3 Senior Boy Poses for Guy Senior Photos | Senior Photography Education

Preparing for your sessions doesn’t need to come with stress about posing. With the tips in this blog post (and so much more in my course Posing on Purpose – or POP for short), you’ll be ready with senior boy poses and the confidence to knock your shoots out of the park!

Senior guys present a wide variety of sentiments around getting their senior photos taken — some are excited (and really enjoy getting their photo taken, as becomes obvious as you take the first few shots together), and others cannot wait to meet up with their friends once you wrap the session. So the first 'hurdle' is determining where they land on what I refer to as the 'comfortability' scale — how comfortable do they feel in front of the camera? Once you feel confident about where they sit on that scale, choosing poses in an order that makes sense keeps them upbeat AND produces great results for their senior photo album becomes much easier.

Let’s dive into some examples of great senior boy poses:

1. Sitting down, one or both knees bent

When it doubt, have 'em sit down. Standing senior boy poses can be a bit more tricky to create natural-looking results with, and there's just something about being able to kick back up against a wall or surface that helps guy clients to relax. Kicking the knee up gives them a place to rest their arms, and what's cool is you can quickly capture two very different shots (at least) in a matter of seconds simply by switching up what we call the 'variation' in POP — for example, you can have them look to the side, and then look right into the lens. Then, have them move from one knee up to two knees up, take a few steps to the left, step in closer, and you have a totally different shot. 

2. Side profile

Without having to do much, this pose says LOADS about the subject! It showcases their unique features, their resting expression, and symbolizes them looking into their whole life ahead of them. When prompted properly, this pose can be completely powerful, and not at all cheesy.

3. In action!

One thing about guy seniors is that most of them are, if we're being honest, doing this because their mom or dad asked them to. The easiest way to have them lean into a photo session is having them "do their thing” so they forget they're at a photoshoot altogether! 

Your ultimate secret weapon when it comes to senior boy poses? A signature posing flow.

Knowing how to move through poses, from one to the next, is what prevents the guy senior from 'freezing up', getting 'awkward', or giving you that small, clenched smile that screams "are we done yet?" A signature posing flow is about preserving their energy AND getting killer candids so you can deliver the best possible results as their photographer.

You can use your posing flow from the first shot you take all the way through to the last. Although, when done correctly, you might find that by the end of your session, you'll have educated your senior client well enough to be able to move through some of the poses without having to yell from behind the camera — a dream!

Once you apply a signature posing flow, two things will happen: 1) your clients will rave about you to their friends "our photographer made it SO easy! You have to book them now before they fill up." and 2) the photos will look NATURAL and not awkward, true to the subject you were aiming to capture.

Want to know how to pose senior guys for natural results without having to pull out screenshots or a posing app? Check out my free 9 piece posing kit here and get one step closer to perfecting your signature posing flow.

Are you or is the senior in your life looking to book a guy senior photo session? Apply here!

Twin Senior Pictures 101 | Senior Photo Ideas

What’s not to love about twin senior pictures?! I get to work with not one but TWO seniors in one day? Two seniors who know each other better than anyone else? It's the most fun, fascinating, third-wheel experience there is in my opinion. Twin senior pictures sessions have similarities to solo sessions, but by nature, they’re double the fun!

More than anything, what's unique about twin senior sessions is experiencing their bond and their dynamic. I absolutely love asking mom or dad (whoever is at the session with us) how each twins' personality differs. It's so fun learning about it from the parent! I'm always curious who is taller, who is more outgoing, who is more shy… the concept of twins is just so cool in general, so to meet so many pairs of siblings who have so much in common yet are still so independent is such a cool part of my job as a senior photographer.

If you asked me what the hardest thing about shooting twin senior pictures was, it’d be an easy answer — remembering who is who!! Especially when they are identical. Fortunately, initial necklaces are really popular right now, which definitely helps me put names to faces in the first few minutes of the session. You really need to study their features at first because once they change outfits, you have to start over! You originally thought, “okay, blue dress is this person, red shirt is this person" but that goes out the window when they change clothes. That's why it's important to know them by their features rather early on in the session.

PHOTOGRAPHER TIP:

It's so important to know a client by name, because you'll be using it throughout the session and it helps the client to feel special, seen, known, & relaxed. Did you know the brain reacts in a specific way when someone hears their own name versus hearing the names of others? So cool!

Speaking of twin senior pictures outfits, there are a few ways you can approach selecting outfits for a duo. In my twin sessions, I typically see a coordinating outfit, such as matching white dresses, one independent outfit so they can each shine on their own/express their own independent style or college choice, and then one more outfit that doesn't "match" as in being the same color or type of clothing, but rather their outfits  "go together." Examples of this are complementary colors, or a girl senior wearing a long dress while her twin brother wears a more formal look.

Posing is one aspect of twin senior pictures that needs to be handled slightly differently than solo senior sessions. There's a specific flow I'll follow when it comes to posing twins, and it's one that ensures we get enough solo time for each senior while still making sure we pause for sibling shots, too. That's often a misconception about twin sessions — parents either think they'll need to book two separate photoshoots, or that there won't be enough time to do both solo and sibling images. That's why I follow my PB&J flow that I teach to photography students in my Posing on Purpose course! 

Here are 4 twin senior pictures pose ideas to get you started:

Pose 1: Back to back or side to side

This is a fun way to see each twin and their features side by side.

Pose 2: Cap toss - of course!

Whether the seniors are holding their cap out in front of the camera, tossing the cap in the air, or walking away while holding the cap, they’re all classics in the world of senior photos!

