| Doug Box's Guide to Posing for Portrait Photographers |  | Author: Douglas Allen Box
Brand: Amherst Media
Category: Book
List Price: $34.95
Buy New: $20.84
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Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 14,612
Media: Paperback
Pages: 128
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4
MPN: 1878
ISBN: 1584282487
Dewey Decimal Number: 778
EAN: 9781584282488
ASIN: 1584282487
Publication Date: March 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In this book, acclaimed wedding and portrait photographer Doug Box provides a posing primer, then moves on to simple lessons that present an image or series of images, along with the precise strategy he used to create each look. Included are examples for creating dynamic, leading lines to keep the viewer engaged in the portrait, strategies for linking the shapes created in a group portrait to create a cohesive feel, and the use of natural elements to help build the desired posing concept in location shoots. Methods for posing each part of the body and minimizing "problem areas" are covered in detail. The visually intensive approach used in this book makes it a perfect reference that allows readers to quickly re-create a portrait look that suits their client or subject grouping, regardless of their proficiency in technical posing.
FEATURES: - How posing and composition are interconnected—and how to combine them to best effect in your portraits
- Advice for posing women, men, brides and grooms, kids, teens, and families
- Techniques for designing effective group portraits
- Choosing the best focal length and camera height for each pose
- Using activity-based posing to create more dynamic images
- Corrective posing techniques for addressing concerns your subject may have about their appearance
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 23
 Some good information, but overall a bit thin August 29, 2010
rawdul (New York, NY United States)
I found the first quarter of the book to contain some good information, e.g. about C and S pose and the importance of positioning the talent's feet, classic views (full face, two-thirds, profile), and classic portrait lengths. The author shows how to obtain "classic" posed portraits - which to me look like as if the talent is forced into an uncomfortable and unnatural position. What I didn't like so much is that the book often isn't very clear (e.g. I had to search the web for a better explanation before I understood the C and S pose). The images aren't very didactic either - to keep with the poses: The picture explaining the position of the feet clearly shows a shadow falling to the left, but the light actually comes from the left also - confusing at best. The text then goes on to explain the position of the shoulders and head - but the image only shows the legs. Not good teaching. The remaining three thirds of the book are written very general, e.g. "my portrait require good lighting", and feel a bit like the author had to fill the pages to make it a book. I am also not a big fan of the author's self advertising - I've already paid him for the book, so why am I now harassed to go and check out his lighting products? Overall, the book contains some valuable information about posing and how to achieve a classic portrait studio look, however, I think there is quite a bit room to improve and expand on topics.
 One of best in terms of examples of good and bad August 11, 2010
B. Stenman
Most photo books show only the good pictures and not the ones that turned out badly, but it is from the mistakes that people learn. Doug Box shows people posed in the manner that most photographers will do and then shows how to improve upon the basic pose to provide a picture that is much more flattering to the subject(s).
In particular I like that Doug shows obese people as this is something that is increasingly found with young and old people today in the United States. It is hard to make a slim figured person look bad but these are often the models used to illustrate poses in the majority of books that are produced.
Doug recommends approaches that will work much of the time and I suspect that he expects people to have the good sense to deviate when it clearly is not working with a particular person in a particular situation. That is where people needlessly confuse themselves and get worked up as to whether to use a "feminine" or "masculine" pose for subjects based solely on gender.
One can only hope that people will use Doug Box's book as an excellent starting point and then go and try out the different approaches with family and friends and develop their own knowledge base to apply to future clients.
Something not mentioned by Doug but an important consideration when dealing with extremely overweight individuals in the outdoors is that they are usually physically limited and this limits the poses one can use significantly. It also affects how a prop, like a park bench, is best used. With a slim couple one might pose them on the bench and photograph them from the front while with a fat couple it is likely to be better to photograph them from the backside of the bench and use the bench as a prop to conceal most of their bulk.
Choice of clothing is also very important, especially with obese people and that is something that needs to be discussed well in advance of the photo session. It is also much more important to have a couple in the same colors so that their bulk is not clearly demarcated as when the women has a light colored top and the man wears a black shirt. The edge of her torso will be quite apparent and difficult to conceal in the pictures. I collect images that I use in a guide I provide couples to help them with their clothing choices as it is nearly impossible to work with some items like a plaid fabric for example and create flattering pictures for them. The subjects rightly rely on the photographer to make them look as good as possible and this is best done with clothing advice and good posing then later trying to use Photoshop to implement fixes after the fact.
Any photographer would be well advised to purchase this book as their introduction to posing but to view the websites of outstanding portrait photographers, like Bill McIntosh and his daughter, the amazing Leslie McIntosh. Using Doug Box's book as a starting point you will better understand why a particular picture does or does not work and how to improve your own pictures.
Worth the money.... June 14, 2010
T. M. Robitaille (Miami)
First of I will say I thought the photography was bad. I'm talking about the actual quality. I expected more from a professional photographer and publisher.
I didn't buy the book for it images though. The content is great. There is a lot of great advice and well worth the read if you want to pose your subjects better. You can always learn more. And for $30 if you pick up one tip it will pay for itself with one client. Simple as that.
Ty Michael Photography
[...]
 Doug Box's Guide to Posing for Portrait Photographers May 19, 2010
R. Heidenrich (So. Calif)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Recived book on time, I have enjoyed reading it and had a lot of techniques that I have started to use. Great book.
At long last! April 17, 2010
Daniel C. Schvart (Ohio, USA)
Hard to believe I never thought to get Doug's books before, especially considering that I've owned and read Barbara's (Box) books and was completely smitten with her style and storytelling abilities. Well, perhaps I should have started with Doug first. Anyone with sincere and dedicated interest in posing advice and philosophy should do themselves the service of reading this! I only wish i would have read it sooner. I've shot portraiture for nearly 15 years, with great results, over 100 weddings and model shoots, corporate and event work, you name it and I feel as though I've cheated myself and my clients, by not having read this LONG time ago. Always good to refresh and take someone else's point of view, because if you think you know it all, then you know nothing at all. No better person to learn from than Mr. Box. I hope to be fortunate enough to attend one of his workshops soon. His style and insight are wonderful and enlightening.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 23
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