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Human beings and their cultures have a perennially focused attention on the female body as a source of aesthetic pleasure, sexual attraction, fertility, and reproduction.

Female body shape or figure is the cumulative product of a woman’s skeletal structure and the quantity and distribution of muscle and fat on the body. There are, and have been, wide differences on what should be considered an ideal or preferred body shape both for attractiveness and for health reasons. These have varied among cultures simultaneously. As with most physical traits, there is a wide range of normality of female body shapes.

The female body occurs in a range of shapes. The female figure is typically narrower at the waist than at the bust and hips and usually has one of four basic shapes: banana, pear, apple, or hourglass. The bust, waist, and hips are called inflection points and the ratios of their circumferences define these basic shapes. Usually the size and shape of the bust area will depend on the person’s weight and height.

Types of shapes

Independent of fat percentage, weight, or width, female body shapes are categorized into one of four elementary geometric shapes, though there are very wide ranges of actual sizes within each shape:

Apple (triangle downward)

Apple shaped women have broader shoulders compared to their narrower hips. Apple shaped women tend to have slim legs/thighs while the abdomen and chest look larger compared to the rest of the body. Fat is mainly distributed in the abdomen, chest, and face.

Pear, spoon or bell (triangle upward)

The hip measurement is greater than the bust measurement. The distribution of fat varies, with fat tending to deposit first in the buttocks, hips, and thighs. As body fat percentage increases, an increasing proportion of body fat is distributed around the waist and upper abdomen. The women of this body type tend to have a relatively larger rear, robust thighs, and a smaller bosom.

Hourglass shape. (triangles opposing, facing in)

The hip and bust are almost of equal size with a narrow waist. Body fat distribution tends to be around both the upper body and lower body. This body type enlarges the arms, chest, hips, and rear before other parts, such as the waist and upper abdomen.

A study of the shapes of over 6,000 women, carried out by researchers at the North Carolina State University circa 2005, found that 46% were banana (rectangular), just over 20% pear, just under 14% apple, and 8% hourglass. Another study has found that the average woman’s waistline had expanded by six inches since the 1950s and that today’s women are taller and have bigger busts and hips than those of the 1950s.

The awareness of posing and its importance

Great artists have always founded their idealistic depictions of the human form on the subtleties of posing. The human body is responsible for the vast majority of interpersonal communication, far outweighing the power of the word and tone of voice. It’s only natural, then, that artists can tell a lot about the figure they are rendering through the positioning of their body.

However, intermediate level models and photographers often lack an awareness of posing and its importance. This oversight is also the primary reason so many photographers’ images never see the publishing light of day. The sole motivation for photographing the female form must be to capture feminine beauty at its highest level. This is when the importance of knowing how to pose becomes essential to any photographer or model.

There are certainly elements that contribute to constructing a perfect image, whether it’s lighting, posing, model, location… or the photographer! All elements need to work seamlessly and harmoniously. Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, an image is only as powerful as its frailest element.

In the world of publishing, you will find the job doesn’t always go to the best photographer, but it often goes to the most reliable.”

There is no substitute for diligence, preparation, and perseverance. A well trained mind and honed skills are your best weapons against your critics and detractors. Your knowledge and confidence must be your strength if you are to succeed. There will be many who will say you will never make it as well as moments when you may doubt your own abilities. At times such as these, the only thing that will matter and help you survive is the unshakeable belief that your work has merit and deserves to be seen. It is this belief in oneself that will keep you going long after others have thrown up their hands and admitted defeat.

We photographers face challenges every day but one of the most often overlooked facets of the job is posing our subject. Regardless of how experienced the model who steps in front of your lens may be, it’s up to you to make sure that her posing and flawless body form performs to your clients’ (or industry’s) expectations. As a photographer, you, not the model, are in the hot seat and you need to give the proper guidance when it comes to posing. Otherwise you can expect your images will come up short. It’s time for you to brush up on your model-posing skills because your team is not only depending on you but so are your peers and clients. There are ground rules, rules to be broken, and new ones yet to be made! Get yourself ready because model posing and form is what beauty is really all about. “While sculptors and painters have the advantage of being able to modify imperfections in their model’s pose with the stroke of a brush or chisel, photographers must coach the performance out of their subject to pass the intended message onto the viewer.”

Posing is an art form language on its own and is well understood by less than 5% of all working models. One can be born with ability to feel the body language and portray his or her body in various ways as if it was a beautiful dance or a continuous performance and display the perfection seen only among few and selected individuals.

