How to Pose Senior Guys Without Making It Feel Awkward


One of the most common things I hear before a senior guy session is some version of, “He hates having his picture taken,” or, “He is going to feel so awkward.”

That is completely normal. Most senior guys are not showing up to their senior session with a list of poses they have practiced or any idea what they are supposed to do in front of the camera. And honestly, they shouldn't have to. As a senior photographer in the Dallas, Texas area, one of my jobs is making sure my seniors feel comfortable enough that their photos actually look like them. That means less stiff posing, more natural movement, and plenty of direction so there is never that awkward moment of wondering, “What am I supposed to do with my hands?”

Relaxed senior guy portrait by Mary Hickman Photography
Natural senior guy pose during a North Texas senior session

Senior Guy Posing Should Feel Natural


When people hear the word “posing,” they sometimes picture someone standing completely still, staring at the camera and forcing a smile.

That is exactly what I try to avoid. For senior guys, I typically start with simple positions that already feel natural: standing, leaning against something, sitting on a step, walking toward me or adjusting a jacket. From there, I make small changes. Turn your shoulders this way. Put one hand in your pocket. Look over here. Take a few steps toward me. Lean back just a little. Those small directions make a huge difference without making the senior feel like he has to perform for the camera.

The goal is for the finished images to look effortless, even though there is plenty of direction happening behind the scenes.

North Texas senior session with Mary Hickman Photography.
Fall senior pictures for a high school senior in the Plano Texas area.
A senior boy leans on a rustic wooden fence in a sunny rural field with trees in the background

What About Hands?


Hands are usually the thing people notice first when they feel uncomfortable in photos. The easiest solution is giving them somewhere natural to go.

Pockets are great. So are belt loops, crossed arms, holding a jacket, resting hands loosely together or leaning against a wall or railing. I also pay attention to the small details. Sometimes moving one hand a few inches or changing the angle of an arm is all it takes to make a pose feel completely different. My seniors do not need to know any of this ahead of time. I give direction throughout the entire session.


You just have to show up.

Teen boy in black graphic tee and light jeans sits on rocks by a pond at Oak Point Nature Preserve.

Your Senior Doesn't Have to Smile in Every Photo

Another misconception about senior pictures is that every photo needs to have a big smile.

It doesn't. Of course, we will get those smiling images that parents and grandparents love. But I also like creating photographs with more relaxed expressions.

For senior guys especially, a neutral expression can create a more confident, modern look. A good senior gallery should have variety.

Some images might feel fun and casual. Others can feel more serious. Some will be close-up portraits, while others will show more of the location and outfit.

That variety is what makes the full gallery — and eventually a senior album — so much more interesting.


Young man in brown shirt and jeans leaning on a rustic wooden fence outdoors, smiling at the camera.
Young man crouching in a field holding wildflowers, wearing a dark shirt and jeans, smiling outdoors.
Young man in dark shirt and jeans leaning against rustic wooden fence in a sunny field with green trees.

Senior Pictures Should Look Like Your Senior

The biggest thing I want parents to know is that your son does not need to suddenly become someone who loves being in front of the camera.

He also does not need to know how to pose.

That's what I'm there for.

My approach to senior photography is relaxed and guided. I give enough direction that my seniors never feel like they have been left standing there wondering what to do, while still leaving room for their real personality to show through.

And very often, the senior who started the session telling Mom that he didn't want pictures is the one laughing and completely relaxed by the end.

Don't Let the Photos Live Only on Your Phone

Once the session is finished, these photos become part of documenting a pretty major season for your family.

Senior year goes quickly.

Having digital images is convenient, but there is something completely different about being able to sit down years from now and flip through a professionally designed senior album.

An album tells the full story of the session — the different outfits, expressions, locations and little details — instead of allowing those images to disappear into a phone's camera roll.

It's one of the reasons I love helping families think beyond simply downloading their gallery.

Collection of gold-framed family portrait photos displayed on a light wood floor against a bright white wall.

Looking for a Senior Photographer in Allen, Texas?

If you're planning senior pictures for your son and you're worried that he will feel uncomfortable or won't know what to do, don't let that stop you from scheduling the session. He does not need modeling experience. He does not need to practice posing. And he definitely does not need to love having his picture taken. I'll walk him through the entire thing.


Mary Hickman Photography offers senior photography sessions for seniors throughout Allen, McKinney, Plano and the surrounding North Texas area.

If you're ready to start planning senior pictures that feel relaxed, natural and actually look like your senior, contact me to start planning his session.