Message POSING CARDS Flow DIGITAL
Tabl of Content Sitting Poses 1. Cover Girl 2. Bring in the Legs 3. Rotation 4. Look Back 5. Look Back - Landscape 6. Profile 7. Side Hourglass 8. Side Hourglass - Hands Hidden 9. Cover Girl 2 10. Cover Girl with Hands 11. Rotation - Landscape 12. Rotation 13. Bring in the Hands 14. Back Hand Out of Frame 15. Explore Motion 16. Look Back - Landscape 17. On the 45 18. Cover Girl 3 19. Look Back 20. Look Back - Landscape 21. Hourglass Standing Poses 22. Cover Girl 4 23. Rotation 24. Farther Rotation 25. Activate the Leg 26. Break the Rules 27. Peekaboo Standing Poses - con’td. 28. Cover Girl 5 29. Activate Movement 30. Dancing Look Backs 31. On the 45 32. Forward Shimmy 33. Cover Girl 6 34. Rotation 35. Dancing 36. Dancing with Arm Frame 37. Dancing Square to Camera 38. Dancing on the 45 39. Dancing Side to Side Wall Poses 40. Basic Lean 41. Arms Crossed 42. Face the Wall & Reverse 43. Deeper Lean 44. Explore Angles 45. Shape & Expression 46. Angles & Expression 47. One Shoulder Lean 48. Bum to Wall 49. Personal Branding & Look Back 50. Bring in the Hands
Tabl of Content Floor Poses 51. Cover Girl 52. Half Rotation 53. Knee Up 54. Look Back 55. Little Cat 56. On the Back 57. Arm on Apple Box 58. Little Cat 59. Hand in Hair 60. Hand Under Chin 61. Legs on 45 62. Arm on Knee 63. Look Back 64. Little Cat 65. Hand in Hair 66. Hip Up Posing Table 67. Folded Arms 68. One Arm Up 69. Both Arms Up 70. Variations 71. Folded Arms 72. One Arm Up 73. Little Cat 74. Hand Under Chin 75. Variations 76. Little Cat 77. One Hand Up 78. Arms Crossed
Posing: Seat her facing camera. Bring her feet forward to lower her knees out of frame. Bring the chin forward and down, engaging the chin line. Drop the arms and relax the shoulders. Bring hair forward to change it up. Expression: Drop her chin to open her eyes. Relaxing the mouth and lifting the chin creates a fashion look. Composition: Top of hairline to top of hips. Top of head to slightly above hips. Move in closer. Use lens angle to alter composition. Angles: For someone long and lean, shoot low and square on. Experiment with your angles – below the eyeline, above her face, at chin level. Notice how the angle and height of the lens changes the composition. Tip: This magazine-style face shot is a simple way to warm up your client, so it’s a great pose to begin with. Frame asymmetrically, so it doesn’t look like a passport photo. 1. Cover Girl
1 Posing: With her seated facing camera, place her left foot on an apple box and left arm over the left knee. Hold the skirt down with a hand for modesty. Next, bring the right hand through the space below her left arm and across the lap to crunch down the body. Bring one hand back to stagger the hands. Relax the hand for soft fingers. Expression: Light up the eyes with a baby smile. Composition: Above the head to just beneath her hands. Angles: Experiment with angles from just at her eye line to below it. Tip: Use mirror posing rather than saying right or left. Clients use their eyes before their ears, so demonstrate movement as if you are their mirror reflection. It will be easier for both of you. 2. Bring i h Leg
Posing: Seat her 45-degrees to camera with feet flat on the floor. Clasp hands gently in lap with one facing up, one facing down. Bring her feet forward to drop the knees below the waist. Soften the torso. Connect chin to front shoulder. Whether or not her hair is in the shot makes a difference. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Crop at or just below the knees. Angles: Shooting below the eyeline, square up the angle. When going much lower below her eyeline, open the shoulders and project the chin up. Tip: Put a little bump in the shoulder to give it action and engagement. Just be careful you don't close off the neck. Make sure there is an inch or two showing. 3. Rotation
Posing: Bring her side on to camera. Soften the torso and work the shoulder. Place hands flat on the lap and draw the left elbow back to make the breast line visible. Tilt the torso forward and bring the chin closer to camera. Soften the back. Expression: Ask for gorgeous, sexy eyes. Composition: Above the head to the lap. Top of the hairline to just above the elbow. Angles: Experiment with angles from below the eyeline to right at the eyeline. Try moving away from her, keeping an eye on the backdrop and light. Tip: Saying “front arm” or “back arm” is easier to understand than “left” or “right.” You can also point at a limb and say, "this hand." To really move a limb, say, "mirror me," and direct the limbs that way. 4. Look Back
Posing: With her side to camera, bring her feet forward to get her knees below the hips. Soften the back. Drop front shoulder and bring it forward. Chin points at the shoulder. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to the top of the head. Mid-arm to just above the elbow. Angles: Camera is at eye level. Tip: These poses are the same as the previous card but horizontal rather than vertical. 5. Look Back - Landscape
Posing: Seat her 45 degrees to camera. Turn her face toward the light, looking straight up into it. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to just below the elbow. Angles: Stand facing her side with camera right at her eye level. Tip: Not everyone likes their profiles, but I think you should still take a shot, so they can see it, and then maybe they’ll like it. 6. Prole
Posing: Face her directly to the side with her right foot on pointed toe on an apple box. Her right elbow goes all the way forward, touching the right knee. Face the edge of the hand to camera, keeping the fingers soft. Soften the back. Bring the chin to the shoulder and down without tilting the head. Then, bring the hand onto the near arm. Expression: Direct her eyes to camera. Composition: Above the head to below the knee. Angles: Sit across from her at eye level. Experiment with leaning back. Tip: Create space between the torso and knee by having your client relax, soften, or curl the back. Use lots of chin and shoulder engagement in this pose. 7. Sid Hourglas
Posing: Face her directly to the side with her right foot on pointed toe on an apple box. Curl the back, having her hug the back knee with both arms and fingers clasped. Drop the front shoulder. Expression: Soften the mouth. Composition: Above the head to mid-calf. Above the head to below the knee. Top of head to below the waist. Angles: Play with bringing camera up and down. Use tilts and angles when people are sitting. Tip: As you play with angles, go into live view and watch as you bring your angle from high to low. Make sure they adjust their chin and eye movement for your camera angle. You'll find magic in there. 8. Sid Hourglas - Hand Hidde
Posing: Have her face camera. Scoot her to the edge of the seat so she can slightly hinge forward at her hips and project the chin forward. Grab handfuls of the dress to activate the hands. Bring one elbow in for asymmetry. Expression: This is all about her gorgeous face. Experiment with different levels of smiling. Composition: Above the head just to her hips. Angles: Start just below eye level square on. Experiment with zooming in and out. Bring the angle up and tilt the camera forward. Tip: Shoot on a wide lens to slim the face. 9. Cover Girl
