Being a portrait photographer, I often have to photograph male subjects. One of the biggest questions I get when photographing them is, “What do I do with my hands?”
As the photographer, you not only need to know how to take the photo, but you should have some idea on how to pose them as well!
With that being said, here are my top 25 male poses and how to pose them:
In this YouTube video, I delve into the art of male posing for photography. Throughout the video, I share my favorite and go-to male poses while also giving a breakdown of the exact instructions I provide to my male clients during portrait shoots. I also showcase example images from a recent shoot featuring male subjects to illustrate each of these poses. My goal is to help viewers gain confidence in posing male subjects and provide them with valuable inspiration. For those interested in having a reference on hand, there’s a link in the description to download a PDF version of this video with all the poses.
Before photographing male subjects, I always start with a quick posing walkthrough to ensure they understand how to stand and pose. This not only puts the client at ease but also portrays professionalism on my part. I share my approach to breaking down posing into sections: feet, collarbone, head, and hands. We explore the three main angles (0, 45, and 90 degrees) and the significance of weight distribution. I cover head tilting and turning, as well as various hand poses. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of male posing fundamentals that you can adapt to your own style.
