Pose & style reference · Poses
Kneeling pose reference
Also called: kneeling reference, seiza, on one knee pose, kneeling drawing
In short
A kneeling pose puts one or both knees on the ground while the torso stays upright or leans. The main types are seiza, sitting back on the heels in the Japanese formal way; upright kneeling with the thighs vertical; and kneeling on one knee, the proposal or knight's pose.
Reference photos
Photos are shown from mfan8.com with credit to the photographers and models. Tap a photo to open the full set.
Seiza and other kneeling traditions
Seiza (正座, "proper sitting") is the formal Japanese way of sitting on the floor: knees together, tops of the feet flat, the buttocks resting on the heels and the back straight. It is used in tea ceremony, martial arts and traditional rooms with tatami floors, so it pairs naturally with kimono and other traditional costumes.
Kneeling on one knee carries a different set of meanings in Western imagery: a knight swearing loyalty, a proposal, or an athlete taking a knee. Upright kneeling, with thighs vertical and hips forward, is more alert and works for prayer, pleading or reaching up.
Kneeling variations
| Pose | Leg position | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| Seiza | Both knees down, sitting on heels | Formal, calm, respectful |
| Upright kneel | Both knees down, thighs vertical | Alert, pleading, devoted |
| One knee | One knee down, other foot planted | Gallant, ready to rise |
| Kneeling lean | Seiza or upright, torso tipped to one side | Relaxed, playful |
| Kneeling with hands on floor | Weight on knees and palms | Searching, apologetic, crawling |
How to draw a kneeling figure
Begin with the line of action: nearly vertical in seiza, a forward diagonal when kneeling on one knee. Treat the folded leg as two cylinders hinged at the knee. In seiza the thigh lies over the shin almost completely, so from the front you mostly see the knees and a short stack of thigh, and the figure is roughly half its standing height. From the side, the heel tucks under the buttock and the foot points straight back.
For one-knee kneeling, the planted foot and the down knee form a stable triangle with the ground. Keep the torso's weight above that triangle, and remember the front shin is near vertical while the back shin lies flat. A frequent mistake is forgetting the flattened soles of the feet behind the figure in seiza.
Posing and photographing a kneeling pose
Bring the camera down to the subject's chest height or lower; shooting from standing height makes a kneeling person look small and distant. For seiza in a kimono, smooth the skirt under the knees before settling and rest the hands lightly on the thighs, fingers together.
- Use a folded towel or knee pads under the costume for longer shoots.
- In one-knee poses, angle the raised knee toward the camera side to keep the silhouette open.
- Lift the chest and lengthen the neck; kneeling makes people slump without noticing.
FAQ
What is the Japanese kneeling pose called?
Seiza. You kneel with the tops of the feet flat on the floor and sit back on the heels with a straight back.
How tall is a figure in seiza compared with standing?
Roughly half the standing height, because the thighs and shins are folded on top of each other.
Which knee goes down in a one-knee kneel?
Either works. In photos, put the down knee on the side away from the camera so the raised knee and planted foot frame the body.