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 Solo3 Couple Trio Small group (4–6) Large group (7+)
Who is in frame Woman3 Man Any / unspecified Child Newborn Teen Senior Family Pregnant With pets
Shoot type Portrait Headshot Corporate Fashion / editorial3 Wedding Engagement Maternity Newborn Family Graduation Boudoir1 Fitness / sport Dance Lifestyle Street Cosplay Product with model
Crop How much of the subject is in frame.
Full body2 Knee up Waist up1 Chest up Close-up Detail Environmental
Lens Focal lengths this pose is built for, in 35mm equivalent.
Wide (up to 35mm) Normal (40–58mm)3 Short telephoto (70–105mm) Telephoto (135mm and up)
Camera angle Eye level3 Low angle High angle Overhead Worm's eye Dutch tilt Over the shoulder
Facing Front on1 Three-quarter turn2 Profile Back to camera
Body position Standing3 Walking Sitting Kneeling Crouching Lying on back Lying on front Lying on side Leaning Reclining Jumping Twisting Dancing
Location Studio3 Home interior Window-light interior Café / restaurant Urban street Rooftop Forest Field / meadow Beach / water Mountain Desert Pool Gym Car / vehicle Snow
Props and supports What the location has to provide for this pose to work.
Wall Corner Floor / ground Stairs / steps Chair Stool Bench Table / desk Bed Sofa Ladder Railing Fence Doorway / arch Window sill Column / pillar Mirror Tree / branch Rock / boulder Curb / kerb Bicycle Umbrella / parasol Hat1 Fabric / drape Flowers Book Phone Drink Musical instrument Sports equipment No props needed2
What the hands do The problem every model asks about first.
In pockets1 On hips3 In hair1 Framing the face Arms crossed Behind back Clasped Touching collar or jewellery Holding an object One hand raised On thighs or knees
Gaze At camera1 Off camera1 Eyes closed At the other person Down 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 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 anything Casual1 Jeans1 Business casual Suit1 Evening gown1 Flowy dress Structured dress1 Skirt Athleisure Swimwear Lingerie Jacket1 Outerwear (unsorted) Long coat / trench Traditional / cultural dress Costume Nude or implied
Wardrobe constraints Things to tell the client before they pack.
Needs flowing fabric Needs heels Flat shoes only Avoid short skirt Avoid tight clothing Footwear is visible1 Needs pockets2 Long sleeves help1
Contact with the ground Pairs with the cleanliness rating: what the clothes actually touch.
No ground contact3 Sitting on the ground Lying on the ground Kneeling on the ground Back or hands against a wall 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 balance Hard on the knees Not for a first-time model2 Works for anyone
Mood Joyful Serene Confident3 Sensual1 Melancholic Playful Candid Intense Dreamy Vulnerable Aloof
Lighting Window light Golden hour Backlit / rim Hard sun Overcast One-light studio3 Rembrandt Loop Butterfly Split High key1 Low key1 Night / neon 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 space3 Open space
Frame Portrait (2:3, 4:5)3 Landscape (3:2) Square (1:1) Vertical video (9:16)
Time and weather Golden hour Blue hour Midday3 Night Needs direct sun Works overcast Rain Snow Wind helps
Works well for Who this pose actually flatters.
Petite frames Tall frames3 Plus size Pregnancy Limited mobility Kids Seniors Groups Gives the hands a job2 Defines the jawline Lengthens the legs
