Guys are often less enthusiastic about senior portrait photographs than are girls. Most do it for their parents, and these portraits often mean more to the parents and family than to the subject himself! However, you can make the shoot a fun experience for the subject and get some great portraits in the process. Here are some tips that could help you do just that.
Keep it casual:
This is probably the most important tip. Keep the theme casual when it comes to senior guys’ portraits. Select a background that suits their personality. Clothes should be casual and comfortable. Colors like blue, white, and grey look great on most guys. Avoid grungy as it will not look so trendy 10 years down. You could also get your subject to wear their sports team jersey or vest showing off the number.
Posing:
Guys are generally easygoing and most are willing to go with your direction. Make sure they are comfortable as stiff poses look bad on portraits. Most senior guys look good posing with thumbs hooked into the jeans pockets. You could also have them lean casually against a stone wall or a prop like a vehicle or tree. Posing with a musical instrument or sports-related prop is another good idea, especially if they play the instrument or the sport. Get them to pose with a guitar, soccer ball, football, baseball bat, helmet, or boxing gloves can look great. This would be an additive to the portrait and be a reflection of their personality.
Action portraits:
Action portraits look great on sporty or physically active senior guys. You can capture them in action on the basketball court, football or soccer field, running on the track, riding a horse, or running on the beach. Again, these portraits would capture the personality of the senior. Use a high-speed camera for these shots and just keep clicking while the subject is in action.
Angles:
While shooting senior guys, the angles would depend on the kind of portrait you want. For simple poses, shoot directly from the front, keeping the focus on the face. When using props and for action shots, you can experiment shooting from different angles. Shooting from a low angle gives a dramatic effect and looks great on sports-themed portraits.
Black and white:
Senior guys portrait photographs can look visually stunning in black and white. Make sure to get the lighting right and keep the focus on your subject. If done with the right background and using good props, you can end up with black and white portraits that have an eternal appeal.