Model Posing Tips: Foot Posing

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Model Posing Tips: Foot Posing

Thursday, July 9th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Although many would say that the most vital aspect of any good fashion shot is the model’s face, in reality, it is an intricate combination of fine details that make up the composition of the shot. From face to feet, no part of the posing model must detract from the final shot. Photography is about lines and angles, and a poorly placed foot or awkwardly cocked ankle can ruin an other great shot.

The foot pivots on the ankle, rolling in and out, up and down. A common aspect of leg posing is moving the ankle from side to side. This is best seen from the front view of the foot. The ankle begins at the starting point of directly over the toes, and “cocks” in toward the other foot, or out away from the other foot.

There are many different terms to describe how the ankle moves. Models and photographers tend to refer to the action as “rolling” in (toward the other foot) or “rolling” out (away from the other foot). The various points between the extremes of in and out can convey many different concepts. Each of the three main points does have its own significance and care should be taken to refrain from creating too much of an angle because the break interrupts the flow of the line of the leg.

When the ankle is rolled in, meaning it is cocked toward the other foot, the line is a graceful curve. This lends an air of femininity and sophistication. It is considered a very elegant foot pose, particularly when the cocked foot is placed slightly in front of the other foot. The heel of the forward foot is placed at the arch of the rear foot with the toes of the rear foot turned slightly out. This is a very basic foot pose. When the right foot leads, it is sometimes referred to as a “right hemisphere,” whereas when the left foot leads it is called a “left hemisphere.” The pose can also be modified by sliding the front foot to the front or side a few inches.

Arrogance, haughtiness and strength can be conveyed by keeping the ankle straight so that it is directly in line with the foot. This is a strong foot pose in the fashion world and is typically reserved for less feminine garments. It may be considered somewhat of a masculine pose as well, but it is used by commercial models when the ultra feminine style is not desired.

When the ankle is rolled out, it is usually to convey a casual air or immaturity. It is also often used in more high fashion shots for a funky, chic impact. If you go with this pose, though, do so sparingly. It is not aesthetically pleasing in many types of shots. It all depends on what you are modeling, the tone of the set and the image that you want to convey.

The foot itself also moves in a fan like arch. Whether standing or sitting, ankle and foot placement are important. When standing, the model typically has her weight supported on one foot, the “basic foot,” and has a foot in front or to the side, the “show foot.” For instance, for a right hemisphere, the basic foot would be the left foot because it is bearing the model’s weight while the show foot would be the right foot. In this pose, the toes can be moved at various angles to the body, straight ahead, slightly to the right or at a 90 degree angle to the right.

While the right hemisphere and left hemisphere are considered to be the basic model stance, the starting point for other poses or even walking, another somewhat neutral position of the feet is side by side. From there, the toes can go anywhere from pointed in toward the other foot to pointed out.

Although the range of motion of the foot is rather wide, 90 degrees in either direction, it is not often used to the extreme. Usually, the foot is either pointing straight ahead, in the neutral position, or slightly fanned out.

When the foot is fanned in so that the toes are pointing inward, the effect is pigeon toed which is usually associated with childishness or playfulness. It can also indicate shyness, awkwardness or inexperience.

When the foot is fanned outward to an extreme degree, the effect is generally that of casual or unsophisticated. This is a popular pose for teen models, particularly when conveying a rocker image or a nonchalant tone.

It is important that a model understands that each part of her body conveys a certain image, tone or mood, whether tilting her head or posing her foot. Because of this, the model posing should have a strong grasp of how to execute the poses and how to control the various parts of her body to create the clean lines that are desired by photographers.

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