Tipster: Directing Models During Portrait Sessions

Street, landscape, travel, wildlife, documentary – if you specialize in these types of photography, you already know that your best shots often come from patience and intuition. You wait for the right moment, trust your creative instinct, and capture what naturally happens in front of your lens.

When you’re used to that type of shooting rhythm, it can feel like uncharted territory to work one-on-one with a model during a portrait session. Suddenly, you’re expected to lead the shoot and give out cues.

If you’re unsure of how to navigate that, this tipster is for you. We’ve prepared five key tips and gathered advice from seasoned portrait photographers previously featured in our magazine. Whether you’re coming from a different photography niche or just starting out in the field, this article will walk you through some basic tips on how to direct subjects and master posed portraiture.

A - Acquaint Yourself

Before anything else, acquaint yourself with three things: portrait photography, your vision, and your model/s. Your pre-shoot preparation will set the tone for everything that follows, making it a highly essential part of the process.

With portrait photography. It’s important to study the craft before you attempt to pick up your camera and get to the set. Observe other photographers, get their advice, watch behind-the-scenes footage – absorb as much of the process as you can. By doing this, you can also grasp some aspects of the technical side!

Arm:
If there's a concept or project that requires preparation, I prepare references and a moodboard to present to the model. This helps them to align their perspectives, facilitate direction, and facilitate shooting.

With your vision. Know what you like and what you aim to achieve in each shoot. Your creative vision must be clear to you so you can communicate it accurately for others to understand as well. It might be challenging to verbalize everything that goes on in your creative mind, so it's best to create a moodboard which you can carry with you to the shoot. Not only will it help you stay inspired throughout, but it can also be a way to visualize your ideas for your model’s reference later on.

JP Nitural:
Before the shoot, I take time to get to know my clients through a questionnaire, a meeting, and careful planning. I use the details they share to understand their personalities, stories, and what moments are most important to them. During the photoshoot, I apply this knowledge by guiding them with simple prompts and suggesting poses or actions that reflect their true connection and emotions. I encourage natural touches, glances, and playful gestures that feel real, while paying attention to angles, framing, and timing to capture the best moments. This approach helps clients feel confident and comfortable, resulting in photos that are authentic, personal, and full of life.

With your model. Don't be a stranger. If possible, connect with them beforehand. Get to know who they are, what they like and don’t like, what makes them comfortable, and how they express themselves. The better connection you have with them, the easier it’ll be to build trust and collaborate smoothly.

B - Build the atmosphere

The peak time when you really have to take the lead isn’t necessarily when you’re directing poses, it’s when you’re building the atmosphere before the shoot even starts. Create a comfortable environment for yourself, your team, and especially your model. Bring a positive energy to the space because it affects how everyone works. Play some music (if you’re in a studio), make small talk, and ensure your model is in the right mindset before you start shooting.

Moriah Ziman:
I think the main thing I prioritize when taking anyone’s portrait is making them feel comfortable and reminding them to breathe. It’s important to try and get to know the person you’re photographing and I always give them the freedom to move around rather than just giving them a pose with no other direction. I also think it’s important to be flexible and adjust your direction based on the person’s own personality and comfortability with having their portrait taken. If something seems to not be working, communicate that with the person and work together to try a different pose or setup that feels better for everyone. It’s a group effort!

Lydia Robinson:
A piece of advice I'd give anyone looking to shoot portraits would be to really just take some time before you start shooting to make the subject feel at ease, that is when you will get the best results! Try to get a sense of who they are and what makes them feel comfortable by asking questions or allowing them to play music they listen to (if in a studio.) Some people may need more direction or suggested poses to help them feel more confident as you settle into the shoot so the more you can gauge what will help your subject the more successful your results will be!

If you’re not exactly comfortable with socializing, that’s totally fine – you don’t need to turn into an extrovert to do a shoot! You don’t have to make a big impression or light up the whole room. If you’re working with just one model, focus on creating a calm, positive connection by starting small. A bit of friendly small talk, a genuine compliment, or even talking about your personal creative ideas can help break the ice. It might take some time to get used to it, so be patient with yourself and brave through it!

