43. TURN YOUR SUBJECT AROUND

WHEN YOU’RE ACTIVELY photographing your subject, it’s easy to forget all of your options. Some folks compensate for this by making a shot list, which isn’t a bad idea. When it comes to posing, we get so wrapped up in the subject’s face and front side that we often forget that there are other sides to her body. I’m certainly prone to focusing most of my attention on photographing the subject looking at or approaching the camera.

Turn the subject around to introduce a new perspective to your portraits (Figure 43.1). Photograph your subject from the back using the same framings you would from the front. Have the subject walk away from the camera. Then have her look to her side, providing a thoughtful, less traditional portrait of the subject that, with the right type of light, can convey a whole host of emotions.

Of course, turning your subject around doesn’t mean photographing their backside completely; the portrait may gain value just by turning the subject slightly away from the camera and photographing an over-the-shoulder look (Figure 43.2). This is popular for bridal portraits, especially if the camera is positioned above the subject. Perhaps your subject has an interesting tattoo on the back of one shoulder. This is a great opportunity to turn the subject around and away from the camera while still being able to include her face. When doing this, however, beware of how creases in the neck are created. If you are photographing someone with long hair, it might not be a bad idea to cover the creases up by laying some of it across the shoulder in front of the neck. Additionally, shooting over the shoulder might not be the best look for male subjects, especially when they are looking back toward the camera.

You won’t take all of your portraits of the backside of your subject. However, no matter if they are standing or sitting, lying down or leaning against a wall, it’s always a good idea to see what the other side looks like. It gives you something new to work with, and it also gives the subject another perspective to see and present in their portraits.

43.1 Although you probably don’t want to shoot every one of your portraits from behind the subject, it can be a creative positioning for one or two portraits, especially given the right setting.
ISO 200; 1/2700 sec.; f/4; 55mm

43.2 A classic bridal portrait pose is one in which the subject looks over her shoulder. Although this shot can be made from various angles, the idea is to evoke a fleeting moment, possibly the moment before she walks down the aisle.
ISO 400; 1/50 sec.; f/2.8; 190mm