how the light hits everyone.

 I have a studio but I do not have as much room to work as I would on location. It’s about CONTROL!

 My opinion is, that it’s best to control what you can and make the things that you cant work for you or in most cases eliminate the problems.

 

What is “C” shape and “S” Shape? I have already covered this in an older blog post. You can find this section HERE.

“C’’ Shape is best to showcase masculinity for men. It keeps their shoulder in a firm male looking position with out their heads being posed femininely.

 “S” Shape is best for women, called the Aphrodite pose. It allows the curves of a woman to become more sensual. Women are physically shaped, regardless of sexual orientation to be the more vulnerable of the human species.

 

 These are the three things I start with always when it comes to posing men and women. I will not write another tutorial on how to pose men and women. I will after you have taken initiative to read this article, briefly go over why I do what I do, when posing children and big groups.

 Again, these are guides to help you find what is pleasing for you and your subject, art in any of its forms have no boundaries! Enjoy finding your own voice.

So, I’ll let you get to the article here about J.Zeltsman’s techniques for posing people in portraiture. I strongly urge you to read this in its entirety, I will benefit you tremendously.

 http://blog.kitfphoto.com/Zeltsman/chapter-01.html