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 Couple Trio Small group (4–6) Large group (7+)
Who is in frame Woman12 Man1 Any / unspecified Child1 Newborn Teen Senior Family Pregnant With pets
Shoot type Portrait14 Headshot Corporate1 Fashion / editorial2 Wedding 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 body1 Knee up7 Waist up5 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)14 Short telephoto (70–105mm)1 Telephoto (135mm and up)1
Camera angle Eye level13 Low angle High angle1 Overhead Worm's eye Dutch tilt Over the shoulder
Facing Front on5 Three-quarter turn9 Profile Back to camera
Body position Standing6 Walking Sitting6 Kneeling1 Crouching Lying on back Lying on front Lying on side1 Leaning2 Reclining Jumping Twisting Dancing
Location Studio7 Home interior2 Window-light interior1 Café / restaurant1 Urban street5 Rooftop1 Forest Field / meadow1 Beach / water1 Mountain Desert1 Pool4 Gym Car / vehicle Snow
Props and supports What the location has to provide for this pose to work.
Wall5 Corner Floor / ground1 Stairs / steps2 Chair Stool Bench Table / desk Bed Sofa Ladder Railing3 Fence Doorway / arch Window sill Column / pillar1 Mirror Tree / branch Rock / boulder Curb / kerb Bicycle Umbrella / parasol Hat Fabric / drape Flowers Book Phone Drink Musical instrument Sports equipment No props needed3
What the hands do The problem every model asks about first.
In pockets3 On hips In hair5 Framing the face Arms crossed1 Behind back Clasped3 Touching collar or jewellery Holding an object2 One hand raised1 On thighs or knees5
Gaze At camera11 Off camera1 Eyes closed At the other person Down2 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 hands Embracing 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 Jeans8 Business casual1 Suit Evening gown1 Flowy dress3 Structured dress1 Skirt5 Athleisure5 Swimwear1 Lingerie Jacket4 Outerwear (unsorted)2 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 skirt1 Avoid tight clothing Footwear is visible5 Needs pockets5 Long sleeves help3
Contact with the ground Pairs with the cleanliness rating: what the clothes actually touch.
No ground contact4 Sitting on the ground5 Lying on the ground Kneeling on the ground1 Back or hands against a wall4 Wet 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 strength Needs balance1 Hard on the knees1 Not for a first-time model1 Works for anyone1
Mood Joyful Serene8 Confident12 Sensual Melancholic1 Playful Candid Intense Dreamy Vulnerable2 Aloof
Lighting Window light5 Golden hour3 Backlit / rim1 Hard sun3 Overcast2 One-light studio5 Rembrandt1 Loop1 Butterfly1 Split High key4 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 space13 Open space1
Frame Portrait (2:3, 4:5)14 Landscape (3:2)1 Square (1:1)1 Vertical video (9:16)
Time and weather Golden hour4 Blue hour Midday7 Night2 Needs direct sun Works overcast1 Rain Snow Wind helps
Works well for Who this pose actually flatters.
Petite frames6 Tall frames7 Plus size Pregnancy Limited mobility Kids1 Seniors Groups Gives the hands a job4 Defines the jawline Lengthens the legs5
