Posing men for portraits...

So I've been doing more and more portraits lately--that's a good thing. Been working on doing shots for dating websites. The good news is I'm getting some business, the bad news (for me) is, I'm getting business from men as well as women.

Why is it bad news (for me)? I've always had problems posing men. I've found men to be stiffer, less into having their photos taken, etc. I'm looking for tips for shooting men. I'm just not happy with my shots of men. I'm comfortable getting good shots of women and children, just having this major blockage.

Any tips/advice out there?

Thanks.

Anyone?

I don't feel bad now.

http://lmgtfy.com …ing+tips+for+sh​ooting+men

rsieminski wrote in post #13200102
http://lmgtfy.com …ing+tips+for+sh​ooting+men

You're oh, so helpful.

I am looking for others here who have experience shooting men and who can help.

You are right, sometimes guys can be a bit less into having their picture taken, but if you get them talking about some of their interests, and get them to relax a bit, you can go with a bit of the GQ type poses, perhaps leaning aginast a wall, put a foot flat to the wall. do a couple of 3/4 shots. Make sure you drop some compliments when they hit a good pose - Hey, the gals will like that one, or lookin sharp!

One reason guys are more stiff is because they don't want to look stupid or silly. Assure them that they will have full say over the photos taken and if it makes them more willing to try some poses, even offer to delete the ones they do not want.

Something that can help is if you have a female "assistant" who can offer a feminine point of view on how a pose looks.

Good luck!
-John

I think that LMGTFY is pretty funny sometimes but was kind of rude in this instance.

This forum is for posting photos, there is a section for talking about people photography here. You'll probably have better luck there.

Hands in pockets, arms crossed, hands slightly out of pockets, looking into the distance, elbow on knee, grins, smiles...those usually work well for me. Guys are easy to shoot if you just let them relax how they want. Just make sure they don't slump, unless you are shooting below them and they are looking down at you. Get creative...come up with your own ideas, and you will probably stumble across something unique. ;]

Mr Ultrasensitive,
Did you look at the 1st link that came up from that search? Loads of other links giving inspiration. You just need to search. Search through magazines, flickr pools, magazines (Esquire, GQ, etc.)

I am sorry you found it offensive in my finding a search that brought up the results for you? Have a little tougher skin when you post something without searching 1st. I meant no offense.

Try not taking offense to this:
http://photo.net …-photography-forum/009qwt

rsieminski wrote in post #13200523
Mr Ultrasensitive,
Did you look at the 1st link that came up from that search? Loads of other links giving inspiration. You just need to search. Search through magazines, flickr pools, magazines (Esquire, GQ, etc.)

I am sorry you found it offensive in my finding a search that brought up the results for you? Have a little tougher skin when you post something without searching 1st. I meant no offense.

Not being Mr. Ultrasensitive. Yes, I search before posting. I'm looking for a discussion with others who've done it, not for, "you should search," advice.

There are ways to suggest something like that without coming off as rude. This was not one of those ways.

I did not find it offensive at all. I have always wondered why people can't just either make suggestions or not post instead of taking the time to post something like that...

But thank you anyway.

johndoorley wrote in post #13200423
You are right, sometimes guys can be a bit less into having their picture taken, but if you get them talking about some of their interests, and get them to relax a bit, you can go with a bit of the GQ type poses, perhaps leaning aginast a wall, put a foot flat to the wall. do a couple of 3/4 shots. Make sure you drop some compliments when they hit a good pose - Hey, the gals will like that one, or lookin sharp!

One reason guys are more stiff is because they don't want to look stupid or silly. Assure them that they will have full say over the photos taken and if it makes them more willing to try some poses, even offer to delete the ones they do not want.

Something that can help is if you have a female "assistant" who can offer a feminine point of view on how a pose looks.

Good luck!
-John

Thanks! Great suggestions here.

I've always struggled with posing to begin with. Maybe that's why I'm having such a tough time with men anyway since they're tougher to begin with.

erk wrote in post #13200427
I think that LMGTFY is pretty funny sometimes but was kind of rude in this instance.

This forum is for posting photos, there is a section for talking about people photography here. You'll probably have better luck there.

Sorry about that. I wasn't quite sure where to post my initial question.

rsieminski wrote in post #13200533
Try not taking offense to this:
http://photo.net …-photography-forum/009qwt

Thank you for the link.

No offense taken.

Also, I google imaged "Male Poses" which brought up a TON of cartoon male pose pictures. Some of them are clearly not going to work but others are great!

GadgetRick wrote in post #13197709
I've always had problems posing men. I've found men to be stiffer, less into having their photos taken, etc. I'm looking for tips for shooting men. I'm just not happy with my shots of men. I'm comfortable getting good shots of women and children, just having this major blockage.

Any tips/advice out there?

Thanks.

People have posted links to posing sites and you can always google the topic and find poses you like and copy them, but your will still be unhappy with the shots if you don't figure out how to "wrangle" your male subjects. Others have pointed out ways that they use their own personalities to relax the guys, joking around etc., and it is the absolute truth that it is YOUR PERSONALITY that will make or break a photo session with a reluctant, uncomfortable subject. You can nail the pose and if you haven't figured the interpersonal thing out (or unless the subject gives you the expressions naturally), all you will have it a nicely posed image of a guy who looks like he'd rather remove his own spleen with a rusty grapefruit spoon.

Until you reach that state of interpersonal relations with your male subjects, the only other thing I could suggest is this: right out of the gate, tell guy/bro/dude that smiles are not required or necessarily desired in your portrait session. Ever. FREE him from the very thought of having to conjure up a "smile" and see what happens. Do not even once, never, ever ask a guy to smile if he is the uncomfortable type. Once he realizes that the pressure if off in that regard, you BOTH might loosen up enough to have a spontaneous bit of fun that you can capture. If that doesn't happen, it doesn't matter. Guys don't typically care, they just don't want to feel stupid or look stupid. Guys are always happy to put their hands in their pockets and it usually looks good. So find some simple, masculine poses, and ask him to just look into the glass. Snap the shutter, make small talk and do it again. Rinse and repeat.