As for striking a pose, Kertz says girls should turn sideways, offering a more slimming outcome.  He also swears on flooding women with light; it smoothes the skin and lightens the eyes and hair.

But if you want your guy to vogue, offer a softer light from the side; you’ll get a manlier photograph.

And Kertz says both men and women should flaunt their favorite fitted clothing—there’s nothing like capturing that radiated confidence.

“Move your subject away from the background.  This will create more depth.”

He says you’ll also want to shoot when the sun is low and casting long shadows.  Cloudy skies work too, but that’s tough to come by living in the sunny Desert Southwest.  Harsh sunlight often cast pretty funky shadows, so avoid day-time photo-shoots.

“If you’re in the market for a new camera, look for one with low F-stops.  The lower the number, the better it will be in low light.”

Much to my dismay, I was pleasantly surprised after taking part in a photo session with Kertz.  His warm approach made the experience comfortable and fun—I even let loose, putting my personal insecurities aside.  Now, I can proudly say my photos are perfect for a Facebook profile pic; thanks to Kertz, I have a headshot worth smiling about.

For more information, visit:  www.peterkertz.com

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