Pose 3: Walking

Get them moving! Walking away or walking toward the camera, holding hands for twin girls, arm-in-arm for guy/girl twins, and a little space in between for twin brothers.

Pose 4: Piggy back

Not only is this a cute pose, but capturing one twin running and jumping onto their sibling’s back makes for an extra fun series, as well!

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Even though we're working with twins, it's definitely important to make each individual feel seen and celebrated for their uniqueness as well. If one twin has a unique sense of fashion compared to the other, we'll make sure to give them a solo outfit moment to highlight it!

The most important thing about making sure we get it just right for twin seniors is having a video consultation call where I can get to know each senior virtually. That way, I can note who is passionate about what, who wants to avoid this, highlight that, etc. Pre-session calls are extremely important to the success of the session, which is why we do them with every client — not just twins!

If you're on the fence about getting twin senior pictures taken, remember that this may very well be one of the final seasons of your kiddos under the same roof. While they may or may not be best friends at this stage in their life, it will certainly be a memory they will share for decades to come. Just think of how often they'll pull out their senior photo album to show it to their kids and kids' kids in the future. No doubt about it — senior year will come and go. Take an afternoon to capture it!

If you want to learn more about posing twins and other seniors, check out my free 9 piece posing kit!

Are you a senior who wants to book your own twin senior pictures session? Apply here!

How to Audit Your Senior Posing Flow in 6 Steps | Senior Photography Education

Having a senior posing flow changed the game for me as a senior photographer. I used to get a bit nervous before sessions, print out entire posing sheets, and scramble through Pinterest inspo before a session — only to forget it all once we started. Leaning on shortcuts, like a posing app or storing pose inspo on my memory card, wasn’t cutting it either. Having a posing flow means being able to nail LOTS of different poses with a degree of speed that keeps the client comfortable (which should be a huge priority for senior photographers) and most importantly, creates killer results. A well-developed posing flow is like a built-in guide in your mind that guarantees each session, no matter the time limit or circumstance, will lead to happy clients who love their images.

A senior photographer’s posing method begins well before the session takes place. Use the following questions to assess whether or not your senior posing flow needs a revamp.

1. Prep

Is your posing expertise communicated in the inquiry, discover, prep, & check-in phase of your senior photography experience?

Posing starts waaaaaaay before the photo session. Before physically posing the client, it's important to mentally and emotionally check-in with their expectations around the session in general. This is the perfect opportunity for you to be their trusted advisor, their guide, the expert in their photography experience. Don't miss out on these important pre-session touch points.

2. Kickoff

What are you SAYING before you start DOING? How do you establish yourself as the trusted guide? Do you show the back of the camera? What pose do you start with?

Start with the same base pose and/or introductory phrase: 

"You couldn't mess this up if you tried!"

"Remember, I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to do."

"Let's start with some easy, no-pressure warm-up poses."

The number one thing on your client’s mind when you first get started is probably something about being nervous, so help them feel safe and excited with a simple verbal reminder.

3. Language

Are you explaining the pose verbally or physically? Are you snapping photos in silence? Are you using positive, proactive language when redirecting your clients?

If your plan going into sessions is to stay quiet behind the camera and wait for your client to figure it out, think again! Try to fill almost every moment with verbal affirmation, positive/constructive adjustments, and of course, physically demonstrating the pose as well. 

Remember, these clients don't have a mirror, and they can't always see the back of your camera! All they see is a photographer with a big camera pointed at them. How are they going to know how it's looking if you don't tell them? Communication is non-negotiable for a positive client experience.

4. Expectations

Are you establishing expectations early and clearly?

Establishing expectations as they relate to posing includes:

• Where to park and meet you

• Who should come to the session

• What parents or guests do during the session

• How you’ll be directing the client today

• Choosing poses according to both parent & senior preferences

Remember, we serve TWO clients: parent and senior. Be sure to have clear approaches to making each party feel catered to and taken care of.

5. Variations

Do you spend several minutes setting the client into a pose, only to snap a bunch of the same base pose without taking advantage of the variations available?

Are you posing your clients, prompting them, or both? 

How do you change your posing flow between girls, guys, twins, young teens, and larger groups? 

Are you leveraging the posing power of props during your senior sessions?

Even the slightest change to add variations can be the difference between a regular photo session that simply satisfies the client and an amazing senior photo session that has your client posting your images, leaving you rave reviews, and insisting their friends and family book with you ASAP!

6. Style

How are you making your poses unique to your photography style? Do you enjoy posing your clients? How often are you trying out what inspires you?

"No one is you, and that is your power" 

The best poses will reveal themselves over time. At first, maybe by accident, but eventually you'll start to see patterns in your work and realize, "hey, that's kind of my thing! I love it!" Of course in our world it's easy to find ideas and be inspired by others, but don't forget to also look inward, take time to rest and recharge your creative battery, and try new things with willing clients or your model team.

Not only will having a solid posing flow allow you to show up to your sessions confident that you can trust yourself and nail it, but your clients will feel it, too. Every client is different and will require different degrees of guidance, and every location, weather scenario, and session differs, too. Having a flow means having an ADAPTABLE method, rather than using the same reference sheet for each and every client. They’ll see your confidence and expertise during the session, and be wowed by the results in their photos. Happy clients lead to the most valuable result of them all: warm, eager, trusting word-of-mouth referrals!

Ready to take your senior photography to the next level? With a solid senior posing flow and my 9-piece posing kit, you’ll be unstoppable! Download the posing kit here for free.