Overview
Just as scaling is important for your team individuals, posing for individuals is also very important. Even though Next Gen uses face detection for centering and all graphics go through quality control, individual graphics like memory mates are created through an automated process that requires posing to be balanced and controlled. In this article, we'll review how to get the best poses out of your athletes for use with Next Gen.
Balanced Posing
- If you were to make a line from pixel edge to pixel edge on your image, the best practice is to have your subject’s face in the center. An unbalanced pose will result in an off-center crop on your final image.
Consider Full-Length vs. Three-Quarter
- Next Gen offers cropped designs, either full-length or three-quarter, and these crops will determine what poses will look best in the final graphic. For this reason, you should decide which crop you will choose before photographing the job to ensure that your subjects hit poses you know will work best in the final image.
⚠ Important: In each Photo Job, you must choose EITHER full-length OR Three-Quarter poses; at this time, it is not possible to mix and match within a job.
Know Your Products
- Knowing the products that you intend to sell will also help you decide what poses to have your subjects do. Some poses don’t look right on certain products, so it’s best to avoid them when possible.
Pick a Pose
- We highly recommend using pick-a-pose-boards, simply a print displayed at your shoot that gives subjects options for poses. Since you select these poses and only include poses you know will work on your graphics and products. You’ll be able to give the customer the choice of a pose they like while at the same time, you will be able to control the quality of the final output.
Square Up
All cameras have an in-camera bubble level. Once you’re set up, it’s a good idea to turn this on momentarily to ensure your camera is not crooked. This will save you from having to straighten each image before uploading it for editing.
The Takeaway
Achieve great individual shots by focusing on balanced, centered poses. Decide on full-length or three-quarter crops based on your design, considering the final products. Use pick-a-pose boards for customer choice and maintain a level camera for easy editing.