Customer Reviews

500 Poses for Photographing Women: A Visual Sourcebook for Portrait Photographers

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I have read the three previous reviews and can certainly relate to the mentioned concerns. However, in all fairness, this is clearly marketed as a "VISUAL SOURCEBOOK." I haven't counted the amount of poses actually displayed but there are a lot! Yes, many are of younger models so I am offering a 4 star review because the description of the book should be a little more clear, in my opinion.

Nonetheless, it still is a good sourcebook! I think the previous reviewers feel dupped, I guess. I understand that. So, for anyone interested in purchasing this book....PLEASE READ....

This is a sourcebook! In this publication, you will see many poses to duplicate. I think that you'll get many other ideas as well. Instead of going online to other photography related websites and downloading ideas - LIKE I DO ALL THE TIME - you can use this book for future shoot concepts. There isn't much direction as to why a model was posed like this or that, but I don't think that was the purpose of the book. Yes, there are other books from companies like Amherst that address the WHY's so if that is what you're looking for, then you might be better suited with another book. However, if you're looking for ideas, etc. then give this book a chance.....possibly consider it a coffee table book of ideas....it's actually better than the previous reviews.

I'm a contract copy editor, and one of the books I vetted was this one. I am surprised by the negative reviews. The book is clearly titled a visual source book, and in that role I think it is a fine stimulus. There are lots of photographs of a wide variety of beautifully depicted ladies, admittedly not very many full figured, taken by successful skilled professionals. As a page-through for the subject and photographer to look at together to decide on a portrait direction, it seems excellent. As a book to reside in the photographers' reception area, it can be a helpful complement to photographers' own displays for eliciting the subject's interest.

I found the negative reviews for this book very short-sighted. There is certianly room for one to own a number of books on every aspect of pro shooting. I have other books on posing and lighting and the ideas behind them, and those serve their purpose. But I find the idea of having one book filled with just poses to be quite helpful. If I'm flipping through books or magazines looking for new posing ideas I don't always need an explanation, I want to see something sharp and new that catches my eye. I might not always have time to go through countless websites or lug along a huge stack of books & mags, and with a book like this, it's not necessary. Well done and many beautiful images.

500 Poses for Photographing Women is an ideal working tool for the working photographer. By sampling poses from these accomplished photographers, like Tim Schooler, one can enliven any photo session. I like the fact that the book is mostly visual. That way you can see all the head-and-shoulders poses, for instance, in one place. Or you can examine the different three-quarter-length standing and sitting poses and compare the different effects. If you only adapt 6 or 7 poses from this book into your posing lexicon, it will have definitely been worth the investment.

Its simple, if you like the cover image and would like 500 poses in one book as a reference then buy it.
If you want to know how to set up lights and flash and what to say to models etc, then look elsewhere.

This is what it says on the tin, its a book with 500 poses !

Fantastic reference book for the professional...

Filled with images of women in striking poses, this book for photographers seeking inspiration provides a fine collection of ideas for both studio and location shots, from head shots to full body, and offers many different poses of all kinds of beautiful women. Portrait photographers and libraries catering to them will find this packed with visual references key to composing a great photo.

500 examples are a lot in one book. If you are like me, only browse the picture part by ignoring the text section of photograph books, this is the right choice for you.

Reading this book is about getting ideas of posing, not a "how-to" in lighting, etc. Know what you want first and find the right book for you otherwise you end up in the wrong place and giving the unfair review to a book like this.

Actually the two pages of text portion at the end of this book are concise and very helpful. It's not how much the writing is, it's about the quality of the content.

I recently read this book and I see several plus to this book
1. We need to remember when we study a great painters we look at the work and study them. Rembrant did not leave us diagrams to study.
Remebmer in the Karate Kid, wax on wax off. Look at the poses and body positions and wax on and wax off.
2. The book is good for the senior photographer or as a STARTING point, with a engagement photos then just add the male.
3. This book could be one of several in your personal library, and is this book for everyone no but it does have a lot of merit.
4. I gave this book to some high school photo students and told them that I wanted them to study the photos and learn how to pose. They took the examples and we went over them and they used models of differnt sizes and did well.
5. Think of this book as a special tool in your library of resources

This book by Michelle Perkins is an excellent visual guide for posing women. The images are from some of the most talented photographers around the country and they make it easy to study and emulate.

I read through the few negative reviews on this book and thought they were unfounded. There is more than enough text to clearly describe the beautiful photographs. This book is essential for anyone interested in model photography and contemporary high school senior portraiture.

this is a great visual source for posing women.
It will be a great asset when planning shoots and also to take along to show my model.
Covers headshots through to full body poses.