12 Male Model Poses Every Guy Must Know for a Photoshoot

A model needs to know how to move in front of the camera. These male model poses will help you look great in photos and on the runway. Read on for a beginners guide to the best poses for male modelling.

Covering the Basics

The key to great posing for men is to be comfortable in your own skin, have a good posture and know how to look relaxed on cue. A straight back, high head, straight neck and pushed-back shoulders will give you a sharp profile and serve as your basic pose.

Practice working on your pose all throughout the day. Be mindful of how you stand and sit. A good technique is to get a friend to take random shots of you throughout the day so you can see what you look like when in a natural relaxed position.

It’s said to take 66 days for something to become a habit, so keep working on your posture daily and it will soon become a thing you do not have to even think about.

Once you’ve mastered this straightforward basic, you can use it as your starting point for all your other poses.

Are you interested in becoming a male model? Register with us today to find out if you have what it takes!

Male Model Poses for Catalogue

Naturally, your catalogue poses are going to differ to your high-fashion poses because they are for a different audience. Catalogue is aimed at the every person and requires more guy-next-door poses that depict an approachable personality. Edgier catalogue brands and alternative companies will ask for more moody, sultry poses.

The Straight-Backed

Try standing tall, facing the camera head-on. Keep your feet slightly apart and use your hands as your main props. Try putting them in your pockets, pretending to do your cufflinks, doing up your belt buckle, pushing your hair back, hooking a thumb through your belt loop – the possibilities are endless. Be mindful of your elbows and try both straight and bent positioning to change the dynamic of your standing pose. Practice makes perfect so keep trying out different poses in your spare time and check magazines for inspiration.

The Cross-Over

Stand with your legs crossed. Balance the toe of the front leg on the floor. This is a great pose when modelling shoes or trousers as it shows off several angles at once.

The Profile

Stand with your body to the side. Turn your head so you are looking at the camera. Be mindful of pushing your shoulders back and thinking of hand positioning. You also need to be aware of your chin in profile shots. Profile images are popular photography poses so you need to be comfortable mastering this type of shot.

The Back Shot

Turn your whole body away from the camera and turn to face back. This is a great shot for when customers need to see the back of items, such as jeans or jackets.

Hand on Hips

Place your hands on your hips. Flex your arms and push your shoulders back.

Arms Crossed

Cross your arms for a more edgy, masculine pose. Keep hands on show by either placing them to rest on the upper arms or tuck them under. Keep your fingers relaxed.

Sitting/Crouching

Another popular pose for showing off shoes. Crouch low to the ground, balancing on your legs. You can bring one knee to the ground, or try experimenting with different shapes by changing your weight distribution from one leg to the other or by using your hand. This pose can be uncomfortable after a while, so try to nail it in the first few shots.

Be Handy

Your hands are a free and constant prop to use. You can pretend to do your shoelace, place them below your chin, pretend to fiddle with your watch – get creative and practice as many shots as possible just by changing your hand positioning.

The Stroll

Pose with one foot in front of the other as if you are walking. This pose looks great both when looking at the camera and when looking away. Motion can look great in a shot but remember to try and move slower than you would normally so the photographer has a chance to capture the image.

Props

Using props can really change the feel of a photoshoot. Your surroundings can also act as a prop; stairs, railings, a bench, even walls can all add an interesting depth to a photo. A model must learn how to work with anything they are given, and the best use these props to their advantage.

On Location

Modelling will feel different depending on where you are. If you are in a photo studio, you will have plenty of opportunities to get the shot right. If you are on location, you will have less chance for a number of reasons:

– Sunlight. When the sun disappears, the lighting and whole mood of the shoot will change.

– There may be too many pedestrians around to have many chances of getting a good shot.

– Outside you do not have an infinite source of electricity to power any artificial lighting and the camera.

Action shots are also tricky because you can easily become exhausted from repeating the same move over and over.

Facial Posing

Your face is just as important to think about when posing for photographs. The brand you work for will give you guidance on how they want the “feel” and mood of the shoot to be, but it’s up to you to follow the directions and listen to any alterations the photographer or shoot director wants you to make.

Face modelling is akin to acting. You need to be able to portray different emotions at the drop of a hat. You must be able to smile genuinely, pretend to laugh, and give a sultry stare. Your face can change the entire mood of a photo. A soft face will give images a more relaxed feel while a stony expression will give a harder, more edgy vibe.

Practice posing in front of the mirror and see if there are any expressions you need to work on. Look in magazines and follow your favourite models online to get inspiration and ideas on what to practice. Remember to take photographs of yourself as much as you can; your image in the mirror will be vastly different to what a camera lens captures.

Portraits are close-up headshots of the face and a top model must look amazing in these intimate shots. You need to be aware of your eyes, your mouth, the angle of your jaw – there is a lot more to it than just smiling at the lens. Taking selfies will really help you master the art and recognise the angles that make your face look best. Think about different perspectives and try to capture your image in a multitude of ways to truly understand your range.

High-Fashion Posing

Runway modelling is very different to catalogue. Many catwalks require a model to pose at the end so photographers can capture an image of the garments and accessories you are wearing. This still needs to look fluid and professional. It can be a lot harder than it looks.

The best way to practice your catwalk poses is to pretend you are always walking on a catwalk! Your walk should be natural and effortless, as should your poses. There are no over-the-top poses required on a catwalk. It’s a good idea to watch runway shows on YouTube and see how other professional models manage it, then practice yourself as much as possible.

High-fashion shoots also differ from other shoots as they tend to be more artistic and portray a different look that is more unobtainable to the average person. This means the structure of your poses can be more inventive. Some top male models like to experiment with feminine shapes and curves when posing. Some prefer an ultra-masculine look. It depends entirely on what brand you are working for.

Watch the below video tutorial for more ideas on how to pose as a male model:

Ready to give it a go? Register with us today to find out if you have what it takes!