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 Solo14 Couple1 Trio Small group (4–6) Large group (7+)
Who is in frame Woman12 Man3 Any / unspecified Child1 Newborn Teen Senior Family Pregnant With pets
Shoot type Portrait11 Headshot Corporate1 Fashion / editorial3 Wedding1 Engagement Maternity Newborn Family Graduation Boudoir1 Fitness / sport Dance Lifestyle3 Street1 Cosplay Product with model
Crop How much of the subject is in frame.
Full body2 Knee up8 Waist up4 Chest up2 Close-up Detail Environmental
Lens Focal lengths this pose is built for, in 35mm equivalent.
Wide (up to 35mm)1 Normal (40–58mm)15 Short telephoto (70–105mm)1 Telephoto (135mm and up)1
Camera angle Eye level15 Low angle High angle Overhead Worm's eye Dutch tilt Over the shoulder
Facing Front on7 Three-quarter turn8 Profile Back to camera
Body position Standing8 Walking Sitting6 Kneeling1 Crouching Lying on back Lying on front Lying on side Leaning2 Reclining Jumping Twisting Dancing
Location Studio6 Home interior2 Window-light interior1 Café / restaurant1 Urban street5 Rooftop1 Forest1 Field / meadow1 Beach / water Mountain Desert Pool3 Gym Car / vehicle Snow
Props and supports What the location has to provide for this pose to work.
Wall4 Corner Floor / ground1 Stairs / steps1 Chair Stool Bench Table / desk Bed Sofa1 Ladder Railing3 Fence Doorway / arch1 Window sill Column / pillar2 Mirror Tree / branch1 Rock / boulder Curb / kerb Bicycle Umbrella / parasol Hat Fabric / drape Flowers1 Book Phone Drink Musical instrument Sports equipment No props needed4
What the hands do The problem every model asks about first.
In pockets3 On hips1 In hair4 Framing the face Arms crossed1 Behind back Clasped4 Touching collar or jewellery1 Holding an object4 One hand raised1 On thighs or knees4
Gaze At camera15 Off camera Eyes closed At the other person Down Up 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 hands1 Embracing1 Back to back Forehead touch 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 Jeans7 Business casual1 Suit1 Evening gown2 Flowy dress3 Structured dress1 Skirt5 Athleisure4 Swimwear1 Lingerie Jacket4 Outerwear (unsorted)1 Long coat / trench1 Traditional / cultural dress Costume Nude or implied
Wardrobe constraints Things to tell the client before they pack.
Needs flowing fabric2 Needs heels Flat shoes only1 Avoid short skirt Avoid tight clothing Footwear is visible4 Needs pockets5 Long sleeves help5
Contact with the ground Pairs with the cleanliness rating: what the clothes actually touch.
No ground contact5 Sitting on the ground5 Lying on the ground Kneeling on the ground1 Back or hands against a wall3 Wet1 Sand Grass Dust or mud
Comfort notes Pairs with the comfort and physical demand ratings — the things that make a model hesitate.
Needs rapport first Looks odd in person Can only hold it briefly Needs flexibility Needs strength1 Needs balance2 Hard on the knees1 Not for a first-time model1 Works for anyone
Mood Joyful1 Serene8 Confident14 Sensual Melancholic Playful Candid Intense Dreamy Vulnerable Aloof
Lighting Window light6 Golden hour3 Backlit / rim1 Hard sun3 Overcast3 One-light studio4 Rembrandt1 Loop1 Butterfly1 Split High key3 Low key Night / neon2 On-camera flash1
Space needed Read this together with the lens: an 85mm full body needs about five metres of working distance.
Tight space Medium space14 Open space1
Frame Portrait (2:3, 4:5)15 Landscape (3:2)1 Square (1:1)1 Vertical video (9:16)
Time and weather Golden hour5 Blue hour Midday7 Night1 Needs direct sun Works overcast1 Rain1 Snow Wind helps
Works well for Who this pose actually flatters.
Petite frames5 Tall frames9 Plus size Pregnancy Limited mobility Kids1 Seniors Groups Gives the hands a job5 Defines the jawline Lengthens the legs5
