For over a decade, I’ve been dedicated to capturing photographs of people, and a common sentiment I encounter, particularly from men, is the belief that they are “not photogenic.” However, experience has taught me that often, it’s not about being unphotogenic, but rather about past experiences with unflattering photos. The most crucial lesson I’ve learned when photographing men is straightforward: Guys want to look cool and masculine.
Whether it’s for your wedding album or professional headshots, this guide will walk you through simple yet effective posing techniques that will help you appear both confident and masculine in any photo. If you’re a man looking to enhance your presence in pictures, or if you want to help someone achieve a more masculine look, these posing tips are tailored for you!
Let’s get started!
Establishing a Strong Foundation: Feet Placement
Just like building anything sturdy, a great photo begins with a solid base – your stance. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, ensuring it feels natural and balanced. In posing women, we often aim for an ‘S’ curve, emphasizing femininity. However, for men, envision the letter ‘A’. This stance naturally broadens your posture, projecting strength and stability. Crucially, avoid pointing your toes inward. Inward-pointing toes can introduce an unwanted curve, which leans towards a more feminine aesthetic.
Bonus Tip: For a dynamic look, subtly shift your weight onto the leg furthest from the camera. The front knee can have a slight bend, while the back leg remains straight, adding depth and dimension to your pose.
A groom in a suit confidently awaits his bride, embodying masculine posing techniques shared by an Orange County wedding photographer.
Posture Perfect: Head, Shoulders, Spine, and Chest Alignment
Continuing with the principle of minimizing curves in masculine posing, maintaining a straight spine is essential. As you straighten your spine, you’ll naturally notice your chest slightly expands forward, and your shoulders subtly move back. This is exactly the effect we’re aiming for! An expanded chest conveys strength and confidence, while relaxed shoulders prevent stiffness, ensuring a natural yet powerful posture.
Once your torso is correctly positioned, focus on your head and chin. While specific chin placement is discussed next, the general rule for your head is to avoid excessive tilting. Over-tilting, especially common in wedding or family photos, can introduce a curve that appears less masculine and even childlike. While head tilts can express affection in person, they often don’t translate well in photographs when the goal is a strong, masculine image. For a more assertive and masculine appearance in A Photo Of A Man, keep your head upright or slightly tilted towards the lower shoulder if your shoulders are not level.
A sharply dressed man strikes a confident pose before his Los Angeles wedding, demonstrating masculine posing tips from a Southern California wedding photographer.
The Power of Chin Position: Forward, Not Up
It’s crucial to differentiate between chin forward and chin up. Raising your chin upward presents an unflattering angle to the camera, emphasizing the underside of your jaw and nostrils – far from ideal! This is particularly important if you are taller than your photographer or positioned on higher ground. Chin forward involves gently extending your neck slightly forward. Think of it as subtly mimicking a turtle extending its neck. This might feel unusual initially, as it’s not a typical everyday posture. However, in a photograph, this slight adjustment elongates your neck, optimizes your facial angle, and sculpts a more defined jawline. Don’t worry if it feels awkward at first; your photographer can guide you to find the perfect chin position.
Posing advice for men illustrated in a photo of a man in a suit, shared by Southern California wedding photographer Belinda Philleo.
Hands: Making or Breaking the Photo
Believe it or not, hands significantly influence the overall mood of a photograph. Stiff, awkward hands can make an entire photo feel uncomfortable. Even hand placement can subtly direct the viewer’s focus. You’ve likely seen advertisements, especially for beauty products, where women’s hands are positioned oddly around their faces – this is because our eyes naturally follow where fingers point.
The easiest way to ensure your hands look natural in a photo of a man is to give them something to do. Often, only one hand needs to be actively engaged, while the other can remain relaxed. This could mean resting a hand on a railing, placing it in a pocket, or lightly holding the lapel of your jacket. When posing with a partner, holding hands or placing an arm around their waist or back creates a natural connection and visually links you together.
A groom fastens his tuxedo jacket, showcasing natural hand placement techniques from Southern California wedding photographer Belinda Philleo, enhancing a photo of a man.
What to Avoid with Your Hands…
If there’s one takeaway about hand posing, it’s this: please, avoid clasping your hands together over your groin. This “groomsmen pose” is surprisingly common but is a surefire way to appear defensive and vulnerable – the opposite of cool and masculine. The reasons are likely self-evident. If a photographer ever suggests this, confidently decline. You’ll get a much more flattering photo, the photographer’s portfolio will be better for it, and perhaps we can finally retire this unflattering trend.
Similarly, when placing hands in or near pockets, be mindful of what you’re “framing.” It might sound humorous, but as mentioned earlier, our eyes are drawn to where fingers point. Placing your hands fully in your pockets and ensuring any visible thumbs are pointing downwards keeps the viewer’s focus on your face, where it should be.
Posing tips for men, highlighting what not to do, shared by Southern California wedding photographer Belinda Philleo; featuring a groom seated with groomsmen behind him.
The Importance of Trusting Your Photographer
Hopefully, these tips empower you and ease any anxieties about your next photoshoot! While having posing knowledge is beneficial, remember that posing and creating flattering photos is literally your photographer’s expertise. Camera angles and the intended message of a portrait can necessitate variations to these general guidelines. Even with these tips in mind, a skilled photographer will fine-tune your positioning to highlight your best features. Investing in a professional photographer is always a worthwhile decision.
I trust these posing tips for men will be valuable to you! If you or someone you know is interested in achieving a more feminine aesthetic in photographs, be sure to explore my article on posing tips for women!
