Based on the document, common mistakes photographers make with model poses include:
- “Knees at the camera” pose: This is considered unflattering and shows a lack of understanding of the purpose of a model image.
- Raising arms to shoulders: This often creates harsh and distracting shadows, indicating poor lighting techniques.
- Allowing distracting shadows: Improper lighting can result in shadows that take attention away from the model.
- Knees to shins prevalent towards camera: This is an ineffective way to pose showing the need for further education by model and photographer and lack of model agency skills.
- Hands or feet extended to camera: Such poses not useable for professional applications.
These mistakes reflect a lack of experience and knowledge in creating polished and professional model photography. Learn the purpose of a model image inclusive of what an agency client would expect to see in poses by the agency model.
Our model looking for a tease set of images so to reduce the knee and shins at camera we had model bring out her calve and thigh muscles while teasing. We suggest both arms away from body equal distance to remove the shadow along the dress. The dress itself had built in creases making for a non friendly agency image. Keep wrinkles and creases out of your agency images as best you can. I had the model keep her fingers poorly posed for the first few images. Avoid the spider look and distractions from fingers.
The BEBE top also has wrinkles yet such a great agency mage with our BEBE skirt so we removed almost all the creases that are built into the bodysuit.
The image above has the models foot extended. If we were shooting a sneaker commercial we would shoot showcasing the sneaker. Here we are spotlighting the model with relaxed arms and showcasing her hip so the model still has curves and is not a shoe, fingers, and two straight arms.
We see very few fitness models shot professionally. Almost all don’t showcase common sense so models posing and photographers shooting, think before you shoot the purpose of a model image so you don;t shoot fitness shots daily entirely like a beginner. Models own this error as well for model posing is really common sense. The only difference is the model cannot see her pose from the angle being shot so a photographer needs to start studying their trade. So sad to think some models are paying for start up shots that should have been avoided after the photographer shot their very first model images of any theme.
We are here to help both models and photographers and enjoy group shoots with male or female photographers. The images below are seen often on Instagram but just a GWC.
We reviewed model portfolios around the country and have done so for 30 years 4 to 6 times a year. Before Covid there were many New York to LA models who had a few great images but not a one with an adequate complete portfolio. When I returned I found none of those model portfolios online and locally there is a photographer many agency models go to for poor images because they never learned the purpose of a model image. Hands near the face or up near the face in air are signs both the modeling photographer are still at the beginners stage despite years of shooting.
Don’t jump!
By the age of three, I was fortunate to possess a genius-level understanding of photography and an innate sense of common sense. Even before capturing my first image model image, I instinctively knew how to pose models. Today, there isn’t a single pose or image that we don’t understand how to execute flawlessly.
I would feel deeply embarrassed to photograph models with their hands near their faces—a glaring mistake that has even made its way into Vogue Magazine. Having reviewed nearly every issue of Vogue from the early 1960s to 2025, I’ve noticed this error becoming more common in the digital photography era that even the supporting cast of photoshoots don’t pick up on the major error. Keep in mind in fashion hands near the face is many times a useful move and pose but not for glamour shots.
Unlike the past, where photographers meticulously planned their shoots due to the high costs of sets—ranging from $75 to $300 each roll of 36—modern photographers often improvise with no planning lol, as digital setups don’t incur the same expenses. Back in 1960s thru late 1990s, model photographers prioritized teaching our models before, and during shoots to ensure their success and maximize the value of their time and cash resources. Those days are long gone. We have not seen any togs showing they understand the purpose of a model image. 20 years ago you had various levels of talent, yet there were several who understood what they were after in glamour shots.
A major flaw we see everywhere is most model photographers don’t understand the models hair needs to be posed in every image and done so based on the model outfit to pose and posture. Posing the hair is a must and one reason no pro models have bangs. Those in Vogue are wearing wigs.