If you want to look your best in a photo shoot or formal event, learn to pose like a model, strong and confident. The posture of the body as a whole, the position of the hands and the expression of the face are three key elements of your pose. Stand straight and keep your body well aligned. Pretend to walk or lean against a wall (these are two typical poses you can put yourself in) and, since men usually have their hands busy with something, use them to pose in different ways. Finally, use facial expressions to perfect the pose.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Posing with the Body
Step 1. Keep your shoulders aligned with the camera
One of the main rules is to look as a whole as a strong and sturdy model, but if you turn your back from an angle other than that of the camera, this will streamline your profile. Then keep them relaxed and facing forward.
- To improve the appearance of your shoulders, lean forward a few inches to bring them closer to the camera.
- You may happen to be photographed in profile or deliberately posing at a different angle of the shoulders, but often keeping them aligned is the best solution.
Step 2. Tighten your torso
If you have a little bit of bacon, push it in slightly by contracting your abdominal muscles. Try to flatten your belly as much as you can, but without "sucking it in" too much. This will slim your waist and push your chest out a little too. Also, it will be easier for you to maintain an upright posture which will cause your torso muscles to stretch.
Step 3. Practice the walking pose
Walking is a very common "pose" for a model. Practice walking straight and with your head held high. To perform this pose you must bring one leg forward keeping the tip of the foot about 2, 5 cm from the ground and place the sole of the rear foot on the ground; bring one arm slightly forward and instead keep the other a little back.
Take a step a little longer than you would normally walk - it will help you emphasize the pose, especially if you tend to take small steps
Step 4. Lean against a wall
You can choose to lean on in many ways, all variants of leaning against a wall with your back or with one shoulder. When you lean against a wall with your back, bend one knee and lift your foot against the wall. If you lean on your shoulder, cross the foot closest to the wall on the other.
- You don't have to lift one leg when you lean against a wall with your back, but neither do you have to keep both legs completely straight. Bend one, bring one leg forward and leave the other a little back.
- Take an almost vertical pose when leaning: your feet shouldn't be so far from the wall as to form a wide angle.
Part 2 of 3: Place Your Hands
Step 1. Put your hands in your pockets
This is a classic pose that conveys calm and confidence. You can do it in two ways: putting your whole hand in your pocket or just half of it, leaving your thumb out. For a bit of variation, stick your thumbs through the belt loops.
Alternatively, just put one hand in your pocket. In this position it is a good solution to put your other hand on the opposite shoulder or run it through your hair
Step 2. Touch your face
If you want to show that you are relaxed or deep in thought, place a hand on one area of your face. You can do this in a number of ways: by putting your index and thumb around your chin or by gathering your fingers together and resting them against it.
Placing your hand on your face will allow you to practice various ways of presenting yourself. Try placing your hands in different ways and see which one gives you the impression of communicating what you want to convey
Step 3. Use one hand to adjust your tie
A typical and elegant pose when wearing a suit with a tie is to put one hand on it. Place your thumb and forefinger so that they are on either side of the tie knot. You don't actually have to move the tie, but placing your hand there will give it a semblance of movement.
A small variation to this pose is to put the other hand about halfway through the tie. This is the position you would take if you were to tighten it; the style of this pose, however, is decidedly different from that in which one hand is used
Step 4. Cross your arms
To create a pose that conveys seriousness or authority, cross your arms as you normally would. When you pose, change this position by placing each hand on the opposite arm (rather than tucking one under) because keeping both hands in sight is better.
You can vary this pose by dropping one arm and grabbing the elbow with the other hand. It is a way to cover part of the torso that nevertheless conveys a different impression than when crossing the arms
Part 3 of 3: Using Face Expressions
Step 1. Close your eyes by squinting a little
Wide eyes usually don't suit models. Lift your lower lids slightly as if to squint, so it will look like you are thinking hard or thinking carefully. This pose suggests self-confidence and balance, which contrast with fear and confusion.
Step 2. Reach your chin forward and down
Often a resting chin shows excess skin underneath it. Push your head forward so that your neck stretches. Do not raise the chin showing the nostrils, but tilt it about 10% downwards from the normal position. By doing this, you will remove the double chin and hide part of the neck as well.
If pushing your chin out doesn't give you the look you want, think about pushing your ears forward. This way the whole head will move to the correct position
Step 3. Show a few teeth when you smile
If you want to be a model with a winning smile, you have to show a few teeth. Don't smile so much that your mouth opens wide, but don't keep your lips pursed either. Open your lips just enough to show your teeth.
Step 4. Look beyond the camera
Unless the photo specifically requires you to look directly at the camera, opt to look at a point beyond and above it. Fix a corner to the left or right of the camera, or a point just below it.
