IronWarrior

Heya everyone,

I hope this is the right place for these...

I've been taking before, after and comparison pictures now for the last 6 months or so and even with some great posing videos, links, etc I have a few problems and was wondering if they are normal and fix themselves with practice or if you maybe have any suggestions on how to help?

It doesn't matter which pose I'm trying to do, I always seem to tilt my head... I've done this ALWAYS whenever I'm taking pictures (not just bodybuilding poses I mean). It of course looks kind of funny and changes my overall appearance - Do you think it's a balance issue or something else that I can't seem to take a photo with my head straight upright?

Another posing question or problem I'm having is spreading my lats in i.e. Double Bicep poses... Especially from there rear I can't seem to 'knowingly' get them out... My wife has been taking the pictures and just doesn't understand yet what to look for or how to help me either. Maybe someone here has a few tips on that as well?

Thanks in advance!
IW

IronBrendan

Post up some pictures!

Regarding the tilted head, do you forget that you do it every time? Make a concious effort to keep your head straight. Make it a mental cue with every pose that you do.

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IronWarrior

Kind of embarrassed but... I just took some pics yesterday as I'm preparing to diet down the next few months and I wanted to take a few 'before' comparison shots... here's an example.. semi-spread back.

Might not be the best example shot but you can clearly see the tilted head.. I did the same on some of my wedding pics and many other pictures I take. I don't notice this and when I intentionally try to 'fix' it, I'll often over-do it Most titled head pics like that I don't even keep though The other two you can see the tilt too, no clue why I do that?

Hiring/Getting someone to help me learn to pose is definitely in my "To do List" for 2008, but if I can fix these few things now, I think that I'll be better prepared to focus on other important factors.


BTW the other two pictures are 'older' from earlier this year while I was doing the body transformation challenge Body for Life (july-october). I think that I've progressed quite a bit even from the 'After' pictures now. At least according to measurements. I'll post more when I've dieted down some, so we can see what's left underneath and what I would need to actually work on or with

Hope this gives you a better idea of what I meant and thanks in advance for taking the time.

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redmeat

Maybe it's posture related.

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IronBrendan

With the exception of the first picture, the head tilt really isn't all that bad. I seriously doubt any judge would mark you down for that. It doesn't take away from the physique at all. I would just think of it as your personality. Besides, if you plan on competing, you'll be on a stage posing for judges so you should mentally be thinking about taking pictures.

If you're trying to do bodybuilding poses, look at what some of the pros do for their "relaxed" pose and master that FIRST. Arms out, flair the lats, flex the quads and maybe even bend them if legs are a weak point for you.

On the rear lat spread you need to pose your legs too. Try to flex your hamstrings while standing up. It will be different for everyone but I have to move my leg to the side and slightly back to do this.

__________________

"Everyone seems to think having a strict diet is hardcore. Wrong! It’s so easy. There is no strain or effort. You just follow the damn diet! Hardcore is stuffing your face to the point where you feel like you’re going to pop and then going to get a milkshake." --Dave "Fuckin'" Tate

IronWarrior

Thanks again! I'll definite be working on it and trying to focus on adjusting it myself. I have always had bad hearing and perhaps that has helped to get me into this bad habit as well? I'm glad to hear that it's not something that could ruin my thoughts of ever getting on stage.

While I'm here I hope you don't mind me asking another question

Have you or others actually had posing teachers in the past, would you even recommend something like that and besides watching others have you done anything in particular to become better at it?

IronBrendan

Yes and HELL YES.

__________________

"Everyone seems to think having a strict diet is hardcore. Wrong! It’s so easy. There is no strain or effort. You just follow the damn diet! Hardcore is stuffing your face to the point where you feel like you’re going to pop and then going to get a milkshake." --Dave "Fuckin'" Tate

IslandGirl

I highly recommend getting a posing coach. That helps quite a bit to have that extra eye critiquing your poses. PC and I have weekly posing sessions starting 12 weeks out from a show and it's amazing to watch how everyone transforms both in physique and posing. Everyone always starts off kind of shy and reserved...not as confident. And as the weeks go by, you literally watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. We actually have to kick people off for others to pose. hahaha. j/k on the last part.

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IronWarrior

heheh

A shame so many of you live so far away... That sounds like a great thing you're doing though! Maybe you have some contacts in the Atlanta area that are doing something similar? It wouldn't necessarily be for right now but I think towards summer/fall is when I would actively be searching that sort assistance. No problem if not though.. I'm sure I'll find someone, but it's always good to have options of people with a good reputation; so I like to at least ask.

homonunculus

IW,

Look up Doc's Sports in atlanta. He has a discussion board where you can link up with some folks. Also, hit the shows there (World Congress Center, I think) and talk with folks.

I'd suggest watching youtube vid's of lee priest, dexter jackson, darrem charles and melvin anthony (for basic posing - don't try to emulate the breakdancing and other stuff). Mark dugdale does a great job. Also, Dorian yates and Kevin Levrone have great posing style, IMO. There is a vid. called Perfect Posing that you can find online.

Put up some shots and we can give you some online coaching. IG, PC and Skip might be able to help online, too.

-Randy

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IronWarrior

Heya, thanks Randy!

Doc's.. that name is familiar. I completely forgot that he does a lot for the sport out here.

Thanks a lot for the other tips and suggestions too! I'll look them up... I did get 2 videos from that Perfect Posing group - The individual Routine and the Contest Diet tapes, both are pretty informative. I've also found a good video online via bodybuilding.com too (he goes through a lot of detail as well) it's all not like someone actually 'correcting' you though. The photo idea online is great too - thanks, I might just include that as well.

homonunculus

No problem, man.

If the TeamSkip folks can hook you up here, I'd try to find a top level competitor to help you out in ATL. I could email around and probably find someone for ya. (Just let me know.)

-R

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