Wichita eagle., 1889-02-09
SITTING FOR PICTURES.

cans. Royal Baking Powder Co., log Wall
street. New York.
SITTING FOR PICTURES.
Things Not Generally Known About Ar.
ranging the Dress and Hair.
81 wonder why 1 never take good pic
ture?'' is question frequently asked, and
often with good reason, too People natur-
ally attractive are apt to pose as perfect
frights in photograph, and there is no
reason why even plain person should have
the defects of the face brought too much
into prominence. Excellence in q picture
depends partly On the artist and partly on
the sitter, and, of course, the first rule to
be observed is to visit good photographer.
A writer in a recent number of Harper
DazGr has given some very useful dlrec-
tons to ladies intending to visit the photo
grapher. The first thing necessary seems to
be TO decide what style you will have-bust,
three-quarter figure, or full length. The
first two are the prevailing modes, the last
implying more elaborate toilet. Now Sc
cure your sitting. 1t is always better to do
so, thus Obviating the annoyance Of waiting.
Before leaving the studio, unless the ap-
pointment is made by letter, consult tho
photographer as to your dress, etc. Let
him know what it is to be- You may be I'M
decided which Of several to use. 1t then
may be choice in color or in cut, etc. He
will tell you at once which is best. He may
request you to try more than one, and in
the absence Of such invitation you will be
expected to pay extra for the experiment.
While you are talking to him about dress
he is studying your face, expression and
form generally. If he also be an artist and
experienced he may see at glance that
your customary way Of dressing the hair is
not becoming, for. strange as it may seem,
comparatively few women have the knack
of arranging their hair in the mode de-
manded by their face. While he knows
that the portrait must not be ruined by the
hair being done up in an unfamiliar way, he
may yet give you few invaluable sugges-
tons. For instance, he may request you to
be more careful in dressing the left side
than the right, thus signifylng that the left
side Of the face is the better. Few have
both sides alike. There is often almost as
much difference as between two persons.
The nose is much orr little to one side; one
eye is smaller, because one lid DROPS more;
there is 9 depression over that spot where
shaping of the lips alone may decide which
side of the face should be prominent. You
laugh rather to one side-and by the bye
there is always something pretty about
s9ch q laugh-and you have developed
dimple, which sad experience teaches the
photographer viii be demanded of him.
But, as it happens sometimes, he may fail
to detect the slightest difference between
hn ifrot Il 1.f+ lN7,f no r{,1
to take special pains with certain side of
the hair, as he prefers to show that side of
the face. This is because in every atelier
the light is better at one end OF the room
than at the other, and he is accustomed to
place his sitters there.
Now, and not when you come to sit, is tho
time for you to tell him what you prefer.
You wish three-quarter face, or a front
view, or a profile; you have studied the
idiosyncracies Of your face for years and
have so decided. He listens respectfully,
but his eye has searched out all the little
secrets of anatomy and fathomed your
hidden reasons for thus and So You are
afraid of that cheek bone; you do not say
so, but he knows it and is studying how to
retire it and lose it in the tintlng Of the
background. You are conscious of those
ears; they are large and stand well out. A
knows how formidable an an
tagonist is an ear that projects at right
angles from the head; he knows that there
is usually but one way to subdue it, and
smiles inwaroly at your emphatic demand
for full front, which means that both ears
shall show equally When he says " full
face" he means pose that almost or entire
~ loses one ear.
Perhaps you insist that he do not make
you profile; you often rejoice that you
live in an age when silhouette profiles are
out Of fashion. The prominence of your
nose forbids it, or long chin puts it out
Of the question. A side face is Just the
thing for you; the photographer sees it at
a glance, for, again, strange as it may ap-
pear, the possibilities for a profile do not
depend so much upon the features as upon
the hair and neck dressing A slight tip
to the head one way or the other lengthens
or fores hortens the features, and the pho
tographer, in manipulating his light and
shade, may refine or render them strong
er at will. He will tell you not to ar
range the hair till you come to the studio,
for very short distance, especially IN
damp or clustering weather, will ruin it.
he.w-lll probably request you not to dress
the neck too high or too tight, or in
an exact circle, with the fore part Of il
lying close under the chin. for. of all things,
the present high mode of dressing the neck
is distressing 70 an artistic photographer
Il is done because the lady has a short neck
Or long enc, or IL is thin. and the cords
must be concealed. II is done. for it is the
fashion. This is al mistake You are
when the photographer saws 1t,
Tor there is a touch Of bitterness IN his tone.
DE Illustrates his meaning by winding the
apels of his coat tightly around his neck
You see, madam, the effect On long face
Ike my own. II overhangs and becomes al
most deformed. while round face becomes
and none of the little tricks
# hairdressing or expression can remedy
L No; Its al mistake. II your neck is
short. as you say. DO not lose what YOU
lave, lower the orapery, do little Judi
,ious borrowing, ana, presto the face that
vas round becomes oval In any case the
ieck must not be hidden, for al the grace
II position IN bust portrait centers there'
In Keeping your appointment be punctuaL
few minutes too soon Is better than one
minute too late. Tie toilet-rooE is YOURS,
trIctly, until you return from your sittings,
md you are justified IN locking the door
nd retaining the key. Take your own
'owder with you. but do not use it; the
can 90 that much better than
ou cln- Ii he uses it al al it viii De upca
ne hair alone which generally takes
eve,ol Shades darker than it is, particu-
ariy With yeAewisE or auburn casts. After
nterins the operating room remember that
Hence is golden II is very refrcsine to q
photographer 70 pose lady who has taste
lough to be quiet Long practice has made
IN a shreEd judge of character. and ne
lscorara Ala-sstiAr. zazx an1Al<iz-