Photo poses by setting

Poses do not exist independently of where you are standing. A pose that works in a cafe can look absurd on a beach, simply because the seating, the light and the clothes are all different. So these are grouped by where you will be shooting rather than by abstract pose type.

If you are not sure where to begin, pick the setting closest to your next trip or occasion and look through the first few poses. Every setting page includes a short guide: why that place is difficult to shoot in, the mistake beginners usually make, and what time of day gives you the best light.

One note about light that applies to nearly every setting listed here: midday sun is the least flattering light there is for a face, because it comes straight down and drops shadow into the eye sockets. Early morning and the hour before sunset arrive at an angle and are far softer and warmer. If you take only one thing from this page, take that.