Photographer's Guide to the Best Male Poses

VD September 09 2021

Are you a photographer trying to learn the classic male posing methods? While searching for posing tutorials online, you will encounter a lot more female poses compared to male ones. Some available posing guides lack vital information, and photographers find it challenging to understand the meaning of complex poses.

Male pose focuses on angles and power while females aim to show their curves. A man needs to look strong and fit compared to confident and oozing coolness in women. The goal of posing should be clear to the photographer and his model.

General tips for posing

  • Short lenses make things puffier and rounder.
  • A long lens flattens the targeted object’s depth.
  • Objects pointed straight at the camera look shorter.

Quick Pro posing tips

  1. Heavy blinkers should close their eyes, and on the count of three should open them, this will gives a period of fewer blinks. Experienced photographers use the technique in portrait photography.
  2. When dealing with prominent noses, shoot the face directly using the long lens minus turning the head. Optics and foreshortening will assist in balancing the size and shape of the face.
  3. Most people are short or long-sighted, with one eye bigger than the other one. In this scenario, pose the smaller eye closer to the camera lens to appear similar.
  4. If the client appears tired with droopy eyes, take the picture from a higher angle. By doing this, you force the person to look up for the camera exposing their eyes to open for a clear view.
  5. While shooting a clear picture of models with balding or prominent foreheads, consider a lower angle. The low shooting angle solves the problem by elevating the size of the head.
  6. Photographers should be creative when taking pictures of models with long or double chins. Push the chin out of the photo by blocking it using the client’s arm or fist, make them pose, covering the chin.
  7. When handling subjects with puffy faces, use long lenses to make them appear skinnier.

Male posing tips

  • Emphasize masculinity by focusing on the jawline

An expert photographer pays attention to a defined, sharp, and angular jawline. A stable jawline is a crucial measure for perceived masculinity.  During a shoot, ask your client to move the chin down or out, providing the neck with a soft stretch, hiding it from the camera.

You can improve the jawline by using shadows while avoiding them from blending into the neck. If you need to produce quality photos for your client, don’t let your client pose with the chin lying back as it can double the chin.

  • Squinch to flatten the eyes

Puppy big eyes look great on women, but for men, they bring confusion and ignite fear. Let your subject do a squinch by raising his lower eyelid covering the base of the eye. 

The upper eyelid should not move, making the client appear to be up to something. By doing this, you increase the level of attractiveness, playfulness, and mischievousness.

  • Tilt the Head away

When women tilt their heads close to the camera they look more attractive. However, it’s the opposite for men. They should move it away from the camera. Take note of how far your client should tilt his head away from the lens. Too much head shift from the lens may make the subject look slightly aggressive and arrogant.

Body posing tips

A real man should possess a V-shaped body that has broad shoulders and a thin waist. The following is an ideal V-shaped posing tip for men.

  • Broaden the shoulders

Ask the subject to square the shoulders for them to look more extensive as possible. Make an effort to lean the shoulders close to the camera for a better view. The lens magnifies them to look broader, increasing the picture’s attractiveness.

  • Let the waist appear slimmer.

Making the waist look slim will help you achieve the V shape body posture. You can attain this by maintaining the upper body next to the camera lens. Men with a smaller waist catch a lot of attention and feel confident. In addition, you can get a slim waist by keeping the lower body away from the camera.

  • Maintain a great posture

Always remember male pose should depict strength and confidence even if there is no room for showing muscles. A great posture explains more on the subject, which is a key to an excellent male portrait. The core of the client needs to be tight, standing straight before taking the photo.

  • Engage your hands

Research shows that men do nothing with their hands during photo shoots, as they feel uncomfortable and think it’s stupid. For the best male portrait, the hands should not be idle because they stabilize the body posture.

Hooking the hands on the belt loops or a single hand on the buckle is an excellent pose for most men. Some decide to keep one or both hands in the pocket, while others hook only the thumb on the pocket side. Many pose using the GQ style where they let one hand to the pocket and the other free.

In addition, you can take the thinking posture by placing the elbow on the knee and the hand on the chin. You can relax your shoulders by crossing the arms over the chest, referred to as the ancient Greek pose. Some men rub their hands together, showing they have completed a good deal.

Most men like holding something with either one or both hands to look busy. Ask your client to fix his outfit like a cufflink, watch, or tie while looking at the camera. The subject can hold into a chair, ball, guitar, or desk during the shoot. In addition, he can pocket one arm and grab a jacket over his shoulders.

Leg poses

Standing poses

Men like to pose with crossed legs letting the back leg take hold of the bodyweight. One important clue for this pose, the front leg should cross the back at the shin level. Ask the subject to stand at the shoulder-width position, while one leg should be a little bit closer to the camera.

Another great pose loved by men is leaning to the wall and bending one leg closer to the camera. For a great portrait, let the client cross his legs straight to the camera—this is one of the fantastic and chill poses.

Sitting Male Poses

Taking a photo of a person sitting on a chair, desk, or bench is used to show confidence in the portrait. Raise the leg ankle over the knee to create a confident posture. Shoot from a distance, with the lens slightly above the subject.

Additionally, the subject should not sit at 90° facing the camera. In the other great pose on the chair, one can place the feet forward with crossed arms at the chest. The subject can cross the legs and open the arms while leaning the waist to the bench.

Conclusion

The primary role of every photographer is to produce meaningful and attractive images of their clients. It is vital to know how to pose for the best photo and what meaning your posture demonstrates to others. Having a better knowledge of different poses can make your work a lot easier and your images more professional. 

In this post, we have outlined the classic poses for men. Try some of them for amazing results!