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 Solo12 Couple Trio Small group (4–6) Large group (7+)
Who is in frame Woman10 Man2 Any / unspecified Child Newborn Teen Senior Family Pregnant With pets
Shoot type Portrait8 Headshot Corporate Fashion / editorial3 Wedding Engagement Maternity Newborn Family Graduation Boudoir1 Fitness / sport Dance Lifestyle5 Street1 Cosplay Product with model1
Crop How much of the subject is in frame.
Full body1 Knee up7 Waist up3 Chest up Close-up1 Detail Environmental
Lens Focal lengths this pose is built for, in 35mm equivalent.
Wide (up to 35mm) Normal (40–58mm)11 Short telephoto (70–105mm)1 Telephoto (135mm and up)
Camera angle Eye level12 Low angle High angle Overhead Worm's eye Dutch tilt Over the shoulder
Facing Front on4 Three-quarter turn8 Profile Back to camera
Body position Standing4 Walking Sitting6 Kneeling Crouching Lying on back Lying on front Lying on side Leaning3 Reclining Jumping Twisting Dancing
Location Studio4 Home interior2 Window-light interior Café / restaurant Urban street4 Rooftop Forest Field / meadow Beach / water Mountain Desert Pool2 Gym Car / vehicle Snow
Props and supports What the location has to provide for this pose to work.
Wall4 Corner Floor / ground Stairs / steps2 Chair Stool Bench Table / desk Bed1 Sofa1 Ladder Railing2 Fence Doorway / arch Window sill Column / pillar1 Mirror Tree / branch Rock / boulder Curb / kerb Bicycle Umbrella / parasol Hat Fabric / drape1 Flowers Book Phone Drink Musical instrument Sports equipment No props needed2
What the hands do The problem every model asks about first.
In pockets3 On hips1 In hair2 Framing the face Arms crossed Behind back Clasped3 Touching collar or jewellery1 Holding an object4 One hand raised On thighs or knees4
Gaze At camera8 Off camera2 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 anything Casual12 Jeans8 Business casual Suit Evening gown Flowy dress Structured dress Skirt2 Athleisure4 Swimwear Lingerie Jacket4 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 fabric Needs heels Flat shoes only1 Avoid short skirt1 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 contact4 Sitting on the ground6 Lying on the ground Kneeling on the ground Back or hands against a wall2 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 briefly1 Needs flexibility Needs strength1 Needs balance2 Hard on the knees Not for a first-time model Works for anyone1
Mood Joyful Serene6 Confident10 Sensual1 Melancholic1 Playful Candid Intense Dreamy Vulnerable1 Aloof
Lighting Window light3 Golden hour3 Backlit / rim Hard sun1 Overcast1 One-light studio5 Rembrandt Loop Butterfly Split High key2 Low key 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 space11 Open space1
Frame Portrait (2:3, 4:5)12 Landscape (3:2) Square (1:1) Vertical video (9:16)
Time and weather Golden hour4 Blue hour Midday4 Night2 Needs direct sun Works overcast2 Rain Snow Wind helps
Works well for Who this pose actually flatters.
Petite frames5 Tall frames6 Plus size Pregnancy Limited mobility Kids Seniors Groups Gives the hands a job5 Defines the jawline Lengthens the legs4