Posing: Have her face camera. Scoot her to the edge of the seat so she can slightly hinge forward at the hips and project her chin forward. Put right foot up on the toe on an apple box. Put front elbow on the knee. Relax hands. Bring knees together. Have her squeeze in the bosom using her other arm. Expression: Experiment with different levels of smiling – from a baby smile to a big grin. Composition: Above the head just to her hips. Angles: Shoot just below the eyes. Then a tiny bit above the eyes and slightly angled down. Also, shoot from further back. Tip: Fabric like tulle is wonderful for framing the face. 10. Cover Girl with Hands
Posing: With the chair angled just beyond 45-degrees to camera, scoot her to the seat’s edge and tilt forward. Rest both hands along her side. Drop the near shoulder to lengthen the neck. Chin comes toward camera. Expression: Connect the eyes to camera. Experiment with levels of smiling – from none to a little to big. Composition: Above the head to above the elbow. Above the head to just below the elbow. Angles: Shoot level with her eyes. Also, shoot from just above her eyes, angled just to her eyeline. Tip: When people sit deep in their seat, it’s hard for them to come forward without getting squished in the middle. Coming to the edge of the seat makes it easy to lever forward. 11. Rotatio - Landscap
Posing: With the chair angled just beyond 45-degrees to camera, scoot her to the seat’s edge and tilt forward. Rest both hands along her side. Drop her near shoulder to lengthen the neck. Have her sit upright and project chin to shoulder. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of the head to just below the waist. Above the head to above the knee. Above the head to just below the knee. Angles: From right next to the light, shoot a little above her eyeline and lean the camera forward. Then, bring the angle down. Tip: Shooting just above the eyeline with the camera tilted forward, there is a beautiful space where it does not appear that you are shooting from above her. 12. Rotation
Posing: With the chair angled just beyond 45-degrees to camera, sit her upright with the near shoulder dropped to lengthen the neck. Tilt chin slightly, projecting it toward her shoulder and camera. Front hand rests on an apple box for stability and comfort. Back hand touches the thigh, gathering material as it slides up. Expression: Begin with her natural expression and then bring in a beautiful smile. Composition: Above the head to the knee. Above the head to just below the waist. Angles: Shoot from just a touch above her eyeline and angled forward. Also, shoot from further back. Tip: We want fabric to flow with natural motion in our photographs, so gathering it up in the hands makes a big difference. 13. Bring i Hand
Posing: With the chair angled just beyond 45-degrees to camera, sit her upright with the near shoulder dropped to lengthen the neck. Front hand rests on an apple box for stability and comfort. Drop her back hand out of sight. Experiment with head positions. Expression: Begin with her natural, relaxed expression and then ask for an easy smile without spending it all at once. Composition: Above the head to just below the waist. Above the head to just above the knees. Above the head to just below the knees. Angles: Come in for closer shots. Start with the camera high and then work your way down. Tip: Using a mirror, see how many ways you can smile – from itty-bitty, barely-there to a big, full grin. Think of ways to describe these smiles to your clients. 14. Back Hand Out of Frame
Posing: With the chair angled just beyond 45-degrees to camera, sit her upright with the near shoulder dropped to lengthen the neck. Front hand rests on an apple box for stability and comfort. With mirror posing, show her to move by slightly turning into the shoulder, connecting her chin as she moves. Also, have her look back and then look up. Expression: Experiment with different expressions at the peak of the motion – from a little smile to different sizes of laughter. Composition: Above the head to just below the knee. Above the head to below the elbow. Above the head to mid-forearm. Shoot at the peak of the movement. Angles: Shoot from just a touch above her eyeline and angled forward. Tip: If my client is having trouble relaxing and smiling or laughing, I'll go into a big fake laugh, which always gets us both genuinely laughing before long. 15. Explore Motion
Posing: With the chair angled just beyond 45-degrees to camera, sit her upright with the near shoulder dropped to lengthen the neck. Front hand rests on an apple box for stability and comfort. Rotate her away from camera and have her look back. Hand moves to her knee. Knee bends. Work the front shoulder. Expression: From different levels of smiling to her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to just above the elbow. Top of head to just below the elbow. Angles: Shoot from just a touch above her eyeline and angled forward. Tip: An apple box can also change the level of the knee. Bring it forward to lower the knee. Bring it nearer to make the knee higher. Adding an apple box can also create space to bring in family members. 20. Look Back - Landscape
Posing: Turn her 45 degrees to camera. Walk her feet out a little, to bring the knees lower than the hips. Relax hands in lap – one up, one down – with long fingers. Sit her slightly forward toward the knees. Engage the front shoulder, leaning toward camera and knees. Chin comes around to face camera. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression with just a hint of a smile. Composition: Above the head to just below the elbow. Above the head to just above the knee. Angles: Experiment with how close camera is to her. Go behind the light and sit on an apple box. Shoot from just below her eyeline and angled slightly forward. Tip: Move your client and you to find their best angles – where they look comfortable and where they look like they believe it and own the pose, looking gorgeous, comfortable, and relaxed. 17. On the 45
Posing: Facing forward, put the right foot on an apple box. Right elbow goes on the knee with the wrist down. Back hand on the lap. Knees together. Next, bring the chin down. Then, have her pull her chest back, bringing her elbows closer together and her front hand under the chin. Expression: Begin with a natural expression. Bring in a little smile. Relax the mouth with lips together. Confident gaze with a baby smile and then a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Above the head to just below the knees. Angles: Camera is well below her eyes with no tilt. The modifier is right on top of my head, and I’m seated. Tip: Sit when the client sits. Stand when they stand. Lie down when they lie down. Always keep the bottom of the light modifier at the bottom of her chin. Move yourself around and stay at eye level. 18. Cover Girl
