Senior pictures are the perfect way to commemorate one of the most exciting times in life - graduating from high school or college! Last week I shared some of my favorite posing ideas for the ladies, so this week I'll be focusing on senior picture poses for men. I find that guys tend to be a lot more camera-shy, so these are some of my go-to poses to keep things relaxed and natural during senior photo sessions.
Lean With It
One of my favorite ways to capture a super natural pose with seniors is to have them lean against or over something like a tree, building, or railing. There are tons of variations on this pose where you can experiment with having them move their arms and legs to create a pose that's casual but composed. I also like to play around with having my seniors look into the camera for some photos and away from it in others to get a nice variety of shots!
Prop Your Elbow
For this pose, I have my seniors prop one of their elbows up on something like a fence, table, or, in Tristan's case, a truck! I like this pose for my male seniors because it's very masculine and creates some interesting angles with their body positioning. Guys also tend to put their hands in their pockets when standing for photos, so this pose ensures a little variety with their hand placement.
Look Into the Distance
I included this pose in last week's senior posing guide as well because it works great with both men and women! The main difference when I have my male seniors do this pose is I'll usually have them keep a pretty neutral expression as they gaze off into the distance. This always guarantees some stoic photos that look like they've been pulled straight from a magazine!
Flash a Smile
Flashing a smile is pretty self-explanatory but always a classic. A lot of times my male seniors will feel a little uncomfortable about smiling for photos, so I like to incorporate these poses towards the end of our session once they're a bit more relaxed in front of the camera. This pose is also a huge hit with mamas who want some smiling photos of their sons!
Incorporate Something you Love
One surefire way to get my seniors guys to feel at ease for photos is by encouraging them to incorporate a sentimental item or belonging into their session. Keyshaun, for instance, has been playing baseball for years and plans to play throughout college, so we made sure to include some baseballs and his glove! Tristan, meanwhile, calls his truck his pride and joy, so I knew we had to take some photos of him in and around his truck. Having these significant items for senior photos always makes things more special and unique!
I hope this posing guide is a helpful resource you can reference before your senior photo session! Make sure to check out Tristan and Teal's seniors photo session for even more posing inspiration.
xo,
Jessi
If you're interested in booking a senior photo session for yourself or a loved one, I'd love to work with you! Please give me a shout, and let's make it happen: https://www.casaraphoto.
(c) Jessi Casara Photography
Jessi is a lifestyle documentary photographer based in southern Alabama, serving the Gulf Coast from Mobile, AL to Pensacola, FL, along with the Nashville, Chattanooga, and Atlanta areas. She specializes in couple, wedding, maternity, newborn and family photography, and also enjoys commercial and creative portraiture. Available for travel worldwide. Find out more at www.casaraphoto.com
