How to Master the ‘Ugly-Cool’ Posing Aesthetic for Gen Z Clients

Every generation has its own characteristics and quirks; its own unique definition of what is stylish, and what isn’t. Gen Z is no different, but this generation has quite a distinctive interpretation of appealing aesthetics, which stands in stark contrast to those that came before.

Indeed, it was Gen Z that gave birth to the concept of the paradoxical “ugly-cool” aesthetic. It’s a look that embraces the unconventional and celebrates the alternative. It’s something that seems to come easily to those who fall within the Gen Z age bracket, but can be quite confusing to those who are older.

In this guide, I’ll break down the basics of the ugly-cool movement before sharing the tips and techniques I’ve learned over the years from working with my own Gen Z clients.

What Is the ‘Ugly-Cool’ Aesthetic?

The ugly-cool aesthetic is a design and fashion movement that intentionally embraces elements that previous generations might consider to be unattractive. That can include gaudy attire, wacky facial expressions, and bold movements that defy expectations.

In many ways, it’s a counter to the classic “clean girl” aesthetic or more minimalist styles that proved popular with the Millennial generation; it’s Gen Z’s way of bucking tradition and breaking standards to forge its own unique sense of style.

It’s not for everyone, and even within Gen Z, opinions can vary widely on the actual appeal of this aesthetic. Yet many individuals born between 1997 and 2012 have embraced this style wholeheartedly, and it has become a clear pillar of Gen Z culture, media, and fashion over the years.

So when it comes to photography, you may encounter Gen Z clients who definitely don’t want to follow the usual rules or standards of photoshoots. They might not enjoy striking the same kinds of poses you’d use with older clients, and may want to express themselves in more out-of-the-ordinary ways.

The Importance of Adapting to Your Clients’ Desires

If there’s one golden rule I’ve learned over the years working with clients of varying ages, it’s the importance of adapting to their own desires and needs. People of different generations go into photoshoots with very different expectations and mindsets, and you can’t treat them all the same.

You most likely wouldn’t ask a 60-year-old to strike the same sorts of poses as a 25-year-old, for example. But you might make the mistake of expecting Gen Z and Millennial clients to adhere to similar styles and standards.

In general, they don’t. Gen Z subjects may only differ in age by a few years from their Millennial counterparts, but may have completely different ideas about what poses are stylish and cool. Some may be committed to the ugly-cool aesthetic, and it’s vital to keep that in mind when you work with them.

If you don’t, then you run the risk of disappointing your clients and dissuading them from working with you again. If, however, you’re able to adapt, using poses and techniques that align with your subjects’ aesthetic ideals, you should have a much stronger chance of satisfying them.

How to Master ‘Ugly-Cool’ Posing

Now that you know what the ugly-cool aesthetic is all about, let’s look at how to work it into your future photoshoots. While I’m not a member of Gen Z myself, I have worked with numerous clients in that age bracket and have learned what they tend to prefer. Here are some of my top posing tips.

Unflattering Angles

One of the first rules of working with Gen Z clients who like the ugly-cool aesthetic is to forget the usual rules of angles. Typically, you might keep your camera level with your subject’s face to capture them in their best light, but for an ugly-cool photoshoot, you need to operate differently.

Many of the best ugly-cool shots are captured from angles that would usually be considered unflattering. I often like to move my camera quite low to the ground, for example, aiming it up at my subject.

This can work particularly well when the subject is wearing some fittingly ugly-cool footwear, like oversized boots or colorful, mismatched shoes.

Crazy Contortions

There’s nothing “ugly-cool” about having your subject stand straight with their arms by their sides or hands on their hips. Instead, the best ugly-cool images are those that involve poses that nobody would usually think to strike.

Ask your subject to bend and twist their body in odd ways, as long as it’s comfortable for them to do so. I like to have them crouching or leaning forwards, for example, with their hands turned outwards, rather than inwards, and arms positioned in irregular ways.

The idea is to break the usual rules of symmetry and balance; this, in many ways, is the heart of the ugly-cool aesthetic.

Unexpected Expressions

Your subjects are allowed to smile in ugly-cool photoshoots. But you can’t have them simply grinning in every image you capture. Nor do you want them to look too stoic or emotionless; instead, many of the best Gen Z ugly-cool photos I’ve captured involve wacky and unexpected expressions.

Ask your subject to let their inhibitions go and simply make whatever face they want. They can puff out their cheeks, stick out their tongue, bare their teeth, scrunch up their nose, close their eyes, and so on – anything that would usually be considered ‘wrong’ for a routine photoshoot is “right” for ugly-cool.

Unusual Poses

The same rules that apply to facial expressions also apply to ugly-cool poses. Typically, it might seem strange to have your subjects waving their arms around or putting their heads in their hands in weird and creative ways, yet these kinds of poses are perfect for this particular aesthetic.

