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 Solo23 Couple Trio Small group (4–6) Large group (7+)
Who is in frame Woman20 Man2 Any / unspecified Child1 Newborn Teen Senior Family Pregnant With pets
Shoot type Portrait14 Headshot Corporate1 Fashion / editorial8 Wedding Engagement Maternity Newborn Family Graduation Boudoir4 Fitness / sport Dance Lifestyle6 Street1 Cosplay Product with model1
Crop How much of the subject is in frame.
Full body3 Knee up10 Waist up7 Chest up3 Close-up1 Detail Environmental
Lens Focal lengths this pose is built for, in 35mm equivalent.
Wide (up to 35mm)1 Normal (40–58mm)22 Short telephoto (70–105mm)2 Telephoto (135mm and up)1
Camera angle Eye level21 Low angle High angle2 Overhead Worm's eye Dutch tilt Over the shoulder
Facing Front on7 Three-quarter turn16 Profile Back to camera
Body position Standing11 Walking Sitting8 Kneeling1 Crouching Lying on back1 Lying on front Lying on side1 Leaning3 Reclining Jumping Twisting Dancing
Location Studio11 Home interior5 Window-light interior1 Café / restaurant1 Urban street6 Rooftop1 Forest Field / meadow2 Beach / water1 Mountain Desert1 Pool4 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 Sofa1 Ladder Railing3 Fence Doorway / arch1 Window sill Column / pillar2 Mirror Tree / branch Rock / boulder Curb / kerb Bicycle Umbrella / parasol Hat1 Fabric / drape2 Flowers Book Phone Drink Musical instrument Sports equipment No props needed6
What the hands do The problem every model asks about first.
In pockets4 On hips3 In hair7 Framing the face Arms crossed2 Behind back Clasped4 Touching collar or jewellery1 Holding an object5 One hand raised3 On thighs or knees6
Gaze At camera14 Off camera4 Eyes closed1 At the other person 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 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 Casual12 Jeans10 Business casual1 Suit1 Evening gown2 Flowy dress3 Structured dress3 Skirt7 Athleisure6 Swimwear2 Lingerie1 Jacket6 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 fabric4 Needs heels Flat shoes only1 Avoid short skirt1 Avoid tight clothing Footwear is visible6 Needs pockets7 Long sleeves help7
Contact with the ground Pairs with the cleanliness rating: what the clothes actually touch.
No ground contact8 Sitting on the ground7 Lying on the ground1 Kneeling on the ground1 Back or hands against a wall4 Wet1 Sand Grass1 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 briefly1 Needs flexibility1 Needs strength1 Needs balance2 Hard on the knees1 Not for a first-time model4 Works for anyone1
Mood Joyful1 Serene12 Confident19 Sensual3 Melancholic1 Playful Candid Intense Dreamy Vulnerable2 Aloof
Lighting Window light8 Golden hour5 Backlit / rim1 Hard sun4 Overcast4 One-light studio11 Rembrandt1 Loop1 Butterfly1 Split High key6 Low key1 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 space21 Open space2
Frame Portrait (2:3, 4:5)23 Landscape (3:2)1 Square (1:1)1 Vertical video (9:16)
Time and weather Golden hour7 Blue hour Midday11 Night2 Needs direct sun Works overcast2 Rain1 Snow Wind helps
Works well for Who this pose actually flatters.
Petite frames9 Tall frames13 Plus size Pregnancy Limited mobility Kids1 Seniors Groups Gives the hands a job10 Defines the jawline Lengthens the legs6