This art form keeps driving the photography industry from fashion to glamour and everything else between when models are involved. Since the early times, before cameras become popular, the grand masters of the brush and canvas emulated the human form and shapes to create drama or illustrate joy and sexuality by painting shadows and highlighting areas which which are today recognized by photographers, fashion houses, magazine editors, and anybody who specializes in illustrative art forms.

Who are the people who recognize the so called “human form” (beautiful poses) and is it important that it should be noticed? If you have ever seen the selection draft for a ballet, professional runway shows, or for any serious photography collections, then you already know the answer. But those who wonder, “What’s the big deal? As long as the models are beautiful, who cares?” should take a seat and carefully read what I am about to explain!

A great example is figure skating where motion and form is everything when it comes to scoring points by judges who look at the skaters’ performance, body form, and ability to portray the beauty and form in various ways. This is the also the ultimate goal also among top photographers and modeling agencies who seek that perfect model who can pose and know her body from her head to her toes. This can be actually a very rare find so if and when you do find one, you will quickly understand the value of posing talent and the monetary price associated with that ability the same way the top agencies and photographers do.

Then there are the hands! I am sure you’ve heard models ask something like, “What should I do with my hands?” Hands are also part of a pose and models body. Beautiful hand posing is a part of the complete pose and if not done correctly it just ruins the entire pose. It’s all in the little details.

Here in this book you will find several hand gesture poses that should get you started

Why is posing so important? Beauty alone should be enough .. or not!

The belief among amateur photographers has always been that sex appeal is the most important factor when creating a photograph. And rightfully so as we all appreciate a beautiful model who oozes sex appeal. However, if you choose to reach farther in your photography career beyond being the average-Joe who impresses his Facebook friends and close circle buddies who will applaud almost anything you post. But, take your catch to an industry professional whose job is to choose or cut models on a daily basis and you will find more rejection than acceptance! For example, take your car with beautiful lines and park between a row of Ferraris and other beautifully designed vehicles and you will soon realize that no matter how good of a deal you got on your set of wheels, it does not matter because nobody cares.

This is visual business! This is photography! Beauty, shape, and form is everything! (Assuming that you are shooting models)”

When you start recognizing the small differences that give your model that extra look, that look that the industry demands in today’s publishing environment, only then may you start asking for recognition for yourself and your work. You will also realize that finding clients and money may become easier than before. All this because you chose to elevate your level of artistic vision which so many choose to ignore. There are many that believe that models should never be posed. That is absolutely correct assuming that they have the body language and can deliver.

These models are the ones who will be soon snatched up by the top agencies who have recognized the look and the talent this model may posses. Often agencies also develop models for a long period of time in hopes that all the stars will line up and that the young protégée will follow the money path.

Just few days ago one of the top agencies sent me a model to see. She was super young with zero experience and as scared as a deer caught in the headlights. But when I asked her to walk across the room and back, her body language lit up the entire space and she naturally transformed to something that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. My first comment in awe was, “Can you do that again?” And she did without knowing if she did well or not.”

She just walked a little as she does everyday and that’s all there was. Her movement, looks, and natural body language are exactly what has brought her to USA from Brazil where she was discovered by a top agency model scout just because of her ability with movement and form. This is one of the specialities besides the looks that photographers like myself look endlessly and is rarely found.

Many of you out there don’t agree because it should be all about the photography and not about the money. I voluntarily join this belief and group of individuals who think this way. I have always believed that we should do photography for the love of art instead! And if you are good at it, the money will then find you. But this will only happen if you are willing and able to deliver the demands of your clients and the industry.

1. Choosing the wrong models
2. Failing to understand “human form” suitable posing per category
3. Marketing themselves and how to get their work seen by the right people
4. Not knowing the basic technical aspects like lighting and composition
5. Having no style and not knowing how to isolate style categories
6. Not being able to satisfy the photography market’s needs
7. Choosing not to learn, assuming that they deserve better
8. Limited knowledge in technical and practical experience
9. Lack of originality and creativity

Some of the jobs that I have been hired to do are not always to my liking. That’s just everyday life for a working photographer. Not all the models are my type either. They don’t know the poses or have the look that clients would always like. But one thing is certain, I make sure that all this happens because that’s why I got hired in the first place. The client automatically assumes that I am able to pull it off and ensure that the posing and the final results are good enough to be in any top publication and meet the standards of the industry.

So what’s in it for you in this article and why did I write it?

Well, I often hear people say, “You cannot make somebody do something if they don’t know how!” And they never will know how unless they choose to educate themselves first. But before you take action ask yourself, “Why do you want to do model photography in first place?” This answer should be a great place to start finding answers to your questions. And never let satisfaction become a cozy state of mind. Always strive for more!

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