Pose Like a Pro: AI’s Recommendations for Woman Standing Portraits

Intro

The world of portrait photography is as vast as it is diverse. From classics to contemporary, we’ve always been fascinated by the myriad of ways a person can be portrayed. Our team of Atlegras mobile app creators gathered, discussed, and debated the best poses, ideas, and lighting setups, each more compelling than the last.

With such an abundance of choices, a thought emerged: could we go beyond our collective expertise and utilize AI to truly find the most popular poses? And so, our journey began…

We collected about 10 million photos from different sources and split them into different groups. From there, we extracted pose information data, clustered, and distilled a list of the most popular poses. Perfecting AI models and optimizing parameters demanded thorough attention and extensive effort. Finally, we asked models to repeat each pose with all possible variations. Each pose has two calculated parameters: popularity (how popular the pose is) and variety (the magnitude of variations).

Let’s see the most popular standing poses for women!

There’s a reason why standing poses are so popular in photography. They’re straightforward, but they say a lot. Just by changing how you stand, you can show a whole range of feelings and moods. Plus, they fit well in any setting, from parks to studios. Standing poses will include full-body shots as well as those where the legs are cropped.

Most Popular Standing Poses for Women

#01 Standing upright with arms by sides

Popularity: 73.736, Variety: 0.831

The variation in the pose primarily comes from subtle shifts in body posture and the positioning of the legs, such as whether they are crossed or uncrossed. Can be used for almost every mood and occasion. It’s probably why it’s the most popular standing pose.

#02 Standing upright with hands placed on the hips, cropped just below the hips (cropped “power pose”)

Popularity: 68.219, Variety: 1.140

The differences in the pose mainly arise from slight changes in shoulders and hands placement. Can be suitable for conveying a range of moods such as confidence, determination, leadership, authority, independence or strength. Professional headshots, entrepreneurial ventures, graduation photos, award ceremonies, athlete portfolios, artist or author profiles are just a few examples when the pose can be used.

#03 Standing with hands on the waist, legs either together or with one leg shifted to the side (variation of a full-body “power pose”)

Popularity: 48.966, Variety: 0.836

Much like the earlier pose but this one includes the legs. Variations come from the placement of the legs, hips and head. Its application is similar to the previous one, with the addition of fashion photography.

#04 Standing upright with hands placed on the waist (variation of a full-body “power pose”)

Popularity: 34.828, Variety: 0.836

Similar to the #02, but incorporating legs. Most of the variation stems from the placement of the hands and shoulders. Its use is also similar to #02.

#05 Standing upright with hands placed on the waist and/or legs in front, cropped below the hips

Popularity: 30.687, Variety: 1.025

The distinctions are in the positioning of the hands and head, as well as the camera’s angle. This pose is suitable for professional portraits, fashion editorials, casual photos, modeling portfolios, and personal portraits that aim to convey confidence and elegance.

#06 Standing in 3/4 with one hand on the waist, cropped just below the hips

Popularity: 18.859, Variety: 2.041

The main differences are in the placement of the hand and head. Pose can be used in various occasions, from professional business profiles to casual personal portraits.

#07 Standing with her back facing the camera and turning to the camera

Popularity: 13.958, Variety: 1.247

Variations come from the placement of the legs, hands, hips and head. Can be employed to showcase confidence, allure or elegance.

#08 Standing upright, cropped below the hips, with hands near the head

Popularity: 12.961, Variety: 1.180

Variety mostly comes from elbows position. Hands on the model’s head elevate the arms and open up the neck and shoulder area, drawing attention to her face. This kind of pose can evoke a sense of introspection, making it ideal for photos aiming to capture a moment of contemplation, depth, or internal emotions. It’s versatile and can be adapted for various themes and narratives.

#09 Standing upright with crossed hands placed on the chest, cropped just below the hips

Popularity: 9.265, Variety: 1.143

In this case the position of all body parts adds variety. In many variations the stance is more closed than open and the model’s arms are close to or in front of her body, which can signal protection, or self-reliance. It can seamlessly fit into a magazine spread, a personal blog, a brand campaign, or an art gallery. The universality of the emotions conveyed — strength and elegance — ensures that they resonate with diverse audiences.

#10 Standing with her back facing the camera and turning to the camera, cropped below the hips

Popularity: 9.129, Variety: 2.140

Cropped version of #07. Very different hands and head position gives this pose the biggest variety score of all standing poses. Its use is similar to #07.

#11 Standing leaning on the wall

Popularity: 8.042, Variety: 1.500

In this context, the arrangement of every body part contributes to variety. Fashion, personal portraits, dance or ballet photoshoots and artistic compositions are just examples where this pose can become handy.

#12 Standing upright with one hand on the waist and another arm relaxed by the side (relaxed full-body “power pose”)

Popularity: 4.472, Variety: 0.707

The distinctions lie in the positioning of the hands, legs and head mostly. Because it’s more relaxed than a traditional power pose it can be adapted to various themes, ranging from professional and formal to casual. In general, this pose can be adapted where the aim is to project confidence without coming off as overly formal or rigid.

#13 Leaning forward on the chair

Popularity: 4.472, Variety: 1.658

Position of all body parts contribute to the variety. The leaning forward can evoke feelings of anticipation or curiosity. It’s suitable for dynamic shots, lifestyle photos, or promotional images where engagement is essential. Overall, incorporating props like chairs can add depth and versatility to the shoot, offering the model more ways to interact with her surroundings and convey different emotions.

Kudos to Tonia Jackson for her wonderful modeling.

Conclusion

Portrait photography is an ever-evolving art form, and while our research led us to these 13 popular standing poses, it doesn’t capture the entirety of the craft. It’s essential to understand that this isn’t a comprehensive list. Our research aims to guide, but remember, the true essence of photography lies in personal interpretation.

In our app you can also find similar results for different pose categories shown as collections with AI badge: sitting, laying, head & shoulders and others. We have a wide range of different poses and ideas, organized into categories and collections. Whether you’re shooting on a serene beach, amidst a bustling city, or in a studio, our vast array ensures you find the right pose and idea for the occasion. You can upload your own poses and ideas and build your own collections. Dozens of studio lighting setups and sun’s golden and blue hours tracker are also available. Check out Atlegras app in App Store or Play Store.

What’s next?

At Atlegras we are actively working on similar research on poses for men, plus-size women, pin-up, anime and boudoir. Expect the outcomes in the near future. Ever wondered which poses professionals favor and which ones they typically sidestep? Or which poses garner the most and least attention on social platforms? We’ll be trying to find answers. For the latest updates and insights, follow us on Instagram at @atlegras_app or on YouTube.