Guys and gals are similar when it comes to posing for photos: very few are instantly comfortable in front of the camera, very few don’t need to be given direction, and every one of them has a unique and personal look to bring to the lens. But they’re also quite different, and aside from the obvious differences, there are subtle ones that you have to be mindful of when posing them. Here are five ways to make your senior gentlemen stand out:
ONE : FIND POSES THAT ARE NATURAL
When it comes to photographing guys, you don’t have to focus on angles that make them look cute, like you would for girls. They often look great and masculine leaning, sitting down, or slouching. A couple great poses that I use are to have your senior sit down, and lean into his knees. This is a popular look, and almost any guy can pull it off well. Another is to have them stand with their weight on one leg. This pose instantly gives them some interest, and it’s casual enough for any location.
TWO: PUT YOUR BEST FEATURES FORWARD
Think about what to accentuate: For guys, this is easy: you want to focus on the chest and shoulders. This is important, as it’s one of the best ways to bring out the masculinity in your male models. A good photographer’s rule of thumb is to make whatever you want to accentuate the closest thing to the camera. That means you have a good deal of creative freedom in getting the chest and shoulders that close to the lens! One of the best ways is to shoot downward, so that the guy is looking up at you. It’ll solve your problem, and get some great shots from that perspective!
THREE : MOVE YOUR HEAD AROUND A BIT, WOULD YA!
Head movement is great: As a photographer, or a human being, we all know the perils of avoiding the double chin. For guys, this isn’t as much of a big deal, as they naturally have a pronounced jawline. This means that their head has a great range of motion, freeing them up to have their chin raised toward the camera, or for them to have it down with their eyes narrowed, looking deep into the lens. The look can be quite masculine, and gives any picture a moody atmosphere.
FOUR : I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY HANDS
As with anyone, when you’re posing, it’s always tough to know what to do with your hands. You can find them in folded arms, in their hair, at their sides, or on their hips. Most guys can’t pull off hands on their hips, and most times having their arms folded just isn’t that interesting, and almost never is inviting. The best way to escape those issues is to put those wandering hands in their pockets! A hand in one, or both tucked away works great, and is a good look for a guy. You can even mix and match this with the poses I mentioned above to make an all-around manly look.
FIVE: DON’T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY.
The best way to capture a natural pose is to, well, get them to act natural! It’s always tough to be yourself in front of the camera, so getting them walking or laughing is key to bringing them out of their shell. Not all of us are comedians, but you don’t have to go through a whole stand up routine to get them to laugh. A light-hearted comment or joke here and there can lighten up the whole mood, and getting them moving, especially for the guys, will help them not to feel awkward posing for the lens. Movement and laughter is a sure-fire way to getting natural poses out of any senior.
Now, anyone is going to need direction when they get their photos done. Very rarely, if ever, will you get a professional model straight out of high school, so don’t feel bad for walking your seniors through each pose. Sometimes, you’ll have to pose so they can get a good idea of what you’re looking for, and you’ll find that the more you help them out, the better and more natural their poses will look! Remember these five tips, and you’ll be well-equipped for any photo shoot.
