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Sitting

Steps, a bench, a curb, the floor — sitting is relaxed and everywhere, which is exactly why it slumps. A couple of adjustments turn a slouch into an easy, elegant seated shot.

A woman seated on steps, leaning slightly forward with elbows resting near her knees, posture long, weight toward the camera.

The annotated breakdown is inside.

The usual miss

Sit down and the body collapses: spine rounds, shoulders cave, the chin drops, and the knees point straight at the lens so the thighs spread and foreshorten. It's comfortable, and it looks it — in the worst way. Seated shots have a reputation for being unflattering, but it's almost always just an un-coached slouch.