When tailoring poses for maximum impact, it all starts with understanding the model’s body shape — because posing is never one-size-fits-all. Each physique tells a different story, and as a photographer, your job is to translate that story visually through intentional lines, angles, and flow.

For models who are tall and lean, the key is to break the lines. Their natural length can appear static if not guided intentionally. Add curves to the limbs, create volume with asymmetrical bends, and use diagonal lines to disrupt vertical dominance. Think controlled chaos — a pose that looks effortless but is engineered with precision to add dynamism and depth.

When working with petite models, the goal is the opposite: to elongate. Use stretching poses that extend the lines of the body vertically. Guide arms and legs to act as leading lines that naturally draw the viewer’s eye upward. Think of the body as a rising motion — lifting from the frame with grace and intention. Avoid poses that compress the torso or shorten the limbs.

With curvy models, it’s all about emphasizing the iconic S-curve. Lean into the natural flow of the hips and waist with side-facing angles, arched backs, and asymmetrical positioning. These amplify sensuality and create a sense of movement and softness, even in stillness. Let the curves lead the frame, and never shy away from shape — embrace it, highlight it, and light it well.

Muscular builds bring structure and strength — so pose them like sculptures. Highlight muscle tension with deliberate flexing and strong, anchored stances. Sharp profiles, turned torsos, and clenched fists or extended limbs give the body a dynamic silhouette. This is the body in action, even when still. Use negative space around the arms and legs to carve visual intensity into the frame.

Lastly, androgynous bodies offer an exciting duality — a fusion of strength and fluidity. With these models, you get to blur traditional posing lines. Blend the softness of curved lines with the edge of sharp jaw angles or squared shoulders. Play with masculine and feminine energy, pushing one or both to the foreground based on the emotion of the image. These bodies offer endless narrative range — from poetic vulnerability to editorial defiance.

Understanding these body shapes is your foundation. Everything else — from light to lens choice — builds from that truth.