How to Work with Male Models

If you are doing portrait photography, a man can be a particularly difficult Subject to work with. While women can easily dance or get into classic runway Poses, it can be more difficult for a man to achieve the looks you are going for. But it’s up to you to do what you can to make your shots look great. 

So how do you work with a male subject? Here are a few poses that might work. 

Determine the Tone of the Shoot

The first thing you want to do is determine the vibe you are going with in your Shoot. Is it professional? Fashionable? Edgy? This will help you come up with the poses that are right for your shoot. 

Find a Location

The location will tie in directly with the tone of the shoot. If you are going for a professional look, you might shoot in a studio. If it’s rugged, go with an outdoor adventure background. An industrial setting will be perfect with edgy, alternative aesthetics. 

Try Out Different Poses

Try out different poses to see how your model reacts to instructions and what positions he feels most comfortable in. Your findings will set the tone for the rest of the shoot. 

Which Poses Work Best

Now that you have laid out the shooting basics, you must come up with the poses that will work best. These include: 

Hands in Pockets: Having a man put his hands in his pockets is a good idea because it eliminates the question of what he should do with his hands. It also produces an air of casual confidence and keeps him from looking awkward and rigid. 

Leaning on a Wall: Leaning on a wall is another good one if you are going for a casual and playful vibe. It also allows the photographer to work around the subject getting a bunch of angles without causing the subject to move around too much. 

Crossing Arms: Crossing arms will give your subject something to do with their arms and it’s a powerful pose a guy can get into. Have him integrate more casual stances so he doesn’t look overly stiff. 

Adjusting His Outfit: Adjusting an outfit works well for professional and high-style looks. You can ask your model to fix his tie, button his jacket or put his collar up or down to provide a behind-the-scenes type of vibe. 

Walking: Capture the high fashion look of the runway by photographing your model while he is walking. He can be walking down a city street or any other walkway. The scenery in the background will enhance the look of the image. 

The Contrapposto Pose: The contrapposto pose is similar to the one used in Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David. But don’t worry, no one has to get naked! It involves putting weight on one straightened leg and allowing the other to bend at the knee. It allows the upper body to sway while keeping the shoulder to leg in a straight line. It’s often used in fashion magazines. 

Working with a male subject can be challenging, but the suggestions in this article will ensure you get a great shoot. Which will you be using when you do your next photoshoot? 

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