3 Point Check Portrait Series Expressive Variation from a Single Pose
As photographers, we all know how easy it is for a session to lose momentum when we run out of pose ideas. That’s why I’m a big believer in refining fundamentals rather than chasing constant novelty.
One of the best tools I’ve learned and still use today is the “3 Point Check Combination”, developed by my dear friend and fellow photographer Roberto Valenzuela in his excellent book Picture Perfect Posing.
The idea is simple but powerful: by adjusting just three points of the body, the eyes, chin, and shoulders, you can create endless variations without moving your subject from their spot. It’s a way of working smarter, not harder.
Above are three portraits of Katie @katiemccartyofficial, in the same pose, using this technique. Notice how a subtle change in her eyes, a slight turn of her chin, and a slight shift in her shoulder angle completely transform the mood and energy of the image.