Posing: Face her directly to the side and at the edge of her seat. Slide the front elbow back along her torso. Back arm is along her other side out of frame. Lean her forward with a straight back. Experiment with her face and chin angles. Drop the back foot down, lean toward the knee, and rotate her shoulder away. Engage the shoulder more and bring the face around. Expression: Begin with a natural, relaxed expression. Then, light up with a smile. Composition: Above the head to below the hip. Just above the head to above the elbow. Above the head to below the elbow. Angles: Below her eyeline. Bring the angle down to connect to the chin. Experiment with leaning back and coming forward. Tip: As she rotates, pay attention to how much space she has in the neck, so she doesn’t lose it. Bringing her forward, she can engage her shoulder without losing her neck. 19. Look Back
Posing: Face her directly to the side and near the edge of her seat with her arms along her sides. Move back foot away from the body, lean toward the knee, rotate her shoulder away, and look back to camera. Experiment with straightening and softening the back and engaging the shoulder. Expression: Begin with a natural, relaxed expression and then bring in a smile. Composition: Above the head to below the elbow. Angles: Shoot below the eyeline with the angle down and connected to the chin. Experiment with your location in relation to the light. Tip: When you rotate someone, you will know you have gone too far when you can’t see the bust. At that point, she can’t look back at the camera comfortably. 20. Look Back - Landscape
Posing: Face her squarely to camera with her right foot on an apple box. Rest her right elbow on the knee. Bring left hand across the lap under her other arm. Lean her forward, pulling back her upper body. Right hand goes behind her ear. Her chin projects forward beyond it. Expression: Start with a tiny, soft smile. Then, no smile and a relaxed mouth slightly open. Composition: Top of the head to just below the knees. Angles: Shoot quite close and just beneath her eyeline. Vary the height slightly from shot to shot. Tip: With her hand on her knee, she can touch her own throat and decolletage out to her shoulders. Her body language frames her face. 21. Hourglas
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, bring hands behind the hipline. Rock onto one hip for a perfect S-bend shape. Chin moves up as you move farther away. Tuck the thumb into one pocket, bringing the other hand around to hug the hip. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to below the hips. Above the head to above the knees. Top of the head to above the hips. Top of the head to mid-hip. Top of the hairline to below the breast. Angles: Camera is below her eyes at chin level or lower. We can angle forward as it moves up or have it square on and low. Experiment with shooting closer in and moving farther back. Tip: Rock her from one hip to the other to see which is more flexible or comfortable to rest on. Putting the weight on one hip brings in a beautiful, asymmetrical shape. 22. Cover Girl
Posing: Step one foot forward, bringing the hips 45 degrees to camera. The arm on the same side comes across, resting on the opposite hip. Move her hair to open the body. Other hand touches the top of the thigh. Drop the back, leaning. Bring the chin to the shoulder. Also, move the hands away from the body. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to just below the waist. Angles: Shoot just below the chin and square on. Experiment with shooting closer and shooting farther away. Tip: With a client who is tall and lean, have her bend sideways to bring shape into the body and define the hip lines. 23. Rotation
Posing: With front foot stepped forward, bring the front hand to the thigh, moving that shoulder around. Bring the knee around, rotating the upper and lower bodies together. Going up on that toe brings shape to the bum. Push upper back out. Bring chin down. Rotate the front shoulder and roll it forward a touch more. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to top of thigh. Top of head to the belly button where the waist tapers most. Angles: Camera is just at her chin line. Experiment with shooting farther out, coming in closer, and moving around her. Tip: When you take tight magazine shots, not cropping on the elbow is the vital part. 24.Farther Rotation
Posing: Facing the front, place both thumbs in pockets. Use mirror posing to direct movement. Step one foot to the side and then bring it up and across the other leg with the knee coming out to the side. The head comes up slightly at the same time. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to above the knee. Above the head to below the knee. Angles: Camera is below the chin and slightly angled forward. Experiment with proximity to your client. Tip: If someone has long legs, it’s nice to engage them in some movement during a standing freestyle. 25. Activat h Leg
Posing: Using mirror posing, show her to crouch down with one knee up and other down but not touching the ground. Arms rest on the knees. Then, have her go near the wall. Bring one knee to the front and across the other, touching the toe to the ground. The hands lightly touch the wall. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to below the feet. Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Sitting down, shoot low and slightly angled up. Standing up, shoot at chest level and slightly angled up. Tip: See how natural it is to flow from standing to the floor to the wall? Once you have mastered all the different types of posing, you can flow through them organically. 26. Brea h Rule
Posing: With her side to camera, rest one hand on top of the head and the other one near the other elbow. Turn her face to look through the triangle created by the arm. Soften the fingers. Step one foot forward, going up on the toe. Kick the booty back for an hourglass shape. Experiment with the chin level. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of the hand on top of the head to mid-waist. Top of the head to the top of the waist. Angles: Shoot below the chin. Experiment with how close you are. Tip: Once you get the body positions and compositions down, you really can't go wrong. Just experiment – move around the frame, see how the light touches them, and where they look their best. 27. Peekabo
Posing: Bring her feet to shoulder width apart, so it is easy to move freely and stay balanced and grounded. Have her reach down, picking up part of her dress. Hinge forward at the hips. Move the chin long toward camera and up just a touch. Expression: Just a little smile. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Top of the head to above the waist. Angles: Camera is at her eyeline and slightly angled down. Tip: Picking up the dress as though she is going to run with it helps shape her arms around her body. 28. Cover Girl
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, have her reach down and pick up part of her dress at each side. Using mirror posing, show her a gentle motion of swishing the dress from side to side. Have her lean forward slightly and push the chin forward as she engages her shoulder. Expression: Start with a little smile and then light it up a little more. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Camera is at her eyeline and slightly angled down. Tip: People tend to speed this up and get excited when doing this motion. Make sure it is nice and slow, so you can get your shots. 29. Activat Movemen
