Pose Like a Top Model

Many people would love to learn how to pose like a model. You may want to send some pictures to an agency in hopes of getting a job. You may simply want to have some fun with a camera and get some flattering photos. There are many tips and tricks professional models use to take high-quality, flattering pictures.

Steps

Positioning Your Head

1. Look away from the camera. If you want to pose like a model, do not look directly into the camera. When posing as a model, you'll rarely be striking a pose where your head is pointed directly at the camera. You'll usually have your face turned away slightly. Therefore, it can look unnatural to have your eyes pointed at the camera.
   • It's a good rule of thumb to follow your nose with your eyes. Look straight out over your nose. This will make your gaze look natural.
   • Many people feel they look somewhat bug-eyed when gazing directly at the camera, especially if their head is turned to the side. You also may feel more self conscious when staring at the camera, which can affect your expression in subtle, unconscious ways.
2. Keep your chin forward and down. If you raise your chin forward slightly, and then tip it downward, this elongates your neck and makes your jawline more pronounced. This can be a slimming look that highlights your facial features.
   • However, if you're posing from a side profile, this method can make you look like a turtle poking its head out of its shell. Hold your head in a more natural position for side profile shots.
3. Try an open mouthed look. If you don't plan on smiling in a photo, open your mouth slightly. This is a small change, but one that can completely alter the feel of a photograph. If your mouth is closed, your jawline can clench. The expression can also look bored and neutral. Opening your mouth gives the picture an intimate, inviting feel.
   • You do not need to open your mouth too much. This can look forced or unnatural. Just open your mouth slightly, parting your lips by less than a centimeter. The effect will be subtle, but can change the tone of a photo drastically.
   • If you choose to smile for a picture instead, go for a natural smile. Try to think of a happy moment or funny memory to try and provoke a smile.
4. Elongate your neck. It's important you look as slim and stretched out as possible in a model photograph. Therefore, try to elongate your neck when the picture is being taken. Depending on the angle, your neck can easily look smaller and shorter than normal on camera. Stretching your neck outward can prevent this problem.
   • Before the picture is taken, raise your head upward. You may even want to turn your face up slightly.
   • If you're looking to the side in a picture, try looking up a little. This can stretch your neck out, creating a slimming appearance.

Posing with Your Lower Body

1. Separate your limbs from your body. Make sure to lift your limbs away from your body slightly. Do this regardless of what angle the photographer shoots from.
   • Lift your arms away from your body and spread out your legs slightly so they are not touching.
   • Not only does this give you a slimmer appearance overall, it prevents legs and arms from being squashed against other body parts, causing fat to be more noticeable.
2. Create a false waist. For women, a false waist can be a great trick for modeling. If you want to slim down some and add some curves for the camera, try creating a fake waist. To do this, shift your hips out to one side. This enhances your natural curves and makes your waist look more pronounced.
   • Do not shift your hips too far out. This makes it obvious that you're trying to create a waist for yourself. Just shifting your hips slightly to one side is enough to enhance your curves and give you a slimmed down appearance.
3. Keep your hands loose. Many people are unsure what to do with their hands in a photograph. You may awkwardly bunch them up without realizing it. Strive to keep your hands loose and relaxed as this has a more natural, inviting feel.
   • Keep your middle finger slightly lower than your other fingers.
   • Allow all your fingers to curve inward slightly.
   • Avoid showing the back of your hands, if possible. The backs of hands are less delicate than your palms.
4. Move your feet. Many model shoots are done from the waist up. However, if you're taking a full body shot, keep your feet fluid.
   • You can pose as if you're walking or running. You can also lift one foot up slightly, bending your knee a bit.
   • You can have a photographer try a few action shots of you jumping or dancing.
5. Lean forward and hunch your back. When being photographed, lean forward slightly. Then, hunch your back. While doing this, pull your navel towards your spine. This enhances the appearance of your bust, for women, and is generally a slimming look for people of all genders.
6. Emphasize your shoulders. This is a trick that works well for both men and women. If you do something to emphasize the appearance of your shoulders, this will make your hips look narrower for women. For men, raising the shoulders can enhance existing muscle. Raise your shoulders slightly in pictures. When taking a photo from the side, turn your shoulders towards the camera, increasing their apparent size.
   • As you raise your shoulders, you may want to move them back slightly as well. This can have a slight slimming effect.
7. Turn your knees inward. Another way to make your hips look slimmer is to turn your knees inward. Not only is this slimming, turning your knees inward can create the appearance of a thigh gap. Most people do not naturally have a thigh gap, but it is often sought out in modeling.
   • You can also bend one knee forward. This can look cute as a pose and also creates the illusion of a thigh gap.
8. Cross your arms and legs. Many male models cross their arms in photo shoots. This is a fun and casual pose that can give you a devil-may-care persona. If you're a male model, try incorporating this pose.
   • Cross your arms, but lift your arms forward slightly as you do so. This will allow you to slim down your arms as you pose.
   • Cross one leg in front of the other when standing. Allow one leg to support more body weight so the photo does not look awkward.

