A method comprising: while a subject is lying on a table of a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner , acquiring a first set of optical images of the subject without any MR phased-array coils placed on the subject; detecting positioning of the subject on the table using the first set of optical images, receiving user input of a type of exam to be performed using the MR scanner , wherein the exam requires imaging of an anatomical area of interest of the subject; using the first set of optical images and an anatomical model to identify the location of the anatomical area of interest with respect to the table; generating a landmark to guide a placement of MR phased-array coils comprising multiple coil elements over the anatomical area of interest with respect to the table; wherein the landmark is a laser light projected across the anatomical area of interest; placing the MR phased-array coils over the anatomical area of interest of the subject, based on the detected positioning of the subject on the table and the generated landmark; while the subject is lying on the table of the MR scanner , acquiring a second set of optical images of the subject with the MR phased-array coils placed on the subject; acquiring a set of MR images of the subject using the MR scanner; registering the first and second set of optical images to the MR images; following registration, using the registration to map a location of the MR phased-array coils with reference to the MR images to determine coil element positioning of the MR phased-array coils in the set of MR images. while a subject is lying on a table of a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner , acquiring a first set of optical images of the subject without any MR phased-array coils placed on the subject; detecting positioning of the subject on the table using the first set of optical images, receiving user input of a type of exam to be performed using the MR scanner , wherein the exam requires imaging of an anatomical area of interest of the subject; using the first set of optical images and an anatomical model to identify the location of the anatomical area of interest with respect to the table; generating a landmark to guide a placement of MR phased-array coils comprising multiple coil elements over the anatomical area of interest with respect to the table; wherein the landmark is a laser light projected across the anatomical area of interest; placing the MR phased-array coils over the anatomical area of interest of the subject, based on the detected positioning of the subject on the table and the generated landmark; while the subject is lying on the table of the MR scanner , acquiring a second set of optical images of the subject with the MR phased-array coils placed on the subject; acquiring a set of MR images of the subject using the MR scanner; registering the first and second set of optical images to the MR images; following registration, using the registration to map a location of the MR phased-array coils with reference to the MR images to determine coil element positioning of the MR phased-array coils in the set of MR images. acquiring a set of MR images of the subject using the MR scanner; registering the first and second set of optical images to the MR images; following registration, using the registration to map a location of the MR phased-array coils with reference to the MR images to determine coil element positioning of the MR phased-array coils in the set of MR images. <EOS>