C - Communicate Clearly

The most important part of directing is communication – and it goes both ways. Share your vision with your model by clearly verbalizing what you want to happen. You can guide them to express emotion by narrating sample scenarios (e.g., “You just saw your friend with a gift you’ve been wanting!”) or encourage movement with simple actions instead of stiff poses (e.g., “Walk over there, then turn to face the camera”).

At the same time, make sure to listen to your model. Check in and ask things like “Is this comfortable?” or “Would you like to try another pose?” Keep the shoot collaborative by including them in the process – remember, directing is about connection, not control.

Ben Bradish-Ellames:
With the work that I’m doing – usually a lot of dance and movement based shoots – it can always be a tricky point on where to best start or what to do as a best starting photo. Usually, I always make sure I’m ready before the model, and try to photograph them during a warm up phase. Usually, the model isn’t fully aware of it, and then just before the shoot starts you can run through these photos that were taken. Then the model/dancer can see your vision, and understand the direction you want to go. Then it makes directing super easy and your subject is on the same page as you and right at ease.

UNDoX:
When it comes to directing models, I believe the key is trust. I trust the model and also the entire team, hair & makeup, styling, art, because every participant contributes to building the atmosphere of the shoot. Clear communication, combined with thoughtful tempo control from my side, keeps all the participants focused and helps the model ease into the zone where their most authentic expressions come forward.

D - Demonstrate Poses

Sometimes, words aren’t enough to communicate your vision. You can try demonstrating the pose yourself – this especially helps if your model isn’t used to posing in front of the camera. Show them how you want it to look by doing the pose, movement, or expression you have in mind. It helps them visualize what you’re aiming for and feel more confident copying it.

Alternatively, you can use your moodboard or reference photos to show examples. Visual cues make communication easier and help you and your model stay on the same page.

Elvin Tan:
When I direct models, I always start with a vision of the storyline I want to capture, like the feeling of summer through a girl’s daily life. I communicate the narrative clearly so the model can sink into the mood, then guide their expressions and poses to align with the flow of the story. If the shoot can’t be fully imagined beforehand, I’ll use mood boards or even demonstrate poses on the spot. For me, it’s always the face, expression, and angles that truly tell the story.

E - Encourage and Empower

Throughout your shoot, be supportive and uplifting toward your model through kind words and gestures. Simple encouragement goes a long way – give respectful compliments, acknowledge their effort when they do something well, and use non-verbal cues like nodding or smiling. This helps your model feel confident and comfortable during the shoot. Stay positive and gentle; your goal should be to create an environment where experimentation feels safe and fun. When your model feels empowered, it will always show in your photos.

Vito Lauciello:
I don’t really follow a specific technique when working with models, because every portrait can take different forms. In my personal projects, even when I work with non-professional models, I focus on an empathetic approach. My direction is mainly about encouraging them to choose poses that feel natural and authentic to them, rooted in their everyday gestures and movements, so they feel at ease. From there, I give small suggestions to refine and improve the pose, making the overall form more harmonious. I try to avoid rigid constructions, aiming instead for a spontaneous and confident attitude. This creates a natural flow that I simply follow. It’s in those moments that a sense of calm and authenticity emerges, while the light takes care of shaping and enhancing the feeling I want to convey.

The magic of portrait photography is that you’re never alone with your camera. You have a subject to connect and communicate with – and sometimes, even a whole team of creatives in areas outside photography to collaborate with. It can feel scary or intimidating especially if you’re used to working solo or not giving direction, but if you give it a try and allow yourself to lean into the experience, you’ll find that creating art with others can be incredibly rewarding.

Browse through Lomography's School page to find more tips and information on portrait photography.

written by francinegaebriele on 2025-10-31 #tutorials #studio #portraiture #editorial #portrait-photography #creative-direction Share Article