Posing, Presence, and Practice

You ever seen someone average-looking dominate a shoot?

It's not luck. It's presence.

And if you don't have it yet — don't worry.

Presence can be trained.

This chapter is about making you undeniable in front of the camera.

So when you walk into that set, they don't just see a new model—

They see a professional.

Let's kill this lie now:

You don't hope. You control.

You know your angles. You know your face. You know your body.

That's the mindset shift.

Pros don't wait for the photographer to catch a good shot. They give the shot.

You're going to learn how to do that — right now.

Your face is a toolkit — not just a pretty canvas. Here's how to own it:

You don't need 30 TikTok poses. You need 5 you can hit with confidence.

The Core 5:

1. Straight-on full body, weight shifted to one leg
2. ¾ angle with arms relaxed, slight head tilt
3. Hand to waist, chest open, confident stance
4. Over-the-shoulder glance (no neck strain)
5. Seated lean-in — elbows on knees, eye contact

Rule of thumb: One foot forward, one shoulder relaxed. Posing is tension + angles, not stiff mannequin shit.

Practice these in front of the mirror and then shoot them on your phone.

If it looks stiff, breathe out. Relax your hands. Reset.

Examples of the Core 5 poses:

This separates amateurs from working models.

Drill:

• Set a 15-second timer on your phone
• In that time, hit 3 different subtle expressions
• Think: soft confidence -- smirk -- intense stare
• Keep your eyes on the camera and move slightly between each one

This trains you to control your face without looking robotic.

Clients want movement, range, life. Not a wax figure.

Posture: Your spine is straight, but your vibe is relaxed. No slouching. No flexing.

Hands: Keep them loose. Never clawed or stiff. Place them with intention — on your hip, jacket, neck, or relaxed by your sides.

Micro-movements: These are small changes between shots — shift your weight, glance down then back up, move a hand, tilt your head.

Every click should give the camera something new — without you flailing around like a TikToker on Red Bull.

You don't need to feel confident.

You just need to look like you are.

Trick your nervous system:

• Breathe in through your nose, out your mouth (calms your system)
• Before the shutter clicks, repeat to yourself: "I own this shot."
• Lock eyes with the lens like it's someone you want to impress — but don't go full thirst trap
• Picture the client behind the camera saying, "That's the one"

Confidence is a muscle. The more you fake it, the more it becomes real.

Commercial modeling (e.g. lifestyle, brand ads):

• Smile. Look warm. Natural movements. Relatable energy.
• Think: "happy to be here" — sell the vibe.

Fashion modeling (e.g. editorial, runway shows):

• Strong eye contact or soft detachment
• Elongated lines, deliberate shapes
• Think: "I am the product."

Learn both. Be a weapon.

• Fake forced smile (looks scared, not charming)
• Chin too high (arrogant), chin too low (insecure)
• Hands flapping around like you're confused
• Posing without purpose — "what do I do with my hands???"
• Stiff body, dead eyes
• Copying poses you don't understand (seen this 1000x)

If you're unsure — simplify. Confidence > complexity.

100%.

You train it by:

• Practicing in front of a mirror
• Filming yourself and watching without ego
• Doing mock shoots with a friend
• Analyzing pros (watch fashion ads on mute and study body language)
• Repeating until it becomes instinct

You don't need to be the best looking. You need to be the most aware of your body, face, and presence.

We don't care if you're brand new.

We care if you can learn, take direction, and show presence in 5 frames or less.

Here's what gets our attention:

• Sharp posture, clean lines, and a calm but intense energy
• Posing that looks intentional, not random
• The ability to take feedback without crumbling
• Growth across sessions — if we shoot you twice and you've improved, you're serious

Need help with this? That's exactly why we created our Development Program.

It's optional — but if you want serious coaching from working professionals in posing, presence, expression, runway, and more—

This is where beginners become booked talent.

You've got the presence. You've got the photos.

Now let's build a personal brand that gets attention before you walk into any room.

5

Posing Power​house!

You've mastered the art of presence in front of the camera

You've unlocked the visual communication skills that 95% of aspiring models lack. Your mastery of posing and presence demonstrates the professional polish that separates working models from amateurs.

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"The eyes are the biggest story-tellers in a photograph."

- Peter Lindbergh

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