Show Everyday poses only, unless you say otherwise.
Everyday Suggestive Lingerie and swim Implied nude Artistic nude
Model comfort at most 1 is effortless, 5 needs an experienced model.
Any 1 or lower 2 or lower 3 or lower 4 or lower 5 or lower Wardrobe risk at most 1 never touches the ground, 5 is lying on wet ground.
Any 1 or lower 2 or lower 3 or lower 4 or lower 5 or lower How many people Solo16 Couple3 Trio Small group (4–6) Large group (7+)
Who is in frame Woman18 Man4 Any / unspecified Child Newborn Teen Senior Family Pregnant With pets
Shoot type Portrait9 Headshot Corporate Fashion / editorial7 Wedding3 Engagement Maternity Newborn Family Graduation Boudoir4 Fitness / sport Dance Lifestyle5 Street1 Cosplay Product with model1
Crop How much of the subject is in frame.
Full body3 Knee up6 Waist up6 Chest up4 Close-up1 Detail Environmental
Lens Focal lengths this pose is built for, in 35mm equivalent.
Wide (up to 35mm) Normal (40–58mm)18 Short telephoto (70–105mm)1 Telephoto (135mm and up)
Camera angle Eye level17 Low angle High angle2 Overhead Worm's eye Dutch tilt Over the shoulder
Facing Front on Three-quarter turn19 Profile Back to camera
Body position Standing11 Walking Sitting4 Kneeling Crouching Lying on back1 Lying on front Lying on side1 Leaning3 Reclining Jumping Twisting Dancing
Location Studio8 Home interior3 Window-light interior Café / restaurant Urban street5 Rooftop Forest2 Field / meadow1 Beach / water2 Mountain Desert1 Pool1 Gym Car / vehicle Snow
Props and supports What the location has to provide for this pose to work.
Wall6 Corner Floor / ground1 Stairs / steps2 Chair Stool Bench Table / desk Bed2 Sofa Ladder Railing Fence Doorway / arch1 Window sill Column / pillar2 Mirror Tree / branch1 Rock / boulder Curb / kerb Bicycle Umbrella / parasol Hat1 Fabric / drape3 Flowers2 Book Phone Drink Musical instrument Sports equipment No props needed3
What the hands do The problem every model asks about first.
In pockets2 On hips2 In hair6 Framing the face Arms crossed1 Behind back Clasped Touching collar or jewellery4 Holding an object8 One hand raised3 On thighs or knees5
Gaze At camera8 Off camera4 Eyes closed1 At the other person2 Down3 Up1 Back over the shoulder To the side Just past the lens At their own hands or body At what they are holding
Interaction Only meaningful for two or more people.
Holding hands2 Embracing3 Back to back Forehead touch1 Lift or carry Dip Walking together Whispering Mirrored / symmetrical Gap between them One leading the other
Expression What the face is doing, as distinct from the mood of the picture.
Neutral Soft smile Broad smile Smirk Lips parted Mouth open Pout Furrowed brow Squint Stern Surprised Face not visible
Facial tension Whether the face is at ease or working. A held smile and a relaxed one photograph differently, and this is the one a photographer fixes by talking rather than by moving anybody.
Relaxed Composed Held Strained
Wardrobe Works with anything1 Casual8 Jeans6 Business casual Suit4 Evening gown4 Flowy dress1 Structured dress3 Skirt5 Athleisure6 Swimwear1 Lingerie1 Jacket3 Outerwear (unsorted)1 Long coat / trench Traditional / cultural dress Costume Nude or implied
Wardrobe constraints Things to tell the client before they pack.
Needs flowing fabric5 Needs heels Flat shoes only1 Avoid short skirt1 Avoid tight clothing1 Footwear is visible6 Needs pockets4 Long sleeves help5
Contact with the ground Pairs with the cleanliness rating: what the clothes actually touch.
No ground contact7 Sitting on the ground4 Lying on the ground1 Kneeling on the ground Back or hands against a wall4 Wet2 Sand1 Grass1 Dust or mud
Comfort notes Pairs with the comfort and physical demand ratings — the things that make a model hesitate.
Needs rapport first1 Looks odd in person Can only hold it briefly1 Needs flexibility1 Needs strength1 Needs balance1 Hard on the knees Not for a first-time model4 Works for anyone1
Mood Joyful3 Serene12 Confident12 Sensual3 Melancholic1 Playful Candid Intense Dreamy1 Vulnerable2 Aloof
Lighting Window light4 Golden hour5 Backlit / rim Hard sun2 Overcast5 One-light studio8 Rembrandt Loop Butterfly Split High key4 Low key1 Night / neon1 On-camera flash
Space needed Read this together with the lens: an 85mm full body needs about five metres of working distance.
Tight space Medium space15 Open space4
Frame Portrait (2:3, 4:5)18 Landscape (3:2)1 Square (1:1) Vertical video (9:16)
Time and weather Golden hour9 Blue hour Midday6 Night2 Needs direct sun Works overcast1 Rain1 Snow Wind helps
Works well for Who this pose actually flatters.
Petite frames9 Tall frames13 Plus size Pregnancy Limited mobility Kids Seniors Groups Gives the hands a job7 Defines the jawline Lengthens the legs2
