Beyond the Pose: Portrait Tips for Aspiring Models
Believe it or not, I’m not a model. (Pause for laughter.) But I have worked with a number of up and coming models who, on the precarious climb up the professional ladder, struggle to get noticed by industry professionals.
While structured model training is an integral part of your emergence into this world (see below for a great resource*) equally crucial is creating a portfolio that truly captures your essence. In an industry saturated with talent, authenticity and confidence in front of the camera can elevate you from the crowd.
With that in mind, I’d like to offer some insights from the perspective of a portrait photographer who’s all about the story behind the pose. These tips are not just about the technical aspects of a photoshoot, they’re about how to tap into the emotional and creative side of modelling, so every shot feels real, unique, and impactful.
A Study in Vulnerability
Be Yourself, Even When It Feels Vulnerable
There’s a lot of pressure in the modelling industry to perfect certain looks or poses. But what really stands out in a photo is the ability to show your authentic self. Embrace the moments where you feel vulnerable or unpolished — often, these are the images that feel the most real.
For me, the story is all in the eyes and what they say to your viewers. The key is to form a relationship with the camera, to treat it as your friend, your lover, your confidante, even your beloved pet — whatever or whomever evokes the most genuine story from you. Embrace your connection to the lens and tell it your deepest, most intimate secrets. Only then do we get to your raw emotion and the heart of who you really are.
Preparation Without Overthinking
Yes, it’s important to come prepared with ideas for poses, outfits, and looks, but don’t let that take over the session. It’s easy to get caught up in planning the perfect shot and lose the spontaneous, in-the-moment magic that often leads to the best images. A great portrait session allows room for experimentation, to breathe — to let the shoot evolve naturally.
Spontaneous Perfection
Trust the Process
Photography is a collaborative art, and the best results often come when there’s mutual trust between the model and the photographer. This is something I cultivate from the moment a client makes first contact, encouraging a warm, honest, and open synergy.
Trusting the photographer’s direction and vision can help unlock those unexpected, standout shots that might not have come from a rigid, pre-planned approach or a rote set of stock poses.
Focus on Confidence, Not Comparison
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other models or worrying about whether your photos will match up to certain standards. But here’s the truth: the modelling industry is hungry for diversity and uniqueness. What makes you different is exactly what makes you valuable. You don’t want to look like other models, you want to stand out from them, you want to be unique, to be the only one who can do the job the client wants.
Approach your session with confidence, knowing that we’re capturing your essence, not a carbon copy of anyone else. If you bring that confidence to the shoot, it will translate into powerful images that get you noticed.
Unleash Your Confidence
Final Thoughts
As a model, your role is not only to bring a certain look, but to convey an energy that feels real and compelling. By embracing authenticity, collaborating openly, and trusting the process, you’ll create images that both look and feel like you.
As a photographer, my job is to encourage an environment where these elements naturally come together. My unique personal approach centres on capturing genuine expressions, experimenting with subtlety, and shaping the light to create a mood that resonates.
Together, I’m confident we can enhance your portfolio with images that not only showcase your look, but reveal the heart and soul that shines from within.
(*Check out DH Talent Development, a full service talent development agency that helps young talent looking to build a career in the Modelling or Acting world by giving them the tools and techniques they need to be successful.)
