When modeling, it is important to remember your hands. They are often overlooked, and can make or break a shot. To avoid having dead hands, make sure to keep them loose and flexible.
Another great model pose idea is to have your subject look at something other than the camera. Looking directly into the lens can be awkward and boring.
1. Look at the Camera
A model’s ability to pose is what really makes a great photo. Whether the models are wearing an elegant evening gown or a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, their ability to pose in many different ways creates stunning photos that capture attention.
A great way to add dimension to a portrait is by framing the subject with something. A doorway, an archway, or even the model’s hands can help create a beautiful image.
Another way to make a portrait more interesting is by adding movement. If you’re taking a picture of a model in motion, ask them to walk, twirl, or dance. This will add a sense of energy and excitement to the portrait. It will also accentuate the model’s natural curves.
2. Turn Your Head
Whether you’re a model looking to impress an agent or just trying to take beautiful pictures, turning your head can help you create stunning photos. It elongates your neck and emphasizes your jawline, while also eliminating the common droopiness that plagues many people’s faces.
Another important modeling pose is the three-quarters pose. This model pose is a cross between a full model profile and facing the camera. When positioned properly, it can add depth and drama to your photo.
A closed mouth conveys stubbornness or boredom while a wide open one signals interest, agreement, or vulnerability. It’s important to experiment with different facial expressions to find the ones that best suit you and your style. Being asymmetrical can also create more interesting poses, such as holding your hands up or putting them in your hair. This also helps to avoid awkward posture.
3. Turn Your Body
When modeling, you need to move around and find poses that make your body look attractive. You don’t want to stand straight and stiff the entire shoot – that will feel awkward and unnatural.
Try to add some variety by turning your body to the side to create more curves and a slimmer look. Alternatively, you can cross your arms to convey confidence and power. Touching the face is also a good way to add emotion and personality to your photos. Touching the lips evokes sensuality, and touching the chin or hair – femininity.
Another great trick is to redistribute the model’s weight so that most of it is on one leg. This will instantly create a more flattering S-curve in their backside. Make sure to tell them to do this before they take the photo – it’s very easy to forget!
4. Turn Your Shoulders
If you want to add a little extra flair to your model poses, try having them look over their shoulder. This can create a beautiful, feminine shot that will stand out from the rest of your images. Just be careful not to have your subject look over their other shoulder, as this can give the image a more awkward feel.
You can also have your model hold one of her hands behind her head and turn her body to the side. This can create a more thoughtful, serious look, or it can be fun and playful, depending on the mood you are trying to capture. These are just a few of the many ways you can use your models’ bodies to make more dynamic and striking model poses. Try experimenting with different combinations to find the best results.
5. Turn Your Feet
While standing, a model’s legs are an important part of a pose. For the most impactful pictures, ask models to look to the side and turn their feet so that they aren’t lined up straight on. This will elongate the front foot ankle, foot, and leg and create an interesting and unique pose.
Another great model pose is to cross one leg in front of the other. This creates a more dynamic shot and also highlights the curve of the hip. The model can even add a bit of motion to this pose by jumping, dancing, or spinning. This type of model pose is ideal for showcasing clothing and is often used in commercial modeling. This type of movement will also help to keep the model from looking too tense or uncomfortable in a shot. This is especially helpful for plus-size models.
6. Keep Your Hands Open
Flip through any fashion magazine, and you’ll see that models rarely pose straight on. Instead, they use their angles to create stunning photos. This trick works for standing poses, too. Just angle your shoulders and head to one side to add depth and interest to your model’s face.
Also, make sure that your model’s hands are open instead of curled up into fists or closed in a tight grip. This will give the photo a much more natural feel.
And when posing from the front, try creating negative space with your model’s hand by resting it on the thigh or waist. This will help elongate the legs and create a slimming effect. Just be careful not to place the hand too high as it can look unnatural and awkward. The hand should also be facing forward instead of to the sides.
7. Bring Your Forehead Down
It may seem small, but the fingers are very important in a model’s pose. Avoid clenching your fingers as this conveys anger and tension. Keep your fingers open in a natural position, and you will have a much more elegant and beautiful model pose.
When your subject looks at the camera, try to have her tilt her head slightly left or right. This adds an element of surprise to the photo and can really show expression. It can be a smile, a frown, looking surprised, or a quizzical face.
This posing tip is especially important when you are working with a new model. It will help her to feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. It will also make her look more confident. This will lead to stunning photos! It will also help to break the ice and make her feel like she can trust you.
8. Keep Your Arms Closed
When models stand up straight, their arms tend to hang by their sides. This looks more relaxed than a pose that pushes the arm forward, but it can still produce a flattering result. Instead of having your model cross their arms, try having them lean into something like a wall or railing.
This is a flattering pose for both men and women, and it gives the hands a little more purpose. It also helps if the fingers aren’t clenched into fists, which convey anger or tension. Make sure that the hands have a slight curve, which is more natural looking than witchy hands. Also, ask your model to shake their hands off from time to time – this will keep them relaxed and avoid stiffness. This is especially important when working with kids. They can get tense very easily.
9. Bend Your Knees
In modeling, it’s important to keep the movements fluid. This will make the photos look more natural and interesting. Adding movement can also help the model avoid wrinkles.
For example, a model can move their feet while jumping, which will add more energy to the pose. Or they can shake their head or tilt their chin to create different looks.
Another model pose that can be used in both standing and sitting is bending their knees. This is a great way to emphasize curves and create an hourglass shape. It can also be paired with a slight hip tilt for an even more dramatic look.
Finally, models can also bend their hands by holding a “peanut hand” or placing them on their hips. This can create a playful and feminine look that’s sure to impress the client.
10. Look to the Side
All models have a “good side”—the side that looks better in photos. Have your model angle their head slightly toward that side of the face and tilt their body to match (shown below). This simple pose helps to slim the waist and arms and project confidence and strength.
When posing standing, having your model lean against a wall adds a great deal of interest to the image. It also provides a straight-line contrast for the figure, emphasizing posture and curves.
For sitting poses, try having your model drape their limbs over a chair or sofa to create different moods. Be sure to shift the weight between both legs and tiling one leg more than the other. Avoid posing like a mannequin—it can look stiff and unnatural. Part your lips just a little bit instead, to appear more natural.