Posing: From facing camera with feet shoulder width apart, use mirror posing to direct her to take one step across, bringing her to a 45-degree angle. Lead in with the same shoulder, letting the hand trail behind. Repeat the motion, taking the shot right on the movement. Also, do the other side. Step across and scoop with the shoulder. Expression: Light it up with a gorgeous smile. Also, do a laugh. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to mid-calf. Angles: Camera is at her eyeline and slightly angled down. Tip: Giving people a simple motion to repeat keeps them active and engaged. Keep it simple and easy to repeat. 30. Dancing Loo Back
Posing: With one foot forward face her 45 degrees to camera. Use mirror posing to direct movement. Lean forward, bending the elbow on the same side and pulling up a handful of skirt. Then, have her lean in more, giving a big laugh and shimmying the dress in a continuous movement. Expression: Start with an easy smile and then bring it up to a laugh that goes along with this fun movement. Composition: Above the head to just below the knee. Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Camera is at her eyeline and slightly angled down. Tip: There are not many reasons to be standing on your own without actually posing, so bringing in simple movements with a skirt or dress helps to keep this pose looking natural. 31. On the 45
Posing: With her facing camera directly with handfuls of skirt in both hands, use mirror posing to show her how to shimmy her shoulders. Elbows should be bent and going in little circles behind her. At the same time, have her lean forward and bring her chin forward and down. Expression: Have her smile and laugh. Keep doing the movement again and again until she relaxes and lets go. Composition: Above the head to below the knee. Above the head to above the knee. Angles: Camera is at her eyeline and slightly angled down. Tip: Many people will not feel comfortable moving and dancing in front of camera, so be sure to bring your energy up and be constantly talking, directing, and re-setting the pose to set them at ease. 32.Forward Shimmy
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, tuck her hands high in the waistline and bring them forward. Drop shoulders down and elbows back. Hinge the waist forward. Chin is long toward camera. Then, bring the arms down. Pop one hip out with the same hand just behind it. Hold the skirt with the other, showing a peek of thigh. Come up on the toes of that leg. Bring the chin forward a touch. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression and then bring in a touch of smile. Composition: Above the head to just below the waist. Above the head to just above the knee. Angles: Just below the eyes. Tip: I’m always giving hands something to do because it makes them look natural. Natural hands look incredible. 33. Cover Girl
Posing: Turn her body 45 degrees from camera with feet shoulder width apart. Pop right hip out. Go up on toe of left leg. Left hand holds the skirt, showing a peek of thigh. Look back at camera. Right arm rests on top of right thigh. Work right shoulder forward. Connect the chin to shoulder. Right hand takes up some dress. Look down the body line to the floor. Flick the dress with the hip. Expression: Start with the natural relaxed expression. Soften it, and then give a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Above the head to the knee. Above the head to below the knee. Angles: Camera is just below the eyes. Tip: When you give anyone a fun movement, such as flicking a dress with their hip, you are sure to get a big, natural smile. 34. Rotation
Posing: Demonstrate a dance step with mirror posing. Facing forward, step across with one foot, kicking the hip forward on the step. Keep the body open. Look down the body line on the step. Try different hand motions. Touch the body with the other floating behind. Bring hands up to different positions on each step. Expression: These are her natural expressions as she engages with the joy of movement. Composition: Above the head to the knee. Above the head to below the knee. Angles: Camera is just below the eyes. Tip: People are going to want to speed up when in motion. Slow them down and keep repeating until you are sure you’ve got what you want. 35. Dancing
Posing: With her body 90 degrees from camera and arms over her head, have her sway in place in a gentle, slow dance. Vary where she looks, sometimes up and sometimes down, with her face oriented toward camera. Expression: Go from relaxed to laughing. Composition: Above the head to the knees. Angles: Camera is just below her eyes. Tip: Just because someone knows how to dance and is relaxed in front of camera does not mean they will know how to shape their bodies for pictures. Take a bit of what they naturally do and repeat the parts you love. 36. Dancing with ArmFrame
Posing: Have her move back from camera, facing it directly. Using mirror posing, direct her to step toward camera, creating an S-bend in her figure by moving her hip. Let arms sway naturally. Next, take one falling step forward. As she comes in, have her bring the chin up as her body folds and arms move away. Expression: Bring in big gorgeous laughs. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to the knees. Angles: Camera is just below her eyes. Take the shot when she is closest to you. Tip: Everyone wants to go fast! Be sure to slow her down so you can get the shots you need. 37. Dancing Squar Camer
Posing: Have her step back and face the light, angled 45 degrees from camera. Use mirror posing to direct her to step forward and relax her arms back – loose and free. Next, bring the arms to the top of her head. Peekaboo through them. With a long chin look down the body line. Shake hips to move the dress. Expression: Have her go from laughter to stillness. Composition: Above the head to the floor. Above the head to the knees. Above the head to below the hips. Above the head to below the knees. Top of head to the waist. Angles: Camera is just below the eyes. Tip: I love smiles, laughs, and dancing, but for me, everything is about breath and stillness and letting the mouth completely relax. Stillness is absolutely perfect. 38. Dancing o h 45
Posing: With mirror posing, show her a simple side-to-side step that really kicks the dress out. Keep elbows in while hands go out. Experiment with head position – look to camera, down, up, and to the side. Expression: This is all about fun and joy. Composition: Above the head to below the knees. Angles: Camera is down at chest level. Tip: Focus in on one simple movement. Then, instead of taking 300 shots and being able to pull a few, you’ll be able to get exactly what you want. 39. Dancing Side to Side
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, turn her 45 degrees from the wall. Bring one hip forward by leaning her front shoulder down to the elbow against the wall. Rest that hand against the body, creating an S-shape. The other hand touches the thigh and slides up. Bring that elbow back, but not out. Move around her, shifting her hips to stay at 45 degrees to camera and resetting the chin to face camera. Let the back knee fall across. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: With someone tall, you can shoot nice and low. Camera is level with her breastbone and slightly tilted down. Tip: When posing people standing by the wall, I want to make sure I can get at least my arm between them and the wall so they have room to kick their hip forward. 40. Basic Lean
