Directing models requires mastering communication, pose demonstration, and compositional nuance (silhouette or backlight, portrait or landscape) to frame, capture, and retouch images optimized for stock photography contexts—ranging from editorial spreads to advertising campaigns, while accommodating lighting scenarios and subject comfort for professional results.
- Compose or frame models using dynamic posing techniques (golden ratio, leading lines, negative space) to amplify mood or narrative in advertising or editorial applications.
- Demonstrate desired poses physically or via mood boards (reference photos, live view, mirrors), especially for inexperienced subjects, to facilitate expressive or candid captures.
- Prioritize subject comfort by monitoring environmental factors (lighting, temperature, privacy), increasing collaboration and producing more natural or relaxed silhouettes or backlight shots.
- Adapt guidance to audience (children, professionals, friends), integrating domain-specific strategies (parental involvement, humor, verbal cues) for optimal image vectorization or categorization.
- Iteratively review and retouch captured frames (color-correct or grade, remove distractions, tweak composition) to elevate photographic value for commercial or editorial image banks.
Hello everybody! I would like to share some basic guidelines that would help you improve your images, make your models look better so your images look more professional. Here are some of the basic steps that cover almost everything you must know while working with models (professional or not):
Body language and attitude
It is way easier to work with your friends and let go of any formalities and just have fun during a shoot. But that is not really the case in a work environment. Try to implement the same attitude when working with people who you just met on set.
Introduce yourself, ask questions, be interested. For example: What to you do in life? What have you studied? From there just go along with the conversation.
Remember their name if you do not know it already. If you are bad with names repeat it a couple of times during the shoot. Have a good posture and of course smile. You will look friendly and confident. Compliment them on a garment, their facial feature or good hair. They will instantly like you more.
You are allowed to make jokes, that will clear the atmosphere and create a more friendly environment. During the shoot please do not strike some cheesy phrase like "Make love to the camera" or "Give me your dirtiest look", those lines are used for a different industry. If you do that you will look creepy. You are a professional - act like one.
You have to accommodate their needs - room temperature has to be correct especially if they have to remove some of their clothing. Give them small breaks if they need them. Ask them if they need something.
How to position your model
Not every time you will be faced with a professional model that has a background of numerous images and a solid portfolio. In such cases when you have an inexperienced model, you have to explain the concept which you are trying to photograph.
Show the pose yourself. Instead of just giving verbal directions, it is better to physically show your model the exact same position you are interested in. If you are out of ideas or in doubt, there are endless images on this platform that you can consult and be inspired by. In case you are shooting outdoors and some random person on the street is looking at you and you are a man sticking a female, sassy pose to show your model what you want exactly, please do not be intimidated, most people haven't been professionally involved in such activities and generally are looking out of curiosity. :)
Show them the images on live view mode or on a tablet. Tell them what you like and dislike, give a general idea what is done right and what to avoid. I am aware of the fact that some colleagues are not willing to show anybody their raw material, but it is a good visual reference for your model. In case your model is more insecure and is constantly looking at that tablet or asking to see the images on your camera, it is better not to give them that opportunity, because they probably would be constantly thinking of how bad they probably look. Compliment them and move on.
Bring a mirror for a reference. If you catch them doing a face that it is not fitting to the concept like for example: they receive a birthday gift and half of their face, let's assume the eyes, are sad and the other half has a big smile - it's going to reflect on the final product. It will look weird. Let them practice a little bit in front of the mirror and take it from there. If you have a group photoshoot a good tip is to make more images because in those cases there will be always someone that closed their eyes or made a unflattering face expression. Probably the unfortunate person would not want to pay for that service and have an image, where everybody else looks good except him/her.
Certain poses create double chins and unflattering tummies, even to slim models. Avoid them at any cost. A good tip is to position your models' face looking to their right, left (whichever profile you like more) or behind their own shoulders, that will pull the skin more and their face will look slimmer. To cover the tummy it is better if you have an object, like for example a teddy bear, let them hug it or if you have a couple just let one of them get behind the other person and give the a big hug. It won't disappear but it will be covered and won't disturb the image.
Dynamic poses. Choose a more interesting composition. The so called "military pose" is never flattering on anyone. Most models don't know what to do with their hands. Experiment a little bit with putting one hand on the shoulder, on their waist, if they have interesting hair, let them play with it. Experiment with movement if there is a little bit of wind, make them mess it up a little bit or make them switch sides from left to right and back to create a natural movement of the whole body and hair. Play with the movement of a garment, if the model has a beautiful skirt with a lot of texture, let her spin in circles or pinch it from one side. Learn about the golden ratio and think how you can implement this simple rule in you composition.
Kids
Kids in my opinion are more tricky than adults and teenagers. They usually are very shy and on average unwilling to stand by themselves in front of a camera just because most of them are not used to a studio environment with lots of lights and technical equipment pointing at them. The key here is to have experience with kids in real life, know more or less their interests, for example latest kids shows and cartoons. (You probably watch them anyway or is it just me?). Try to attract their attention with toys or simply ask for assistance from their parents. Children will be more comfortable if they follow indications from mom and dad. After a wild every child will get used to the camera and absolutely adore you. Your work from here is easy.
Prepare in advance. In case you have in mind some concepts you want to photograph and you have limited time you have to be well prepared. Don't waste anyone's time on pointless head scratching and wondering what to do. Prepare a list of moves, actions, moods or references in case you forget something. That way you will have a black and white point of reference and your workflow will not be interrupted by uncertainties. When done with a concept scratch it out of the list and move to the next one.
These are my basic steps to how to guide and direct your model. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to comment down below I would be delighted to answer all you questions. Let's start a constructive conversation and help each other out. Thank you for taking the time and reading our series called "Tip of the week". Have a nice day!
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Mani33
Well done tips! Thanks for the reminder
Digikhmer
This is a very nice post and guide. Thanks for sharing.