Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Your posture
• Part 2 of 3: Positioning your hands
• Part 3 of 3: Using facial expressions

If you want to look your best for a photo session or a formal event, it can be helpful to learn how to pose like a male model to show confidence and strength. Your facial expression, body posture and hand positions are the three key elements of your pose. Keep your body upright and square. Strolling and leaning against a wall are two common poses. Men usually want to do something with their hands, so you use them to vary your pose. Use facial expressions to enhance the pose.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Your posture

1. Keep your shoulders square to the camera. One of the primary rules is that a male model generally looks broad and tall. If your shoulders are at an angle to the camera, this will give you a slimmer profile. Keep your shoulders relaxed and straight forward.
   • To improve the look of your shoulders, lean forward about an inch to two inches to bring your shoulders closer to the camera.
   • There are times when you will be photographed from the side or when slanting shoulders are desired, but usually straight shoulders are best.
2. Tighten your core. If you have some fat around the waist, pull it in slightly by contracting your abs. Make your stomach as flat as possible without pulling it in too much. This will slim your waist and also push your chest forward a bit. It also helps straighten your posture, which lengthens your core muscles.
3. Work on a strolling pose. Walking is a common "pose" for the male model. Practice walking upright and with your head held high. This pose requires a leg straight forward with the toes about an inch off the floor. The back foot should be up on the ball of your foot. One arm is extended slightly forward, while the other moves slightly backward.
   • Extend your stride a little further than you would normally walk. This emphasizes the pose, especially if you tend to take small steps.
4. Lean against a wall. You have many options for leaning, ranging from standing with your back against the wall or with one of your shoulders. When leaning your back against the wall, bend one knee and place that foot against the wall. Leaning on one shoulder, cross the foot closest to the wall over the other foot.
   • If you lean with your back against the wall, you don't necessarily have to lift one leg, but don't keep both legs completely straight next to each other. Bend one leg and the other back slightly.
   • When you lean, stay almost upright.You are not supposed to put your feet so far from the wall that you form a large angle.

Part 2 of 3: Positioning your hands

1. Put your hands in your pockets. This is a classic attitude of confidence and tranquility. You have two options: either put your whole hand in your pocket or leave about half of your hand in the pocket, but without the thumb. Hook your thumbs around your belt as a variation.
   • Another option is to put just one hand in a bag. With this hand position, it is okay to place your other hand on the opposite shoulder or run through your hair.
2. Touch your face. If you want to express relaxation or thoughtfulness, place your hand somewhere on your face. You have many options here. Put your index finger and thumb around your chin, or curl your fingers and place them against your chin.
   • Placing your hand on your face gives you a lot of poses to work with. Test different hand positions to see which one conveys what you are looking for.
3. Adjust your tie with one hand. If you are wearing a full suit and tie, place one hand by your tie in a classic and stylish pose. Place your thumb and index finger on each side of the tie knot. You don't actually have to move the tie. Having your hand on that spot will give the idea of ​​movement.
   • A slight variation on this pose is to keep your other hand halfway down the tie. This is what it would look like if you pulled the tie tight, but this pose is clearly different from the one with one hand.
4. Cross your arms. For a serious or managerial attitude, cross your arms as usual. To adjust the pose for modeling, place both hands on the opposite arm, instead of underneath. It looks better when both hands are visible.
   • A variation on this look is to let one arm hang down with the other hand grabbing around the elbow. It is a way to cover part of the torso, but gives a different impression than both arms folded.

Part 3 of 3: Using facial expressions

1. Narrow your eyes a little. Wide eyes are generally not good for male models. Lift your lower lids slightly by narrowing your eyes. This gives you a look of deep thought or careful consideration. It evokes confidence as opposed to fear or confusion.
2. Push your chin forward and down. When your chin is resting, extra skin can often be seen underneath. Push your head forward so that your neck is stretched. Don't lift your chin so that your nostrils can be seen, but down at an angle about 10% lower than normal. This will hide a possible double chin and also hide part of your neck.
   • If pushing the chin forward doesn't give you the right look, think about it as if you're pushing your ears forward. This will move your entire head properly.
3. Show some teeth with your smile. A winning smile for a male model should reveal some of the teeth. You don't have to smile so big that your mouth is wide open, but don't keep your lips pressed together. Open your lips just enough to show some of your teeth.
4. Look past the camera. Unless the photo requires direct eye contact with the camera, pick a point above the camera. Look at a corner to the left or right of the camera, or look at a point just below the camera.
   • This gives the impression that you are thinking deeply. It also gives you a more natural look than looking straight into the camera.