Mastering the Pose: How to Guide Clients for Stunning Portraits

In this article, we will help you get the best out of your session by giving you tips on not only how to guide your clients through poses but also how to prepare them and help them relax in front of the camera. 

So without further ado, let’s get started!

Understanding Your Client’s Comfort Level

It all begins with understanding how comfortable your client is in front of a camera and their previous experience. For those clients who have had a great deal of experience, you will have less work to do in guiding them, as they may already have their favourite poses. For those with little or no experience, you will need to guide them almost every step of the way. However, even a beginner with no experience may need little guidance because what ultimately matters is their comfort level.

To gauge their comfort level, start by suggesting a few simple poses and observe the client’s body language and facial expressions. Look for any tension in the shoulders and face, and if you notice any, begin working on relaxation techniques, which we will discuss in the following section.

For clients who are more shy, stick with simple poses until they loosen up. Keep observing the overall energy and vibe that the client is giving off before moving on to more advanced posing techniques.

You may also like: How to Pose and Angle the Body for Better Portraits

Relaxation Techniques to Calm Clients in Portrait Sessions

A client’s overall experience impacts how they view the final images. If they had a stressful or uncomfortable session, they’re less likely to appreciate the photos. On the other hand, a positive, enjoyable shoot will create fond memories and leave them with a favourable impression of the images.

By creating a relaxed, encouraging atmosphere and building their confidence with positive feedback, you’ll help your clients feel comfortable enough to try more elaborate poses and get the best results possible.

Over time, I’ve developed various methods to help shy clients relax more quickly. Here are some of my favourites:

1. Don’t Jump Straight In

Starting your session immediately after the meeting doesn’t allow your client time to relax, especially if it’s your first time working together. Instead, spend some time walking and talking before even pulling your camera out of your bag. This helps ease any initial tension and allows the client to feel more at ease without the immediate pressure of posing. Use this time to build rapport, discuss the shoot, and get a better sense of the client’s goals and confidence level in front of the camera.

2. “I’m Just Taking Some Test Shots”

Begin the session by taking test shots. Ask your client to stand still while you “adjust your settings.” This lets them settle into being in front of the camera without worrying about the outcome of the initial shots. If the client is especially shy, take a little extra time with your “test shots,” giving them more space to acclimate to the experience.

3. Keep It Simple

Once test shots are done, ease the client into the session with simple poses. Warm-up time isn’t just for photographers, models need it too. Starting with easy poses helps the client relax. Pay attention to their body language, looking for any tension in their shoulders or face. Once you notice signs of relaxation, you can move on to more intricate poses.

4. Demonstrate

If a client struggles to follow verbal instructions, show them exactly what you want them to do. For those new to posing, uncertainty about whether they’re doing it “right” can add stress. By demonstrating poses yourself, you eliminate that doubt and make the process smoother for them.

5. Keep It Light

Bring humour and levity to your session. While capturing stunning portraits is your goal, taking the process too seriously can add unnecessary pressure on the client. This tension can show in their expressions and posture. Use lighthearted feedback and encouragement to help them feel at ease. If you need them to adjust, focus on framing your feedback positively to maintain a supportive environment.

Guiding Poses During the Shoot

Once you’ve gauged that the client has grown more comfortable, it’s time to work on various poses for stunning portraits. Start by keeping the poses very simple and gradually build up to ones that require more confidence. Jumping into complex poses too early can leave clients feeling awkward and tense, which often shows up in photos through stiff body language and facial expressions. Let’s take a look at some examples:

First Few Poses

Begin by giving your client an example of what you want from them by standing next to them and demonstrating the pose. Whether standing or sitting, keep the pose simple. 

One tip I love is to give the client something to do with their hands, either crossing their arms, putting hands in pockets, or placing them on their hips. People often feel unsure about what to do with their hands, so incorporating them early can ease any initial awkwardness. 

The first few photos are rarely used, so treat them as warm-up shots to help the client relax.

Micro-Adjustments

Instead of jumping from one pose to another, build up to more elaborate poses by making micro-adjustments. Subtle changes, such as tilting the head, shifting weight to one leg, or adjusting the hands, will feel like natural movements rather than big changes that could make the client feel unsure. Demonstrate the adjustments yourself and give clear, simple instructions alongside positive feedback.

