When it comes to full body photography portraits, posing can make or break your image. Whether you’re photographing professional models or everyday clients, knowing a few reliable poses that flatter various body types is essential for producing confident, well-composed portraits.
Below, I’m sharing five go-to poses that I turn to again and again in my studio. These are versatile, flattering, and easy to direct—perfect for any photographer looking to level up their portrait game.
GEAR USED IN THIS SETUP
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 50 mm f/1.2
Team:
Photographer: Sal Cincotta
Model: Lauren
Hair & Makeup: Brandi Patton, ReFine Beauty
1. The Power Pose
This is your confidence pose. Have your subject stand tall, place hands on the hips or slightly behind on the small of the back or glutes, and pop one hip to create gentle curves. This stance immediately creates a strong silhouette and projects confidence. To add interest, make the arms asymmetrical—raising one hand slightly higher than the other adds visual flow and makes the pose feel more natural.
Tip: Curves are your friend. Use subtle shifts in hip and shoulder alignment to shape the body and emphasize form.
We shot on a Canon 85mm lens at f/1.2 for a nice shallow depth of field and set the camera’s white balance to 5500K (Kelvin). Shooting in Kelvin helps maintain consistent color across your images—especially important when playing with colored light.
2. The S-Curve
An S-curve pose uses the natural lines of the body to create graceful movement. Start by having your subject place one leg slightly behind or to the side, creating a gentle bend in the knees and shifting weight. The resulting posture introduces an elegant curve through the body.
Pro Tip: Tiny adjustments in hand placement, wrist bend, and head tilt can turn one pose into several unique looks.
3. Elongation Pose
Want to make your subject look taller and more statuesque? Use elongation. Extend one leg forward, pointing the toe or stepping slightly outward to stretch the line of the body. Combine this with a slight head tilt and gaze toward a light source to guide the viewer’s eye along a natural line from toe to face.
This pose is perfect for showcasing long lines, outfits, or editorial-style portraits. You can also play with hand positioning—arms loosely draped or gently crossed add subtle expression.
4. The Soft Frame
In this pose, the hands become part of the facial framing. Whether the subject’s arms are crossed gently in front of the torso or one hand is raised near the face, keeping the fingers relaxed is key. Avoid showing the back of the hand too prominently—it can appear large and distracting.
Encourage soft, staggered fingers and gently bent wrists to mimic natural movement. This adds emotion and softness, especially effective in portraits with a closer crop or more dramatic lighting.
5. Oppositional Pose with Intentional Lighting
This pose uses directional light and body contrast to create drama. Position your subject so the lower body faces the camera, while the torso and gaze turn slightly away toward the light source. This twist adds visual interest and elongates the lines of the body.
When photographing curvier clients or those who may be self-conscious, use shadows strategically. Let parts of the body fall into shadow while highlighting the face and upper body. This technique naturally draws attention to the eyes and expression while slimming the silhouette.
Lighting Insight: The brightest part of your image will draw the viewer’s attention. Use that to your advantage by making the face the focal point.
Final Thoughts
Mastering poses for full body photography portraits isn’t about memorizing dozens of options—it’s about having a handful of reliable poses you can build on. Once your client feels comfortable, they’ll start moving naturally, giving you even more candid, beautiful frames.
Start with these five, learn how to tweak each with small variations, and watch your full body portraits go from standard to stunning.
