For beginners, posing a humanoid 3D model involves using a rigged model (with an internal skeleton), setting the base posture via major joints (shoulders, hips, knees), refining small details (fingers, face), and using real-world references for naturalness.
Start with the rig—its internal skeleton lets you move parts. Focus on big joints first (e.g., standing, reaching) to get the overall pose right—major adjustments affect the whole model, so small details like finger positions or facial expressions come later.
Use real-world reference images (e.g., photos of people in similar poses) to avoid awkward angles. In tools like Blender or Daz3D, try pre-made pose presets—they teach how joints work, then tweak them to make the pose your own.