I am becoming more and more in love with BEAUTY work and headshots. I love great quality makeup achieved by professional Makeup Artists and even Hair Stylists, coupled with a fantastic Photographer that understands Beauty Lighting!

For Beauty Shots and headshots, concentration is more on the hair, makeup, and facial expression, but I adore when people work their hands into play, especially models who pose their hands properly!

If you are wondering how to pose your hands properly, without making them look awkward or manly, instead of flat hands, or completely spread fingers, resort to what I've always called "The Waterfall" in which you curl your fingers in slightly, at staggered lengths...pinky curled in the tightest, then ring finger slight less curled in, middle finger even less curled in and finally the pointer finger sticking out the most. Here are some examples where strong hair, makeup, expression and "The Waterfall" come into play!!

Photographer: Fred Prose
MUA/Hair: Kristine Frank

Photographer: Fred Prose
MUA/Hair: Kristine Frank

Photographer: Fred Prose
MUA/Hair: Kristine Frank

Photographer: MLP Studios(Michael Luna)
Makeup: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: MLP Studios(Michael Luna)
Makeup: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: Bobbie Osborne
MUA: Libby Nachtrieb

Photographer: Dave Kelley (Studio Seventy3)
MUA: Kerri Metcalf
Hair Stylist: Vanessa Ripoyla

Photographer: Ed Wilson
MUA/Hair: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: James Robertson
MUA/Hair: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: James Robertson
Hair/MUA: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: Kelly Ealy
Mua: Natasha Newhouse

Modeling 101 Tips & Tricks

Pointing Your Toes: If you are posing for full length images barefoot, you will want to be sure your toes are pointed for all poses. It creates a seamless, and feminine line for your legs, making them appear longer. Flat feet look masculine and aren't pleasing to the eye in a photograph!

High Heels: Wearing heels tightens the leg and butt muscles as well as elongate the legs. You can also make a fashion statement of course with High Heels as they are the perfect accessory and completion to any wardrobe as there are SO many styles and colors!

Remove Hair Ties From Wrist: I'm guilty of it myself on a rare occasion, but no one wants to see a hair tie on your wrist in images. It doesn't look like an accessory, it looks like a hair tie, especially the ones with the metal pieces. They also create wrist lines. 

Stretch Your Neck: By stretching your neck, you elongate it as well. You don't want to lose your neck in images, as it makes it appear as your head is sitting on your shoulders. 

Practice Posing: Practice makes perfect! Become more comfortable posing by sitting or standing while posing in front of a full length mirror. This gives you an idea of the poses you like, what looks good, as well as help you learn great angles for your body and face! You can even try mimicking poses from magazine photographs! The more you do this, the more comfortable and versatile you will be on camera!

C-Curve and S-Curves: These are 2 different categories of feminine posing, that are meant to accentuate the curves on the body in images (as well as real life). The S-Curve is simply posing your body from head to toe forming a slight curve that resembles an S. The C-Curve is the same; forming the shape of a C with your body, typically by arching your back. Examples of both below!

Example of an S-Curve
Model: Teresa Myers
Photographer: Kelvin Leung
MUA/Hair: Cindy Wong

Another Example of The S-Curve
Photographer: David Dwyer

An Exaggerated Example of a C-Curve
Photographer: Wiz Of Oz Photography

Here is One interpretation of a C-Curve
Photographer, Hair, MUA: Briana Robertson
Designer Dress: Natalie

This could be a combination of both S-Curve and C-curve!
Photographer: Michael Luna

Artistic Modeling

Image by Harlequin's Photography

There are MANY different modeling genres to choose from, or be extremely versatile and try to excel in as many as you can. Some examples of modeling genres are Fashion, Glamour, Beauty, Artistic, Alternative, Nude among many more! 

Image by Wiz of Oz Photography

Image by Ted Scanon

I find I get to be my most creative in artistic shoots. One of the great things about artistic shoots, is that the images are not concentrated on your face, or makeup, or clothes, so MANY types of models, tiny or plus size, tall or short can model for artistic imagery! 

Artistic modeling calls for the model to know his or her body well, enabling him or her to have an arsenal of poses, that accentuate lines, curves and angles.