Posing Men
Although males typically dislike being posed for, this does not mean that they cannot be posed for. Men prefer to give off an air of ease, confidence, and coolness. There is no doubt that posing helps to convey this. As a photographer, don't be intimidated to ask more from your male subject.
Important Guidelines to help you Pose Men
- STRUCTURED, STABLE POSES
Do not use curves when posing males. Avoid gently sloping curves and instead make triangles.
Strong foundations and lines should be made. Curves and arches characterize female posing. The male model features tougher structures, stronger lines, and triangles.
- USING A PROP
Posing a male model or subject with a Prop is very useful.
very few poses comes to mind for male models or subjects.
- Crosing the Arms.
- One hand in the Pocket.
- Taking a Step.
An inexperienced subject will feel lost or uneasy merely by remaining motionless. Finding something interactive for the male models is a wonderful idea. Give them something to do so they won't feel as though they're by themselves. For a pose, they could lean against a wall or a chair. They start acting more consistent or organic. Not only can props help generate a variety of new positions, but they can also help male subjects feel more comfortable.
- HANDS AND FEET (Direct them)
Assist the subject in posing their feet and hands. Men will typically stand flat-footed, facing the camera with their hips straight.
- Hands : The No.1 rule for posing a man's hands give him direction(give the hands something to do). Consider telling them to touch or fix their collar or putting a hand in the pocket.
- Hands in the Pocket : The hand in the pocket is one of the most important posing components in men's portraiture. However, there are multiple ways for a hand to fit inside a pocket; which is the most convenient. if the subject's hand is outside the pocket, make sure the hand and fingers look natural.
- Feet; Ask your subject to adjust his weight, at the very least, if he is facing directly into the camera. Static poses result from having flat feet. Try changing the levels of the feet when a subject is sitting on a chair or learning against the wall. have him walk towards the camera. When the subject is sitting, be sure that the feet and knees are at different levels. This produces a more dynamic pose by creating structure and asymmetry.
- DIRECT AND TWEAK
It is good to give them general direction and see what they come up with. then tweak to improve the pose. This helps yield more natural results that often exude more comfort and better involve the subject in the portrait process. When you give a general direction, this also gives the subject the opportunity to participate in the portrait process. they can contribute to the pose and even create a body position you wouldn't have thought of. Take care when positioning your arms on a chair. Shoulders may appear slouched if you lean your arms over the back of the chair.
- WATCH OUT FOR THE CROTCH
If you direct a man to sit for a pose, you may need to tweak the pose so that the eyes aren't drawn between the legs. This may mean changing the angle of the body, adjusting the camera angle or placing the hands in such a way that they obscure that area.
- THE HEAD TILT
Avoid tilting a man's head toward the camera. While for a female it could look playful or thoughtful, depending on the expression. The same isn't generally true for men. Keep the head tilt neutral
