How can I reduce double chins and shiny skin in portraits without making subjects uncomfortable?
Asked 1/10/2012
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2 answers
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When shooting portraits, I sometimes struggle with a subject’s double chin and shiny skin reflecting the flash, even when I use diffused light. I’ve tried asking subjects to move their head slightly forward and wiping the face, but that doesn’t always work and can make people feel self-conscious.
What posing, camera-angle, or lighting adjustments help minimize a double chin and facial shine in a comfortable, flattering way?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
10
For dealing with the double chin, there's some excellent advice here but generally you're trying to get the model to elongate their neck and stretch that skin a little.
- Tell them to lean over their waist/belt and often times they'll stretch their neck a little too.
- The other thing to do is to put their shoulders more toward the camera and have them turn their head toward you. This has the effect of stretching that double chin out.
The worst thing you can do for a double chin is shoot them straight face forward.
In regards to the shine, you've got a few options:
- Avoid making it more wet/damp, that's only going to increase the reflection:
- Carry give them a small towel to wipe with, it shouldn't be an embarrassing thing. Keep it on you and make it obvious that you have it for that because 'hey, it just happens'.
- In worst cases, a little baby powder will dull it up. Just a little dab and a toweling and they should be ready to rock.
- Fix it in post. For a small shiny dot here or there, its often really easy to use a little post processing to airbrush it off. People want to look their best, don't be afraid to Photoshop portraits a bit as long as you're being honest with it.
Originally by user1917. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1917
14y ago
0
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For double chins, avoid a straight-on, face-forward pose. More flattering options are to have the subject turn their shoulders slightly toward the camera and then turn their head back toward you, or ask them to lean slightly from the waist so the neck extends naturally. If that still feels awkward, change your camera position: shooting from a slightly higher angle or having the subject look a bit upward is often more comfortable and can reduce the chin area without forcing an unnatural pose. In some cases, clothing, hands, or props can help hide it.
For shiny skin, don’t use a wet tissue—adding moisture usually increases specular reflections. Instead, have a dry towel or similar blotting option available so the subject can gently remove oil. Keep it casual and routine so it doesn’t feel embarrassing.
If small issues remain, light retouching in portrait-editing software can help smooth skin while keeping a natural look, as long as it’s used subtly.
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