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, turn her 45 degrees from the wall. Wrap the arm farthest from camera across the body, resting her hand on the side of her waist. Bring the other arm underneath, gently cupping the elbow. Push the shoulder closest to camera slightly forward. Bending the front leg brings an S-shape into the body. Experiment with chin and hand positions. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Camera is level with her breastbone and slightly tilted down. Tip: Make sure when you're shooting from the side that you can see where the forearm goes as it wraps around the body. Don’t cut it off awkwardly. 41. Arm Crossed
Posing: Facing the wall, rest both hands against it just below the breast line. Bend the back knee, moving closer till the knee touches the wall. Chin follows camera. Work the shoulder. Next, drop the hands. Then, turn her, so she has her back to the wall in the same position. Bend the front knee. Rest her hand on the upper thigh. Create an S-bend in the body by bringing the bottom and shoulder back, closer to the wall. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Camera is level with her breastbone and slightly tilted down. Tip: This pose is really beautiful at the edge of a large window, using natural light. 42.Fac h Wal & Revers
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, turn her 45 degrees from the wall. Lean her back so her front shoulder touches the wall. Open the shoulders, keeping the bottom slightly away from the wall. Back hand touches the thigh and slides up. Relax arm closest to camera, tucking it slightly behind the body. Drop the front shoulder more to create a deeper lean. As you move around her, reset her chin to face camera. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to the hips. Angles: Camera is level with her breastbone and slightly tilted down. Experiment with moving around her. Tip: Wall poses are a great place to start with clients because they are more comfortable and confident with a wall to lean on. Try starting your session here. 43. Deeper Lean
Posing: From facing forward, have her step the foot farthest from the wall back, bringing her 45 degrees to camera. With her weight on the back foot, hinge forward at the waist. Leaning against the wall with her front side, tuck that hand behind her body near the wall. The other arm slides up the hip as the elbow goes back, bringing an S-shape to the front. Open her shoulder back and tilt the chin forward. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to below the hip. Angles: Assess all your angles. Wherever you go, adjust her shoulders and bring her chin along -- aligned to camera. Shoot slightly above her eyeline and slightly angled down. Tip: Walls provide a foundation for people to lean on, making them feel safe and comfortable. You can find a wall to shoot on anywhere! 44. Explor Angle
Posing: Facing forward with one foot stepped back and the body 45 degrees to camera, place her weight on the back foot as she hinges forward at the waist. Her front arm leans onto the wall – tucked behind with a little bend. Now, come up on the front foot’s toe. Slide the other arm up the hip as the elbow goes back, bringing in an hourglass shape. Tilt into the shoulder. Bring the chin to camera. Expression: Begin with a natural, relaxed expression. Light up with a smile. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to top of the thigh. Just above the head to the waist. Angles: Start nice and close. Then, experiment with moving farther away and around. Open her body up and close it down as you try different angles. Camera is just above her eyeline and slightly down. Tip: Decide how much arm and shoulder to show as you come in nice and tight. Widen the frame to include more of her shape as she engages more of her body in the pose. 45. Shap & Expressio
Posing: Facing forward with one foot stepped back and the body 45 degrees to camera, her front arm leans against the wall – tucked behind with a little bend. Come up on the front toe, engaging the knee. Her back arm slides up the hip with the elbow back, bringing in an hourglass shape. Her front arm and chin move to camera as her right shoulder and elbow become more free. Expression: We move from her natural, relaxed expression to some big, gorgeous smiles. Composition: Above the head to the top of the thigh. Angles: Camera is just above eyeline and slightly tilted down. Experiment with how near and far you are to her. Tip: Wall poses are perfect for powerful personal branding shots. The wall is going to win every single time. 46. Angle & Expressio
Posing: With feet parallel to the wall, brush the wall with one shoulder. Shift her weight to the outside foot, creating a slight bend at the knee of the other leg. Touch the outer thigh and slide up, creating an hourglass shape. The back of the other hand rests lightly against the inside leg, creating a diamond shape between the body and arm. Head tilts slightly. Push chin forward toward camera. Then, come up on the toes of the bent leg, accentuating the hourglass more. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression and move to a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Above the head to above the hip. Above the head to above the knee. Angles: Camera is level with chin and tilted slightly down. Tip: Creating space between the body and the arms allows light through, accentuating those gorgeous curves. 47. On Shoulder Lea
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, lean her back so both shoulders gently touch the wall. Shift weight to the foot closest to camera. Close hand touches the inner thigh, sliding up a bit. Turn shoulder slightly forward, opening space along her back line. Chin comes toward camera. Next, move around her. Open up the body by bringing one shoulder and her head off the wall. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to above the knee. Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to above the hip. Angles: Camera is level with chin and tilted slightly down. Experiment with moving around her, keeping chin toward camera. Tip: This pose allows you to play with shoulder movement and your rotation around her to create a variety of looks. 48. Bu Wal
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, lean her back so both shoulders gently touch the wall. Shift her weight to the back foot. Front arm crosses around the waist and holds the opposite elbow. Front shoulder drops slightly. Bring chin to camera. Next, drop the hands. Front hand gently touches the wall. The other hand rests on the thigh. Drop the shoulder to create space. Bring chin to camera. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression and move to a big smile. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Camera is at eye-level and slightly tilted down. Move around the subject to capture the look back. Tip: When shooting against the wall, be sure to rotate around your subject to capture a variety of angles and to see how the light falls from different positions. I like to go at least 90 degrees around, if not a full 180 degrees. 49. Personal Branding & Look Back