Interactive Poses

If the client continues to struggle with tension, incorporate movement and props into the shoot. This shifts their focus to their actions rather than their posture, helping them feel more natural. Interactive poses can also provide them with something to do with their hands or a chance to look away from the camera if direct eye contact has been an issue.

If tension persists, introducing movement or props can redirect their focus. Lastly, building up poses with micro-adjustments allows the client to flow naturally through the session rather than attempting complex poses right from the start. By guiding your client in this way, you’ll ensure they feel relaxed and capable of delivering great results.

You may also like: References for Portrait Photography – Inspiration & Free PDF

Common Posing Mistakes

To ensure a successful shoot, it's essential to avoid common pitfalls that can make clients appear awkward, tense, or uncomfortable in photos. These mistakes often stem from a lack of experience in front of the camera. Help your clients feel at ease by keeping the mood lighthearted, providing clear and simple instructions, and starting with easy poses to build their confidence.

Remember, most clients are not professional models and may have little to no posing experience. The more relaxed and comfortable they feel, the more natural and stunning their final portraits will be.

Mistake 1: Stiff, Unnatural Posture

Pay attention to any tension in the shoulders or overall posture. If your client feels self-conscious, they may unconsciously stiffen up. Encourage relaxed poses to help them loosen up. Watch for straight, rigid limbs, as they often signal discomfort—guiding them to bend at the joints will create a more natural look.

Of course, expressive emotions can sometimes make the body positioning less than perfect, but that’s okay! A body photo editor can always help refine small details. However, a stiff, unnatural posture is much harder to fix. It’s better to capture genuine, dynamic expressions, as no editing tool can replicate the energy of a truly natural moment.

Mistake 2: Forced and Tense Facial Expressions

Clients may have practiced expressions in front of a mirror, but during the shoot, their faces can appear stiff without the benefit of a reflection. Pay attention to the difference between their face when they’re conversing naturally and when they’re posing. If you notice tension in their eyes or facial muscles, encourage them to relax. Lighten the mood with a joke or funny story to ease any tension and create a more natural look.

Mistake 3: Uncertain Eye Contact and Where to Look

Clients may default to looking directly into the camera, which might not work for every pose or mood. Guide them to look in other directions to suit the shot, whether it’s gazing off-camera, looking down for a pensive mood, or directly into the lens for a striking gaze.

Mistake 4: Crossed Arms That Look Defensive

Crossed arms can convey confidence or timidity depending on the context. With an angled torso, lifted chest, and assertive gaze, crossed arms can create a powerful pose often seen in portraits. However, if the client crosses their arms without these complementary traits, it can make them look insecure or defensive. This is common at the beginning of a shoot when clients are unsure of what to do. Provide alternative poses that involve their hands and arms to project confidence and relaxation.

Mistake 5: Awkward, Unnatural Hand Placement

Clients often struggle with what to do with their hands, leading to awkward or unnatural poses. Start with simple options like hands on hips or holding props. Gradually guide them into more expressive poses, such as hands in their hair or framing their face. Avoid letting their hands dangle unnaturally or rest flat against their sides. Make sure their hands have purpose and complement the overall pose.

The Bottom Line

Your client is likely not a professional model with countless hours in front of a camera and a whole repertoire of poses choreographed and synchronised to the click of a shutter and the flash of a light. Instead, you are working with someone who wants to capture the best version of themselves. They want to look back at those photos and see someone confident, and all of this can be achieved by guiding them through poses to create stunning portraits.

Ease any tension or awkwardness, as this can be very apparent in your images. Build confidence by demonstrating simple poses and providing positive feedback, which will help your client feel more comfortable and willing to try more elaborate poses. Avoid jumping abruptly from one pose to the next. Instead, make micro-adjustments with subtle changes to various body parts to maintain the flow of the session.

Working closely with your client to create photos they will treasure forever is an incredibly rewarding job. Learning how to bring out the best in someone who isn’t a professional model is a skill in itself. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be capturing stunning portraits that your clients will love. Good luck!