Posing Hands
Let’s talk hands. Often one of the hardest parts to pose during a boudoir shoot. Either you are making them do the same thing over and over again, they look stiff, or are just plain distracting to the image. Well, today I thought I would take a minute to discuss hands when posing them near and on the face/head. This is an area that many photographers starting out in boudoir generally skip as it can get a little complicated, so let’s simplify it!
Be sure to read all the way to the bottom to get more info on my upcoming posing workshop!
Hands on the face
When hands are near or on the face there a couple of simple rules to keep in mind - keep them staggered and keep the touch light! I am all about teaching in clear and simple methods and it really does not have to be more complicated than that! So repeat that line over and over again until it sticks - keep hands staggered and keep the touch light.
So what does it mean to keep the hangs staggered? Make sure hands are not on the same level in terms of height. It kills interest in the image and does not create a flow for the eyes to follow when viewing the image.
Keeping the touch light means just that! Don’t ever have the hands completely pressed against the face. You want to make sure only the fingertips are touching. This will soften the hands and fingers and create a more feminine look to the pose. Also, this will ensure that eyebrows or cheeks are never lifted up or pulled down in unflattering ways from the fingers.
Here her hands are on the same level in terms of height which kills interest in the image. It makes the pose look flat. Also the hands and fingers are being pushed agains the skin so much it lifts her cheeks and changes the shape of her face. Remember to keep the touch light!
This image shows the correct way to pose hands! The touch is light with only the fingertips touching her face and her hands are staggered in height. The fingers doe not look forced, overly posed, or stiff.
Hands on the head
Very similar to the face, you want to keep the hands staggered. Having the hands be at the same place on the head almost makes your subject appear to be confused, or suffering from a headache. Definitely not the ideal look for a boudoir shoot! So make sure to stagger the hands!
Like I always say, boudoir is all about creating angles and curves. And hands are part of that equation. Don’t be afraid to use hands to enhance your posing rather than trying to hide them. I hope these two simple and quick tips help you the next time you are shooting!
Don’t forget, if you really want to up your boudoir posing and FULLY understand posing + how to communicate with your client - join me for my in-person workshop happening in Boston on June 3rd. Click the photo below for more info!
