Posing Men Who Aren’t Models: Photography Hacks 101

It can be a challenge to try and pose a man who does not have any background in modeling. It can be an awkward, arduous process that may only take up most of your time and resources. In this article, we talk about posing men who aren’t models.

If you happen to be in the same predicament, fret not. In this edition of Photography Hacks 101, we will give you some tips on how to pose men who have zero experience in modeling. This could also work well for you if you’re someone with very little knowledge of art direction.

Hopefully, this article would be helpful enough for you. If you’re lucky enough, you may find the next male top model you can build a career out of.

Keep the hands busy

Have you ever delivered a speech in third grade English class? If that wasn’t too long ago, you probably remember your antsy, nervous self fidgeting all over the place. You didn’t know whether to clasp your hands together or keep them by your side.

The same awkwardness is felt by those who have no experience in modeling. To remedy that situation, experts advise beginner models to keep their hands busy. For men, specifically, the hands in the pocket pose always work. The same thing goes for the arms crossed pose, depicting a devil-may-care attitude.

Keeping those hands and arms moving will take away from the awkwardness in the air. It should help them relax a bit and act more naturally.

Capture candid moments

Any photograph with a hint of stiffness won’t come out pleasingly. And as the photographer, you would want to elicit the most natural and candid reactions of your subject.

The great thing about photography these days is that almost everything is digital. You won’t need to worry about wasting reels of film, so you can shoot away until you’re satisfied.

Do the same with your first-time model. Have them act naturally and snap away until you capture the shot that you want. You will find at least one in there that you’d be able to use.

Incorporate movements in between shots

Especially for male models, having them in a stationary pose can be a bit problematic. They will tend to act more rigidly, which will take away from the quality of your photos.

Similar to hack number two, keep it candid and loose by incorporating more movements. Male subjects, in particular, are best suited for walking shots. It tends to bring them in their natural element, especially if you tell them to “add some swag” to their walk.

But be sure to make them feel at ease about it. Expect first-timers to be more self-conscious in the beginning, and stroking their ego a little bit can be of great help.

Capture as many facial expressions

Sure, it would be pleasant to see a smiling face, regardless if you’re male or female. Capturing multiple facial expressions, however, add more diversity.

Doing this technique also helps break the monotony a little bit. It also helps bring out more sides of the person’s character, which can very well be used in other projects.

Remember that a frowning or scowling expression can be as valuable as a smiley face when it comes to photography. Mix things up a bit and see what happens. You may just enjoy the results you’ve rendered.

If you have any other tips of posing men who aren’t models, please feel free to share them on below.