posing to avoid double-chin

[suzyjazz]

A friend and her husband and baby daughter are coming over for photos next weekend. She still has some pregnancy weight and wants to avoid looking like she has a double chin. What poses do you recommend to avoid this? She has some photos she hates, so I asked her to bring those (to avoid doing the same thing). She sent me a couple of poses she found online (tiny thumbnails though). They are head and shoulders shots (of the parents) where they are looking down at the baby and they're tilted at about a 45 degree angle from the camera. I would think generally tilting the head down should be avoided, but I guess I will have to see how it looks. I also got an idea of having them hold the baby slightly up in the air somehow and I could go up to the second floor and shoot over the stair railing. I think shooting from above is supposed to be slimming. I bet someone could come up with a really fun shot but I'm not sure I can!

Please post any examples of your own that you recommend! Thanks.

[EMG]

Like you said, shooting from a higher angle works. Having the head rotated 45 degrees (or more) from the body will help as well. Supporting the chin with their hands is another option - careful, it can get corny fast though. Using a 70+ zoom and being further back from the subjects will help ensure slim contours as well. And sure you can! Just do it and have fun!

[JohnRushing]

Having her protrude her head forward a little will help also. Just have her kind of extend her whole head forward a little and at the same time extend her neck upward, not sure how to word that so i hope that makes sence. Another thing is avoid having her tilt her head or chin down because it will only make the double chin more prominant. One other way is to draw the viewers attention away from her neck and toward her eyes or hands. Turning the shoulders slightly away from the camera and turning her head to face the camera Like EMG said will also help but be sure not to turn her head so far that her nose blocks part of her eye or throws an shadow across her eye. Shadows are something else that can help if you get them to work under her chin, but on the other hand it can also make the double chin look worse if they are not watched.

[suzyjazz]

Thank you for the replies so far! I'm glad they want head and shoulders shots because that means I can use my 85mm lens or 70-200. There would not be enough room for full length shots at those focal lengths (in my living room). The baby will be the focal point so I think that will help. Keep them coming!

[bfphoto]

Like John said, I use to say move your head forward like a turtle moving his head out of his shell. The idea is to stretch the neck skin.

BF

[FreshPhotography]

Shooting from a higher angle, looking almost down helps. This is what I do when I take photographs of myself. As you look up, the angle hides the chin.

[JohnRushing]

How did the photos go?

[suzyjazz]

It hasn't happened yet. It's Saturday. The same day we're supposed to have furniture delivered. Busy day coming up.

[Gateruner]

Here is a thought and it may not be worth reading but here it is. Could you lay the baby down on the floor on a nice blanket or something. Then have the parents posed laying beside the child on their elbows looking up somewhat. Seems like in order to see the baby and be a part of the shot they are going to have to bring the chin up which should stretch the skin flat. You can shoot from above in this scene and really dont have to get higher than kneeling. Anyone think this could work. It isnt something I have actually tried but in my minds eye it seems like it would work.

[suzyjazz]

Originally Posted by Gateruner

Here is a thought and it may not be worth reading but here it is. Could you lay the baby down on the floor on a nice blanket or something. Then have the parents posed laying beside the child on their elbows looking up somewhat. Seems like in order to see the baby and be a part of the shot they are going to have to bring the chin up which should stretch the skin flat. You can shoot from above in this scene and really dont have to get higher than kneeling. Anyone think this could work. It isnt something I have actually tried but in my minds eye it seems like it would work.

I ended up putting a couch cushion under the backdrop and they laid the baby on there, which was fine, but I didn't pose the people very well. I kind of blew it on those shots. They weren't comfortable on the floor (it was wood not carpet). Were you thinking they would be on their stomachs and then prop up their chins on their elbows? I'll have to think about this for next time.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll post my shots in People in a few days.

[rams]

what you might have tried is putting her in as a front subject, tilt her head to left with hand under chin, hubby in back and take the shot at a 45 degree angle from the side...it at least extends her neck without having her look like a turtle

[suzyjazz]

Here are the results.
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=47340