7 Coffee Shop Instagram Poses That Don’t Look Staged

The coffee shop is such a central part of modern culture. It’s a social meeting hub, a work location away from both home and the office, and a spot for quiet reflection.

That’s why online personalities, from influencers to life coaches, use coffee shop shots on their socials to create relatable content that, hopefully, pauses people mid-scroll.

Because there are so many people with the same idea, though, coffee shop poses can end up looking very similar or overly staged. I’ve created this guide to help you create more natural-looking coffee shop poses that stand out from the crowd.

Why We Love the Coffee Shop So Much

What is it about the coffee shop that makes such good photographs? It could be the nation’s love of coffee itself.

It’s practically a national drink, with nearly three-quarters of coffee drinkers enjoying at least one cup of joe every day.

So, when you use your favorite coffee shop as the backdrop for your next set of social photos, you’re tapping into a familiar part of everyday life.

But a coffee shop is more than just a place to grab your favorite brew. People go there to people-watch and get inspired, whether they’re writers, musicians, artists, influencers, or fashionistas.

As a professional photographer, I’ve worked with people in just about every creative niche who, at some point, want to do a shoot in a coffee shop.

I always agree, as it’s a great opportunity to capture detailed close-ups, create moody monochrome or sepia images, or photograph fun social scenes.

These seven poses are ideal for bringing out the best in clients during your coffee shop photography sessions. If you’re more interested in the coffee than the people, check out my guide to creative coffee photography, with tips and ideas for impressive close-up imagery.

1. Choose a Favorite Location

Many people have a favorite coffee spot, whether it’s close to home or along their daily commute. Find out before the photoshoot where your client likes to go to enjoy their preferred cup, and discuss if it’s possible to take photos there.

You may find that if you’re in a familiar location, they will naturally be more relaxed and ready to slip into smiles and other expressions that don’t appear forced or staged.

They may even have a favorite seat or table, and might be able to recommend spots in the café with good lighting or attractive backgrounds. I’ve worked with clients who had a favorite piece of art in their local coffee shop that they wanted included in a photo, which can look amazing and also gives them a chance to tag the artist on their socials for additional exposure.

2. Interacting With the Barista

Another advantage of heading to a known coffee shop rather than a random spot is that your client may already have a good rapport with the team there.

Take advantage of this by snapping some shots of organic interactions with the barista, such as when making the order or chatting afterward. If they already know each other, there will be smiles and natural expressions, rather than forced grins or stiffness.

Set up the shot some distance away from the subjects, and don’t worry about keeping the surroundings in focus. A slightly slower shutter speed may create motion blur in moving elements of the scene, drawing the viewer’s eye to the interaction while the subjects remain relatively sharp.

Try for a range of slightly different shots to give your client some options to choose from. The barista carrying a tray of coffee, making the drink, or taking the order can all result in a different feel to the photo.

Remember to get permission from the barista before you take their picture, and let them know how the picture is going to be used. Otherwise, they might be shocked if they find themselves on one of their regular’s socials later that month.

3. Through the Window

An interesting angle is to take your shot from outside the coffee shop, through the window. These shots can look unstaged, as though you’ve simply captured the subject glancing out of the window at something that’s caught their eye.

You can use reflections to make the final image more interesting. Passersby, cyclists, or local landmarks reflected in the window can frame the subject’s face.

Because the reflections have a ghost-like quality, they help bring the face further into focus, naturally drawing the viewer’s eye. Just avoid a window with the sun directly on it, as this will create glare and potentially hide your subject’s features.

You may also capture some of the hustle and bustle of coffee shop life going on around or behind your client. Consider a slow shutter speed and ask your subject to keep very still to create an artistic blur of motion around them that still seems natural.

4. Besties Catching Up

There are few places more social than the local coffee shop. With that in mind, some of the most natural and least staged-looking photos are of friends chatting and drinking together.

This particular pose works best with two friends, sitting side by side at one side of a coffee shop table. Choose your location carefully: If they’re wearing bright colors, for example, a sunny or brightly lit corner of the café with some greenery may complement their look.

To make the shot look natural, ask your subjects to look at something together. One might show the other a picture or video on their phone.

When they’re genuinely absorbed in what they’re looking at, take your shots, framing both subjects centrally and using a fast shutter speed to capture their expressions sharply.

You’ll find that you’ll capture natural smiles and organic laughter, rather than overly forced humor that doesn’t translate into relatable content. These shots are great for social updates or website content that’s intended to create a connection with the viewer or reader.

