'How to Pose: 101' by Andrew Hester for MyScoop.us.

I was recently approached by Style/Fashion online magazine Myscoop.us to write an article on a photographer's tips to pose for a photograph. Enjoy! Original link to article HERE.

"There are only a few tips a photographer can give to a model or subject in front of their camera.

The first thing to consider when taking a photo is thinking about what you look like once the flash goes off or once you hear the ‘click’.-Relax, the art of photography is based on the natural being of the human body and capturing it in that moment or realness.

Two important things to remember is learning your angles and also learning how to smile with your eyes.

1.The hand-on-the-hip pose has become an extreme go-to pose since the Hollywood red carpet and since runways became open to household viewing. Think about what kind of photo is being taken and go with the natural flow. The hand on the hip pose can be unflattering if done wrong so always beware. It is always safe to stand up straight (with your best side showing, more than likely the side you feel the most natural turning with) with your shoulders squared with your hands naturally down by your side. The one hand lightly on the hip and one hand down by your side can be flattering as well, but the key is to not grabbing your hip as if it’s helping you stand up and so it does not appear that you have broken your back.

The term “giving good face” has been a term way before Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ and is still very helpful today in the art of photography. Everyone gets ready in front of a mirror and double-takes before they leave the house if a photo is taken if they’re going for a night out on the town so just practice in front of the mirror.

2. Learning how to smile with one’s eyes can be a tricky task if it feels more natural to smile with their mouth open. Smiling “with teeth” is okay if it is in moderation and not too over the top. If your mouth is tired from smiling by the end of taking a group of photos then it is going to across as cheesy. Try centering your eyes and with your lips closed, smile just enough to feel the muscles around your cheek move upward. This will ensure a more sophisticated smile without an over the top “cheese” and avoiding the risk of having “deer in the headlight eyes”. Smiling with your eyes will also accentuate your face without stretching to give wrinkles, as in photos where your mouth and teeth are wide open for the shot.

Hope these tips come in handy when you’re on vacation taking casual photos with family and friends, at a Hollywood premiere, ball at the Met or even at an upcoming MyScoop event!"

Flickr.com/awhesterphotography

Birmingham.myscoop.us

NYFW FW11 PART II. - PROENZA, RAG&BONE, & THOM BROWNE.

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FW11.

PROENZA SCHOULER.

Another technicolor dream by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. The FW 2011 presentation showed very bold colors and tribal like prints which the boys told the Times were all produced on a computer. Incorporating black into every look and squared and triangle lines meeting to form...forms on almost every look is very interesting and appealing. Very native in color and form, but also very fitting and flattering. The collection is not afraid of color and statement prints. The fit of the dresses is very attractive with a cross over shoulder to waist fit. The pieces that stand out to me are the velvet tribal printed pants in Looks 23 and 25. The fit is a drop crotch harem fit...AMAZING. Also, the mustard colored waxy like leather trench in Look 19 is perfect. It brings a perfect color to the all black look and is what I hope, a talked about piece and used in numerous editorials next Fall. The Proenza girls are going Native, but not too native... The boys have done it again keeping their aesthetic close and giving a new take to the fashion gone wild look. PERFECT.

RAG & BONE.

Fur varsity jackets, leather kilts, plaid, and STRUCTURED, STRUCTURED, STRUCTURED! Royal-electric like blue and orange, (two of FW11 big color trends) used full on in some looks which gives the last few looks a uniformity to the patterns in the first looks that are more layered. Two interesting aspects to the collection that caught my eye were the Y-lined knee-high socks/half-legging hybrid and the quilted leg-warmer like covers that add to the uniform effect in way of resembling shin guards or knee-pads...fashion shin-guards, if you will. British designers David Neville and Marcus Wainwright give their FW11 a modern collegiate like feel without being too literal. I wish I could get my hands on one of the silver-maroon fur-chested-leather-sleeved varsity jackets in Look 4. AMAZING.

THOM BROWNE.

With Thom Browne's first collection as a Womenswear designer was of course going to accent what he does best. Simple, yet interesting pieces with his signature Americana like red-white-and-blue lines. Very theatrical shapes with an egg-oval waist in coats and oversized eyelashes on every model gives the models female quality since the looks are more androgynous charged rather than leading towards male or female. Thick and luxurious fabrics are covering every look, and the only skin on the models showing is their face and arms. Plaid, wool, and fur...perfect for a fall wardrobe, and what I find perfect about Thom Browne from his previous Menswear and showing now in his Womenswear is that even though the pieces are bigger and stand out more, they are still practical and VERY well made. Where as most people might not see a circle or oval pattern from head to toe flattering, well look again. FW11 Thom Browne. (first collection as a Womenswear designer.) 5 STARS.

Photo credit to STYLE.com & ELLE.com

NYFW FW11 PART I. - MARC, RODARTE, & WANG

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FW11

MARC JACOBS.

The show started on time and with Marilyn Manson blaring. A quilted cylinder and glass floored runway was the scene for the Fall Winter 2011 show. 40's silhouettes and polka-dot hosiery. Small side hats throughout the looks mostly matching the top, bottom, or entire look all together. (A Marc trademark now known to the fashion world,...incorporating hats with looks) Very bold and minimalistic in color, and every piece has a very structured look. Long skirts and high neck lines. The ruffling around the neck gave a lot of the looks a modern Victorian feel if that's even possible. Shoes- the boot-wedge combo is an interesting off set to the very structured patterns and soft fabrics. Marc is always changing and everyone is always watching to see what he does next...and sending out 63 perfectly tailored looks that all have a theme throughout is why Marc Jacobs will continue to stay a front runner in this business.

RODARTE.

With The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, 'Garland's Ruby Slippers' alongside twisters and wheat fields on their FW mood board...(which I got a glance of on Tumblr before the show yesterday) I really did not know what to expect. A full look in ruby and a flowing wheat field print on the bottom hem of the skirt is not what I expected, but I have to say it was a refreshing collection all together. If someone wanted to look sexy on the country side and still stay in theme then this collection would be perfect. The Mulleavy sisters have a way with knits and colors...the sweaters in the collection have a block of color all adding a side to shape a square. The natural waist accent is present in most of the more structured looks giving a flattering shape to the pieces. The colors are very calming and neutral, but also very eye-catching with a popping/bright primary red and lilac. Personally, the most intriguing concept of this collection is how the shape of the square is used to frame the figure and complete the pattern of some entire looks.

ALEXANDER WANG.

Fur rimmed sunglasses and quilted cape coats. Alexander Wang is one of those designers who highlights soft and hard materials in his looks. There is an attitude in his work that so interesting...it has to be based on the shape and material because the entire collection consists of mostly black, nude, and gray. Pops of metallics in the shoes and accessories give a playfulness to the all neutral look. My favorite pieces are the glitter-ized pants paired with a fur lined collared jacket and shrunken sweater underneath.-Also, a sleeveless tuxedo-style shirt-with bib under the sheer paired with leather patched black pants with zipper pockets from waist to knee. The accent of the Alexander Wang girl who has sex appeal and also a somewhat boyish taste in style is definitely praised in this collection with sex appeal and practicality all in one. Oh, and did I mention the furry pumps? Enough said. Genius.

Photo credit to : STYLE.com & ELLE.com