Creating a Distinctive Model Pose

1. Keep your personality in mind. Certain models are known for their distinctive personalities, which they bring into every photo shoot. If you want to be a top model, choose a pose that emulates your distinct attitude.
   • Dorian Leigh was known for her distinct brand of femininity. Twiggy was known for her charm and girlishness. Jon Kortajarena was known for sex appeal. Sean O' Pry was known for his coy attitude.
   • What is unique about you? Do you have a special personality trait you can use as a model? Say you're a little quirky. Maybe you can smile more widely or laugh during pictures. Are you a brooding, serious type? Consider gazing off screen during pictures. Try to make it look like you were lost in thought when the photo was taken.
2. Keep it simple. Remember, the primary focus of the picture is you and not the pose. You want your expression and looks to speak for themselves. Do not get too caught up fancy footwork or weird arm movements. While it's okay to have fun and be creative when posing, your pose should not overshadow you. Sometimes, a simple pose is great.
   • Try to relax. Practice taking a few pictures of yourself standing in a way that feels natural. Smile or give an open-mouthed gaze at the camera. Remember your personality. If you're a serious person, give a serious look. If you're fun-loving, offer a grin. See what works and what feels natural.
   • For example, say your realize you look great from your left side. You can simply stand, with your left side turned slightly to the camera. Place your hands on your hips, slimming down your waist and arms. Turn your head towards the camera, remembering not to look directly at the lens. Then, offer an expression that suits you. Smile if you want to smile or open your mouth slightly while gazing into space thoughtfully. This is a simple pose that can allow your personality to shine.
3. Pay attention to your whole body. Modeling is stressful. When striking a pose, it can be easy to forget certain body parts. For example, you may unconsciously clench your fists when nervous. Try to pay attention to your whole body as you pose.
   • Right before the photos begin, do a quick body check. Move from your head, to your neck, to your shoulders, and so on, making sure everything is posed accordingly.
   • The hands are often neglected. Remember to keep your hands loose and your fingers bent slightly. Also, remember to bounce your shoulders up a bit. This is another body part that is often forgotten when focusing on getting the right expression.
   • Pay attention to your feet and legs if you're doing a full body shot. Remember, standing straight up can look awkward. Try to bend your knee a little, lifting one foot off the ground. If you're doing an action shot, move as if you're running or walking.
4. Do some research. Before choosing a pose of your own, doing some research can help. Browse advertisements and websites like Pinterest and Instagram, looking for pictures of models and photo-shoots. Pay attention to how models are posing.
   • Vogue, Glamour, and V Magazine are great places to look for poses. Pay attention to how the models use their bodies. Are they turned directly to the camera, or slightly to the side? How do they hold their arms? How do they use their hands? Are their legs held stiff or bent slightly?
   • You can also Google image things like "pose" and "models." Practice emulating some poses in front of a mirror. Have a friend help, asking him or her to tell which poses look natural and fun for you.

Avoiding Pitfalls

1. Switch poses. If you're taking a series of model photos, strike a lot of different poses. Experimenting with different photos can help you find your best angles. If you plan on modeling professionally, you also want to have nice photos of you from a variety of angles. This allows a potential agent or employer to get a sense of your range.
2. Study other models. Modeling is like any other craft. You can learn a lot by studying what came before you. Look through magazines ads, websites, and other places where you're likely to find models posing.
   • Study their expressions. It can be hard to figure out how to do a model look, but watch how professional models hold their eyes and mouth. See if you can try and match that expression.
   • Look at models you admire. If you're not a fan of a particular model's aesthetic, it'll be hard for you to follow in that person's footsteps. Just like a writer whose idol is William Faulkner wouldn't try to imitate Hemingway, you shouldn't strive to emulate a model whose taste you dislike. Find models you find personally inspiring and try to learn from them.
3. Stay relaxed. If you feel nervous during a modeling shoot, this apprehension may show up in photographs. Strive to stay relaxed throughout the shoot. Your pictures will turn out more natural.
   • Try to breathe slowly and deeply. This can help your body slow down and stay calm.
   • Take breaks as necessary. If you feel yourself getting agitated, stop for 10 minutes and take a short walk to relax.

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Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by Katya Shaposhnikova

See also

• Pose Like a Male Model
• Become a Model
• Make Money As a Webcam Model
• Become a Successful Runway Model
• Build a Modeling Portfolio
• Get Into Male Modeling
• Be a Catalog Model
• Become a Hand Model
• Become an Alternative Model
• Be a Playboy Bunny

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