5. The Working Lunch

Entrepreneurs and influencers may love to share content of themselves working on the go, making use of their favorite local spots to stay connected to their fans.

One way to do this is to create photos of them in the middle of a working lunch or break, sitting at a table in their favorite coffee spot or eatery, surrounded by the detritus of a good meal or a great brew.

How you frame these shots will largely depend on what the goal of your client is. If they want to promote the business they’re in, for example, by shouting out the coffee shop or giving them a review, it’s a good idea to include something that highlights where they are.

This could be the name of the coffee spot, a menu on the table, or a notable landmark seen through a window.

Conversely, if they’re not interested in showing exactly where they are, use the colors and materials in the coffee shop to create an appropriate backdrop.

Dark woods look really good behind bright colors or whites. Greens and sunny tones contrast beautifully with jeans and dark T-shirts or vests.

One thing to watch out for with these types of shots is that, while you want to make it clear that this is a working lunch, you don’t want so much food and drink present that it clutters the shot.

Remove obvious trash and keep leftovers to a minimum. Balance plates and cups with a laptop, tablet, or notebook and pen to create the right atmosphere.

6. Enjoying Every Sip

What’s the main reason people go to coffee shops? To enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, of course.

Take advantage of that by photographing your client actually enjoying the drink they’ve chosen. There are so many shots that take this pose too far, with people grinning maniacally over a cup of espresso or sighing dramatically over a cappuccino.

Instead, aim for something much more natural. Position yourself to take a close-up shot with the background and other coffee shop customers blurred.

Prepare your client beforehand so that if they’re self-conscious about close-ups, they can let you know or adjust their outfit or makeup accordingly.

Ask them to enjoy their drink and forget about the camera. To help with this, you could use a remote shutter release so they don’t feel as though someone is watching them drink.

Take a series of photos. You’re looking for one that captures the feeling of being absorbed in the moment and enjoying a brief break from the day.

7. On the Way Out

All good things must come to an end, which is what makes this coffee shop pose so relatable. You’re capturing the moment someone is done and ready to go, moving from their relaxed break back to everyday life, or perhaps just heading home.

It’s an easy pose to conceive but can seem forced if you try too hard to stage it. I find that taking this type of shot with minimal direction works best, as your client has to leave at some point and you can capture the final moments of the coffee shop visit while you’re still shooting.

If you’ve already set up to take shots of the subject sitting down, keep the camera at this level and tilt it up as the person stands. This can add a sense of movement that contrasts with the relaxed feel of more traditionally framed shots.

You can capture them walking across the coffee shop floor or in front of the door. Alternatively, snap them mid-lean, on their phone, perhaps ordering a taxi to take them back to work.

Further Tips for Coffee Shop Photography Sessions

All these poses can help you create coffee shop photos that look and feel natural and enticing. Here are some practical tips to consider:

• Check with the coffee shop owner or manager: Not every coffee shop owner is going to be happy about someone arriving with professional photography equipment, particularly during busy periods. Ask when it’s best to take your shots, and consider offering to promote the shop through your online portfolio or your client’s social media accounts.
• Don’t consume too much coffee: This applies to both you and your client. Even the biggest caffeine fanatic can get jittery after too many cups. If you’re taking photos for more than an hour, alternate strong coffee with water or another soft drink.
• Take care of sensitive equipment: Coffee shops are full of hot, sugary drinks, which can spell disaster for expensive photography and lighting equipment. Keep your camera and other gear out of high-traffic areas and use waterproof covers where appropriate.
• Be aware of other clientele: Where possible, create blur and soft focus to ensure that people who haven’t given consent to be photographed aren’t identifiable in your shots. If you’re unsure, check with them that they’re happy to be included.

Alternatively, you could ask if you can access the coffee shop after hours, so you don’t have the issue of whether or not to include other people in your shots. Some business owners may be happy for you to do this if they get some free promotion out of it.

Final Thoughts

If a bar is the destination for frenetic, high-energy social shots, a coffee shop is the right location for gentler, more contemplative images.

Experiment with different poses and expressions, working closely with your clients to determine what they want to get out of each set of images. Their goals will help determine the poses you use and can help you decide which shots to keep and which to delete.

Post-shoot editing can help add finishing touches, such as softening backgrounds even further or adding sepia or monochrome filters. You might find that your coffee shop shoots end up being some of the most impressive shots in your portfolio.

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