Monday, August 1, 2011

Pose For School Portraits

Posing for school portraits may seem simple, but many of us are still dissatisfied when our photographs are developed, process and printed. There can often be a great deal of pressure leading up to photo day at school and this only contributes to anxiety surrounding pose for a good school portrait picture. After all, these pictures are important, as they will be used for academic purposes for the entire length of the school year and may likely be the only image that will represent you as a student. Not to worry, there are a few things that can be done to help you achieve a stunning school portrait.


Instructions


1. Groom yourself. You know when picture day is coming, so you have time to prepare for it. students are often alerted weeks or even months in advance of when this day will be, so mark it on the calendar if you’re likely to forget it. Clean yourself up a bit. Make sure you brush your teeth and hair, style and accessorize accordingly if desired, and remember to wash your face--natural oils on the skin can create an unsightly, reflective appearance when captured on film.


2. Practice your pose. Standing or sitting in front of a mirror, practice relaxing the muscles in your face, and smiling naturally. Determine your most flattering angle for facial positioning by slowly turning your head slightly to either side, alternating with facing directly ahead. You may also wish to tilt your head up and down very slightly. Once you have found the position you find to be the most flattering, practice holding that position for five or ten seconds so that you become familiar with it. most school portraits are shot from the mid-torso up, if not higher; the student’s face is the most important part of the photograph.


3. Listen to the instructions of the school photographer on portrait day, sitting or standing in the designated area. Next, assume your practiced pose. Remember to breathe evenly and stay relaxed. There is nothing to be nervous about because you are ready for the portrait. Smile--no forced grins here, just be natural and let yourself shine through as your pose for the school portrait.







Tags: school portrait, most flattering, school portraits, your head, your pose