Posing: With feet shoulder width apart, lean her back so both shoulders gently touch the wall. Shift her weight to the back foot. Next, roll the body off the wall toward the camera keeping the torso tucked back and creating an hourglass shape in the body. Then, keeping the shoulder and hip against the wall, rotate the body more to face camera. Bring the outside hand onto that hip. Other hand tucks against the wall. Now, bring arms up, crossing under the breast line. Finally, roll back so both shoulders touch the wall. Hands go to the decolletage. Chin to camera and work the shoulder to the chin. Expression: Start with a slight smile and move to a full smile. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Angles: Camera is at eye-level and slightly tilted down. Rotate around the subject to capture different looks. Tip: Make sure the subject does not lean their head against the wall. It’s natural to do this, but it is more flattering to engage the head by bringing it off the wall. 50. Bring i h Hand
Posing: Facing camera, seat her on the floor on one hip with legs out to the side. Bring the hand the weight is resting on up to the fingertips and a little back with the thumb facing forward. The other hand rests across the lap with the wrist on the thigh. Bring the top leg forward. Release the hair loose across her shoulder. Chin moves to camera and down. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-thigh. Above the head to below the knee. Just above the head to the waist. Angles: Camera is at her chest and level to the floor. Tip: With long features, it’s important to soften the posture and bring lots of bends into their shape. 51. Cover Girl
Posing: Sitting on the floor facing camera on one hip with legs out to the side, rotate the body so thighs are parallel to camera and torso is 45 degrees to camera. Bring the supporting hand in front and drape the other arm across the legs. Chin pushes toward camera. Soften posture. Work the front shoulder. Connect chin to shoulder. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression and then bring in a little smirk. Composition: Above the head to the knees. Just above the head to the hips. Top of the head to the top of the hips. Angles: Camera is at her chest and level to the floor. Experiment with coming closer for tighter crops. Moving around her, bring the light. Tip: Just shrinking her down about 2 or 3 inches brings so many shapes into her body. 52. Half Rotation
Posing: Sitting on the floor facing the camera on one hip with thighs parallel to camera and torso at 45 degrees, bring the top leg up with the foot facing forward. Front arm rests in the lap. Back arm rests on raised knee. Fingers fall down toward camera. Square the shoulders to camera. Relax the posture, bringing space between the breast line and thigh. Chin comes forward and slightly down. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to mid-hip. Above the head to low hip. Top of head to waist. Just above the head to the waist. Angles: Camera is at her chest and level to the floor. As you bring it down, bring the chin with it. Tip: People can't see themselves, so they need constant feedback. Don’t tell them what they do wrong. Focus on positive affirmations that they are doing a good job. It makes all the difference in the world for them. 53. Kne U
Posing: From seated on the floor, turn her body so the torso is 90 degrees from camera. Stack legs one on top of the other. Lean forward and soften the torso. Bring her hands out to the sides, resting on the fingertips in front. Straighten the head. Bring chin around to the shoulder. Next, bring the shoulder farther forward. Squish her hair to give it volume that fills the frame. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to just above the elbow. Just above the head to below the elbow. Far above the head to mid-forearm. In the hairline to above the elbow. Angles: Camera is at her chest and then just level to the floor. Experiment with going lower and moving around her. When she softens her back more, frame diagonally, so she fills it from top to bottom. Tip: When doing a rotation shot, make sure you have a gorgeous soft shoulder in front and can see the breast line. Bring the knee down so it isn't sticking up into the frame. 54. Look Back
Posing: Lying on her tummy, bring one hand to the front pointed away from camera. Cross the other one over at the wrist. Push the hands out, making sure the torso stays lifted and the chest off the floor. Tilt her head. Next, bring one elbow out. Place fingertips behind the head. Lift one hip up and the left knee slightly forward – just enough to cross over the other heel. Bring the chin forward and straight down. Then, work the front shoulder with the chin toward it. Lastly, fluff the hair. Hide the fingertips in it. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to below the body on the floor. Get all her limbs in the frame. Angles: Begin just below eye level. When you shoot lower, bring her face down along with camera. Tip: This posture relies on core strength to lift the torso, and your client will feel the strain in their lower back. Younger people hold this more easily than older people. Don’t keep them here for too long. 55. Littl Ca
Posing: Have her lie on her back. Use a towel or piece of black cloth to bring her head off the floor. Bring her hands up over her head and to one side. Project the chin forward. Kick one hip out to the side to bring an S-shape into her body. Then, touch the fingers together over her head. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to below the hip. In the hair to above the waist. Angles: Begin shooting high. As you flow around, have her face follow. Then, come down low. Tip: When people lie on their backs in a relaxed position, they can lose neck definition. Putting something under the head allows them to project the chin forward, bringing back that definition, and you can hide it with their hair. 56. On the Back
Posing: Place an apple box under the subject’s bottom. Stand another apple box on end beside the subject. With her weight on the front hip, stack the knees and point the feet away from camera. Recline forward, resting an elbow on the standing apple box. The other hand touches the outside of the thigh, sliding up as the elbow tucks in. The hand shapes the body, creating an hourglass. Relax the wrist and fingers. Chin follows camera. Expression: Start with a natural, relaxed expression and move toward a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Top of head to above the hips. Top of head to below the hips. Angles: Lens is slightly above the eye level and tilted down. Tip: When on the floor, a small white reflector helps bounce more light into the subject’s face. A piece of white foamcore works perfectly for this. 57. Arm on Apple Box
