Male Model Poses and Ideas | PhotographyTalk

The men's modeling industry is still a fraction of its female counterpart, but men are having an increased presence in the fashion industry.

Several standard poses work well for men, but there are also poses that do not work at all. Here are some general tips to make sure you get the best images possible with your male models.

1) For men, it is important to use wide-spaced "action" type shots rather than posed and catalog-style photos.

2)  Keep white space around male models.  They need room to breathe!    Putting them against a busy background will look too busy and they will appear larger than they are. If at all possible, avoid backgrounds with lots of small patterns as it will accentuate the male's shape and size.

3) One common mistake men make is wearing clothing that doesn't fit their body type and trying to pose as if it does. Wearing baggy clothes hides your model's body and makes him look much larger than he is. A great way to avoid this is to work with a men's professional stylist or designer who can help you choose a wardrobe that works well for men models.

4) For posing men, poses should be slightly less exaggerated than those used for women

5) When working outdoors, men tend to shrink in front of the camera – especially when shooting against a bright sky – so having an assistant stand off-camera helps men feel more at ease and they appear larger in the shot.

6)  Relaxed male pose should have an open stance with one leg bent in toward their body at around a 90-degree angle. This pose gives men the appearance of having longer legs, which is always desirable in men's modeling.

7) Any time men are shown laying on the ground, be sure they are wearing socks! There's nothing worse than seeing men's bare feet when they're supposed to be showing off men's shoes. Not only does it ruin your image but it also can hurt your sales if customers think sandals aren't practical footwear for men since you left them barefoot!

8) men's fashion magazines tend to avoid shots where men appear too glamorous, like the ones typically seen of women. The men prefer photos that are more active and earthy looking.

9) Be aware of male body types when posing them; the male body type is not always suitable for all poses. For example, a thin model with long legs will benefit from crouching or sitting poses because he doesn't have much weight on his joints to bend them unnaturally. A stockier man may look better standing straight up with his weight applied equally to both feet instead of one knee (which can make him appear top-heavy and awkward).

10) Most men modeling clothing need bright and lots of them. Because men's clothing is usually darker and more muted, men need to stand out; bright colors help give men a striking look that will naturally draw the eye of the viewer.