Avoid the Awkward: Try These 5 Easy Posing Tips for Guys Senior Pictures

"But I don't know how to pose!" You don't have to, just be yourself and try these 5 posing tips for senior guys senior pictures! Don't stress, I have a few quick tricks to share with you to help you relax for your senior photo shoot.

Top Posing Tips that Work

If your senior portrait session will be your first professional photo shoot, you’re probably wondering what you should be doing in front of the camera. Don’t be nervous though, I’ll be there to guide you through your photo session. But here are some easy posing tips for guys senior pictures that will help calm your nerves and be sure that you’re 100% camera ready!

Here are some simple posing tips for guys to help get you started.

1. Consider Your Best Features

If you had to choose, what are your best features? What features would you like to accentuate in your senior photos? This could be your jawline, your chest, or your shoulders. Whatever features you would like to accentuate should be closest to the camera.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a nice, strong pose, always keep your shoulders square to the camera.

Combs High School Senior Pictures

2. Natural is Better

When it comes to posing for your senior photos, it’s best to stick to poses that look and feel natural to you. Poses that have you sitting down or leaning on one knee are just some examples of what looks good and not forced in front of the camera. Another great tip (and you’ll hear me say this over and over) just laugh! Give me a funny laugh, a fake laugh, an evil laugh…they all work!

Pro Tip: Practice in the mirror. Practice laughing, flirty looks, goofy grins, serious faces and to see which ones you like best!

Senior Pictures Chandler Ocotillo Golf Club

3. Don’t Worry About Your Hands

A common complaint among senior guys who get in front of a camera for the first time is that they don’t know what to do with their hands. Don’t worry about hand placement too much. Once you get into it, your hands will naturally find a place in your pockets, at your sides, or folded in your arms. Do what feels comfortable to you.

Pro Tip: Try rubbing your hands together, checking your watch, holding sunglasses, or fixing your cuffs!

Arizona Photographer Cars Senior Pix

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Move

I actually prefer it when you move around and it doesn’t have to be big movements either. Simply moving your head around can add some variety to your senior shots. Again, I’ll guide you but if you feel nervous and find yourself stiffening your head or jaw, just take a deep breath and try again. Move your shoulders, take a few steps, change your face or look away from the camera.

Pro Tip: Seriously, keep moving…but slowly. Look at your surroundings, look up down, at the camera, past the camera, and off in the distance.

High School Senior Pictures Guys Suit

5. Have fun!

You will always get the best shots when you approach your senior portrait session with a relaxed mindset. You are here to celebrate an important milestone, so have some fun! These photos are meant to highlight your personality after all so just be yourself! Don’t hold back, be goofy, tell jokes, rev that engine, and show your stuff!

Pro Tip: Include your favorite hobby. Skateboarding, painting, reading, sports…if you love it, bring it! You’ll have fun and it will show in your final images.

Mesquite Gilbert Senior Pictures Skateboard

If you want to be extra prepared, head over to my Pinterest to see how more senior guys poses. You can also browse you my Senior Guys gallery for inspiration too!

6 Comments
  • Great tips for helping guys pose for their senior pictures! Awesome images too!

  • These are such good tips and #3 is one of the main things I talk to my guys about. It’s something simple and it all just works together and gives some great shots.

  • How refreshing to hear Don’t worry about your hands. I know people always ask that question and I know it’s first on my mind when I see someone pointing a camera toward me. I just love that you’ve found a way to liberate seniors so they can be themselves and look their best for stellar senior photos with you! Great tips!

    • I agree Andrea! Hands are always an issue, but once I give the kids some tips, they relax and end up looking amazing!

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