So, don’t be afraid to let your subjects move in ways that would seem abnormal if you were working with a Millennial or Gen X individual. Poses that might seem to express anger, confusion, or rebellion are all fair game for ugly-cool photoshoot experiences.

Exaggerated Movements

With more conventional photo pose styles, the “less is more” rule often applies. Millennials, for example, might be perfectly happy to pose with their arms by their sides or one hand placed on their waist and a slight smile towards the camera lens; Gen Z does things quite differently.

For the ugly-cool aesthetic, replace “less is more” with “more is more.” More exaggeration, more movement, and more energy are all key ingredients in this particular recipe, and one of the tricks I like to use is to ask my subjects to strike a pose, then ask them to take it to the next level.

The idea is to push poses beyond their usual limits. Instead of raising one arm, raise both. Instead of bending or leaning just a little, go further and deeper. Exaggerate everything to the extreme.

Energy and Excitement

Another of my favorite tricks for capturing ugly-cool photos and working with Gen Z clients in general is to try to pack as much energy and excitement into the frame as possible. To do that, I like to make my subjects move around a great deal.

I might ask them to jog in place, for example, or break out in dance, or even jump on the spot, shaking their head from side to side and waving their arms around.

It’s not just a great way to capture more engaging images, but also to help your subject feel more comfortable and fully embrace the vibe of the shoot.

Look Away From the Lens

Another classic rule that you shouldn’t be afraid of breaking when it comes to Gen Z ugly-cool photoshoots is having your subject look into the camera lens. Often, especially for portraits, photographers naturally encourage their subjects to look at the lens to capture their emotions and focus on their gaze.

You can certainly take some great ugly-cool images this way, too, but you don’t have to stick to the traditional formula all the time. In fact, some of the best photos will be taken when your subject is looking in completely different directions, off to the side, or even beyond the camera.

They don’t have to look at anything in particular; just encourage them to look around and even appear disinterested in the lens itself to portray the laissez-faire attitude that Gen Z often enjoys.

Plenty of Props

Props can often be valuable additions to photoshoots, helping to inject some much-needed diversity into your images and giving your subjects something else to work with and focus on aside from their own bodies and facial expressions.

For ugly-cool photoshoots, I like to work with props that also match the aesthetic. That means foregoing the usual pretty props, like bunches of flowers and books, and opting for unusual and less classy alternatives instead, like fast food containers, novelty sunglasses, outdated pieces of technology, silly stuffed animals, and even random raw fruits and vegetables.

Outside the Box

Arguably, the main piece of advice I’d give to anyone aiming to capture the ugly-cool aesthetic is to not let yourself fall into your usual routines and habits. Think outside the box; dare to do things differently. In short, be bold.

If something seems weird or wacky, then it’s probably worth trying in a shoot like this. I consider it my chance to flex my creative muscles and put my imagination into overdrive, working with my subjects to create pictures, poses, and angles that completely upend expectations.

Bonus Tips for Working With Gen Z Clients

Along with the ugly-cool posing pointers listed above, here are some bonus tips and techniques that might assist you when working with people of this generation:

• Use the Flash: It’s quite popular among Gen Z to take photos with the flash on. While this can produce a somewhat harsh look that wouldn’t appeal to those of older generations, many Gen Z individuals appreciate the rawness of these brighter and bolder pictures.
• Blurred Backgrounds: Consider using a bokeh lens when working with Gen Z clients to produce a beautiful blurred background effect. This helps to shine the light on the subject themselves, drawing attention to their features, clothing, and pose, while making everything else in the frame look hazy. This may help you magnify the ugly-cool aesthetic you’re hoping to capture.
• Weight Shifting: Encourage your subject to shift their weight from one foot to the other, to bend from side to side, to lean forward and back, and so on. This can help to guide them into poses and create angles that produce the most fabulous and surprisingly compelling results.
• Prioritize Authenticity: One of the reasons why so many Gen Z members enjoy the ugly-cool aesthetic is that it feels real to them, and many value authenticity over “fakeness.” With that in mind, avoid cheesy smiles and forced poses that don’t feel natural, and try to capture your subjects in their most candid moments.

Master the ‘Ugly-Cool’ Aesthetic to Wow Your Gen Z Clients

I’ve worked with subjects all the way from the Silent Generation through Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and even Generation Alpha, and I’ve always found it fascinating to see how much their views can vary about what a good photo actually looks like.

There’s no right or wrong definition of style or “coolness;” every generation simply has its own tastes and views, and Gen Z’s just so happen to be a little more unconventional than the rest. While you might not share their tastes entirely, photographers need to do what they can to cater to those tastes.

So, if you encounter a Gen Z subject wanting to capture the ugly-cool look in their next shoot, don’t make the mistake of overlooking those needs or sticking to the same old poses you always use. Adapt to their aesthetic, using the tips and poses above, to give them a photoshoot they won’t forget.