Posing: Lay 4 apple boxes or a large, firm cushion on the floor. Rest her upper body on top of it with hips on the edge and knees on the floor. Lean on the elbows to support the upper body. Relax forearm, wrists, and fingers to create a delicate, soft shape. From here, lift the torso up nice and tall. Bring the chin forward and down. Then, bring the chin up, playing with angles. Expression: Start with a natural, relaxed expression and move into a soft smile. Composition: Fingertips to the hips. Angles: Start with the camera slightly above eye level, but experiment with moving lower. Tip: Communication is key. This pose can be uncomfortable to hold for some clients. Coach them through it, explaining that you are there to make them look gorgeous while still maintaining comfort and safety. Have them relax their upper body in between shots before lifting back up into the pose. 58. Littl Ca
Posing: Lay 4 apple boxes or a large, firm cushion on the floor. Rest her upper body on top of it with hips on the edge and knees on the floor. Lean on the elbows to support the upper body. From here, lift the torso up nice and tall, bringing the chin up. Bring the back hand up into the hair, gently resting it against the head. Then, try bringing the chin forward and down. Expression: Start with a soft smile, moving into a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Fingertips to hips. Angles: Lens is slightly below eye level. Tip: When you elevate her upper body, you can drop the angle of the lens down, creating a more fashion look. 59. Hand i Hair
Posing: Lay 4 apple boxes or a large, firm cushion on the floor. Have her rest her upper body on top of it with hips on the edge and knees on the floor. Lean on the elbows to support the upper body. Bring the front arm forward. Bring the back elbow in and tuck hand under chin. Soften hands and fingers to create a delicate shape. Expression: Start with a soft smile, moving into a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Top of head to the hips. Angles: Lens is slightly below eye level. Tip: Body language is everything! Experiment with the angle of the chin and with connecting it to the shoulder as well as with the positioning of the hands and arms to create a variety of looks. 59. Hand Under Chi
Posing: Seat her on the floor, leaning on one hand. Bring feet and legs together and move them 45 degrees to camera. Touch top leg with hand. Work front shoulder toward camera. Next, bring the chin closer to the shoulder. The head pushes up from the back of the neck. Chin stays forward and engaged with shoulder as it follows the camera. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression. Then, add a soft smile. Composition: Above the head to the knees. Just above the head to above the knees. Just above the head to just below the hips. Just above the head to the top of the hips. Angles: Camera is below the chin and angled up a little bit. Start in front of her and move to the side. Move in closer. Tip: When someone is leaning on one arm, it is easy to bunch the shoulder up. Bringing her onto her fingertips helps maintain space in the shoulder and neck area. 61. Legs on 45
Posing: Seated on the floor with the legs together and 45 degrees from camera, bring the top leg up and lean the same elbow on it. The hand floats in space with soft fingers. The other hand is near the hip with fingers pointed out. Lift the head up from the shoulders and bring the chin forward, connecting it to the shoulder. Next, bring the pose around to face camera. Bring the formerly supporting hand through the legs to hold down the skirt. Tilt the head slightly. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression. Then bring in a soft smile. Composition: Above the head to below the knees. Whole Body. Above the head to above the knees. Angles: Camera is below the chin and angled up a little bit. Tip: You never want to position the client’s hand up too high on the crotch. It just looks bad. 62. Ar o Kne
Posing: Seated on the floor with both legs together and 90 degrees from camera, instruct her to soften her back without rolling the shoulders too far forward. Bring the chin all the way around to camera. Then, bring the chin all the way down toward the shoulder and the shoulder up a little bit more. Next, create a little space there. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Her whole body, cropping above the head. Just above the head to the elbow. Just above the head to above the elbow. Angles: Camera is below the chin and angled up a little bit. Tip: I don’t usually make it about the legs in the seated rotation. It’s all about the upper body for me. 64. Look Back
Posing: Lie her on the floor diagonally. Bring one knee forward to put a little bump in her backside. Right hand comes forward. Left hand crosses over it. Lift up through the core. Bring chin around to front shoulder. Hands come closer to the body to bring her up. Soften and relax the fingers. Cross the feet at the ankles. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above her head to the knee. Angles: Camera is quite low – just below her chin. Move around all angles to see where she looks best. Tip: Tuck the leg in over the calf, so that it makes a beautiful shape and doesn’t look cut off by disappearing from view. 65. Littl Ca
Posing: Lie her on the floor diagonally. Bring one knee forward to put a little bump in her backside. The right hand fingertips come up into her hair. Fall forward a little bit and then lift up from the core. Connect chin to shoulder. Next, bring both hands up on one side just below the ear. Expression: Start with her natural, relaxed expression. Then, bring in a nice easy smile and a big, gorgeous smile. Composition: Above the head to the knee. Angles: Camera is at the chin or just a little above. Tip: As we get older, we have less flexibility in the back and ability to lift up from the core in this pose. Be mindful of your client’s flexibility and level of comfort in this pose. 65. Hand i Hair
Posing: Lying on the floor, come up on one hip, resting the weight on the elbows. The top knee comes forward, bringing an hourglass shape into the hip. Soften the fingers. Lift up from the core. Push the chin forward. Next, bring the back hand up, resting the fingertips in the hair behind the head. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Above the head to just above the knee. Above the head to below the hip. Angles: Begin shooting above her chin. Then, come below her chin, having her bring down her face to connect with camera. Tip: When clients are lying on the floor like this, you need to describe to them how to lift up from their core to bring their bodies off the ground. Don’t keep them there too long. 66. Hip Up
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, face her straight to camera. Adjust the table height, so she can lean forward in a comfortable and flattering way. Lean on elbow. Cross one arm in front of the other, moving slightly to one side, creating a triangle under one arm and highlighting the hourglass curve of her hip. Point chin toward camera. Next, move the table and upper body 45 degrees from camera. Chin goes toward camera. Then, rotate farther, showing the back line. Chin follows camera. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of the head to top of the table. Angles: The lens is just below eye level with no tilt. Tip: Using a posing table is a great way to get a wide variety of seated poses that incorporate the hands in a natural way. 67. Folded Arms
