Best Poses for Men
They may not be as nervous as you are…
Or need as much time fixing their hair…
But trust me. Guys need help posing in front of the camera too!
As a brand photographer, I primarily work with women-owned or women-led businesses. They speak my language as far as the power of showing up authentically and beautifully.
BUT that doesn’t mean I don’t have the gentlemen in front of my camera. So this post is for them – or for YOU if you are the lucky one trying to get a guy to “act natural” in front of the camera.
Easy Breezy Confidence
One thing I know I excel at is making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. I do my absolute BEST to ensure my client is having fun. This is so important in photography because it translates to natural movement and genuine expressions in brand photos.
Which leads to an authentic connection to their audience. (Aka strong branding.)
Hot take: When posing guys, faster is better. So here are 3 of my favorite poses you can quickly bust out the next time you need one!
3 Favorite Poses for GUYS
1. Hands in pockets
This is a great pose to start with because it’s something they do every day. It’s easy and familiar to the body. Also, it just looks darn cool.
Tip: Put more weight into one foot then the other – giving a relaxed stance.
2. Wash Your Hands
The key behind this direction is you are giving the person an ACTION. When we move and take action, the body will basically pose itself naturally. When clients are allowed to move, they can burn off nervous energy and forget about the camera.
Encourage them to rub their hands slowly together and pretend they are washing them. Or adjust their cuffs or fuss with their jacket sleeves.
Hot take: I call this my “JC Penney pose” – remember those catalogs? 🙂
3. Sit and Lean
This may feel weird at first when you ask somebody to do it. But trust me, the result is always so so good. Invite him to sit down with his legs apart, and then come forward and down, so their forearms rest on their thighs. Hands can come together naturally or do the “shake and drop” – allowing them to hang loose.
It’s a winning pose because it shows a lot of confidence, and is flattering because the eyes are the largest focus (and the mid-section is hidden).
Tip: Encourage them to look left, look right, and then at the camera to get variety.
Want more help?
Check out a live breakdown of these 3 poses and how actual clients ROCKED them here!
And if you want to know how to pose your body in the 10 brand photos every business MUST have… Grab my list here.
When it comes to branding, showing up with confidence and authenticity is a big part of what I help clients with. No matter where you are on your branding journey, I believe in you, and I can’t wait to see how you shine your light!
© 2026 ELEVATE BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY
