Naomi Campbell on How to Pose

Naomi Campbell is a professional model, actress, and singer originally from South London. Throughout her childhood, she studied ballet, tap, and theater with the intention of becoming a professional dancer. At age fifteen, a modeling agency scouted her; soon after, she appeared on the cover of a magazine as an editorial model. Naomi has had a successful decades-long fashion modeling career. Along with Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington, Naomi became part of the “big six,” an elite circle comprising the most successful supermodels of her generation.

Naomi Campbell started modeling at fifteen years old. Here, she shares her personal insights on how to pose for photos like a professional:

• Connect with the photographer. Naomi stresses the importance of building a connection with the professional photographer. “The photographer sees every single thing on your face, every grimace, every part of you,” she says. Allow the photographer to guide and direct you during the photo session. They might ask you to move your back leg or look away from the camera. Apply these directions quickly and communicate openly to create a captivating shot.
• Create a character. When a shoot requires you to behave differently than your own personality, rethink your facial expressions and the movement of your body. Noami views this process as creating a character. “Sometimes it helps to take yourself out of the photo,” she says, “and tap into a character that embodies the story or mannerisms you’re looking to portray in your images.” A great photo comes from your ability to exude the persona in the shoot.
• Find your best angle. “Whether it’s the angles of your face or body,” Noami says, “it’s important to know what’s most flattering for you.” To find your best angle, look in a mirror and rotate your head slowly from one side to the next. Notice how your jawline and facial features elongate or shorten with varying poses. Take practice photos and alter your chin and eye level according to different points of view. Flip through the pictures to determine your most flattering angle.
• Stay relaxed. Standing in front of a camera is an intimidating experience. Even Naomi admits to feeling self-conscious each time she poses for a photoshoot. This feeling is natural, however, and there are ways to stay relaxed. Naomi suggests listening to music to let your body unwind. Relaxing your body will make your movements flow more easily and your poses appear genuine. “The fundamentals of posing, for me, is to make it look natural and not make it look forced,” Naomi says. “It’s acting through body language.”
• Understand lighting. The light source is another key component as you find the right pose. Depending on the location, you might have to play with your body angle to create a shot that highlights your frame. “Lighting is extremely important,” Naomi says. “Otherwise, there’d be a shadow.” Whether you’re posing for a closeup or a full-body shot, look for the light and turn your face toward it.

Discovered at the age of fifteen, Naomi Campbell—then an aspiring dancer—had a lot to learn about modeling. Through her adaptability, improvisation skills, and love of movement, Naomi has successfully navigated the fashion industry for decades—all while staying true to herself. With the MasterClass Annual Membership, discover one of the original supermodel’s tips for how to pose, perfect your runway walk, build confidence, and deal with adversity.