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, face her 45 degrees to camera. Bring chin to camera. Rest one hand on the side of the neck. Rest the other arm on the table. Relax the hand and fingers. Next, chin comes down. Work the front shoulder. Then, bring the elbow of the raised hand toward the center of the body, tucking the hand farther back on the neck so just the pinky is visible. Bring the chin toward the palm of the hand without touching it. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to top of the table. Angles: Camera is just below eye level, slightly tilted down. Tip: Adding a fan will bring beautiful movement into the hair – a lovely complement to this pose. 68. One Arm Up
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, face her straight to camera. Bring her elbows together with one hand coming up to the side of her neck and the other to the side of her face. Gently touch with fingertips. Bring chin up toward the camera. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to top of table. Angles: Camera is just below eye level and slightly tilted down. Tip: The easiest way to prevent hands from being dominant is to move them back so the side of the hand is pointed toward camera. 69. Both Arms Up
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, face her straight to camera. With elbows resting on the table, gently cup both hands to one side of the neck. Then, bring the hands together and gently caress the throat. Next, slowly bring the hands down across opposite shoulders, gently hugging them. Bring the chin toward camera. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to top of the table. Angles: Camera is just below eye level and slightly tilted down. Tip: Play with the hand position, looking for asymmetry and also at what looks most natural for the subject. 70. Variations
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, bring both forearms to rest on the table just beneath the chin. Sit up nice and tall. Bring the right elbow out just a little farther than the left elbow. Chin comes slightly forward toward camera. As you move around her, the chin follows camera. Next, bring one hand up, connecting to the upper arm. Chin comes up just a touch and head tilts slightly. Expression: Begin with a natural, relaxed expression and then bring in a nice, easy smile. Composition: Above the head to below the arms. Angles: Begin at 45 degrees to her. Then, come around to face her square on. Next go a little farther. Camera is slightly above her eyeline and angled a little down. Tip: The table shouldn’t get higher than the breast line. Make sure it is below it. 71. Folded Arms
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, bring both forearms to rest on the table just beneath the chin. Sit up nice and tall. Bring one hand up and touch the neck to frame the face. Chin comes forward. Relax the fingers of the other hand. Bring chin to camera. Lift out of the neck. Keep the left shoulder activated. Tilt the head slightly with a long neck. Expression: Start with a natural, relaxed expression and then bring in the smile. Composition: Above the head to below the arms. Angles: Camera is slightly above the eyes and tilted down. Tip: When getting the client to relax their fingers, I always say “ballet hands.” It helps to wiggle the fingers to keep them activated. 72. One Arm Up
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, bring one arm down across the table to reach to the corner of the table. Bring the table out a little so that she can really lean on it without squishing the bosom. Float the other hand softly over it, showing off her jewelry. Bring the head up and the chin toward camera. Expression: Start with a little smile and then light it up. Composition: Above her head to below her arms. Angles: Bring the camera down with her as she moves down, staying just above her eyes and slightly tilted down. Tip: Clients will face their hands toward the camera in this pose, but don’t let them. Put hands 45 degrees to camera. 73. Littl Ca
Posing: Sitting at a pose table, bring both forearms to rest on the table just beneath the chin. Sit up nice and tall. Bring one hand up under the chin and lean forward on it. Expression: These are nice, easy smiles. Composition: Above the head to below the arms. Angles: Camera is slightly above the eyes and tilted down. Tip: Get nice length in the neck and then come in over the hand to lean on it. 74. Hand Under Chi
Posing: Adjust posing table so she can lean on her elbows without rolling her shoulders forward. Ideally, keep waist taper visible. Fold arms below the chin with one elbow slightly to one side. Cross the inner arm over, draping the hand softly across the other arm. Sit up nice and tall. Push chin toward camera. Next, bring one elbow closer to center. One hand comes up and softly cups the neck. Lean forward slightly on the other arm. Keep fingers soft. Chin comes forward and down. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to waist. Angles: Camera is at chin level and slightly angled up. Tip: These beauty shots are all about the styling. Choose wardrobe and accessories that highlight your subject’s unique personality. 75. Variations
Posing: Resting elbows on table, bring both hands toward one corner of the table at a diagonal. Rest one hand on top of the other with soft fingers. Position the table so arms are angled away from camera. Elongate the body, loosening up the shoulder. Rotate it toward camera. Chin comes to camera. Next, move table farther away so the subject can lie over it. Elongate the neck and shoulder. Chin comes to camera. Expression: Start with a big laugh before moving to a soft smile. Composition: Top of head to waist. Angles: Camera is at chin level and slightly angled up. Move around the subject to capture her from various angles, especially from 45 degrees. Tip: It is natural for the subject to scrunch up the shoulders in this pose, so be sure to encourage her to elongate the upper body and re-engage their core as you shoot. 76. Littl Ca
Posing: Have her lean over the table while maintaining a long torso. Resting elbows on the table, bring one forearm down to rest. The other hand rests under the chin. Keep fingers soft. Next, bring the hand out as though holding an imaginary cigarette. Expression: Move from a soft smile to a big, beautiful smile. Composition: Top of head to waist line. Angles: Camera is at chin level and slightly angled up. Tip: When incorporating hands into a portrait, to avoid them dominating the image, it’s important to have the subject move them around until they find a position that looks soft and natural. 77. One Hand Up
Posing: Lean her elbows on a posing table. Tuck one forearm close to the body. Gently hug the elbow with the opposite hand. Elongate the upper body. Open the shoulders. Lengthen the neck. Push chin forward. Next, bring a hand up to the outside of the shoulder, wrapping it around with the thumb down. Lift the head and chin up. Slightly tilt the head. Then, drop both hands to the table. Back elbow slides in line with the front forearm. Soften fingers. Lengthen the neck. Bring chin to camera. Expression: This is her natural, relaxed expression. Composition: Top of head to waist line. Angles: Camera is at chin level and slightly angled up. Tip: This pose is perfect for incorporating fun accessories like flowers, scarves, and bold jewelry – anything that will frame the face and decolletage. 78. Arm Crossed