Male Photography

Male photography is different from female photography in the sense that you are trying to portray different expressions and emotions.

In male figure photography, the emphasis is on lines, angularity, symmetry and other aspects.

This can add a creative flair to your work and your portfolio as an artist.

As with any type of photography, it will be subjective but what is important is that you consider your work to be satisfactory.

There are many applications to male photography. As an artist, you can decide to portray male images to compel your viewer to see something deeper within a person. Or you can easily invoke emotions to cause your viewer to gasp. Either with joy or shock! Or any emotion in between.

Like female photography, male photography is quite popular with advertisers. From selling toys and games to cars, boats and luxury items, you will find that males are depicted prominently in places where it is easy to get your attention.

This article attempts to share with you some tips and tricks to making your male photography a success.

Male Photography Considerations

Most of the photographers I know are male. It shouldn’t be a surprise that most of these photographers prefer to work with females as subjects of interest. However, as a photographer, it would be beneficial to learn, experiment and grow.

This is where male photography will have an impact: on your learning!

You will ask the same questions and make the same considerations when shooting males as you would when shooting for females:

• Know your intent (or your client’s) behind the photo
• Know how light will affect the photograph
• Know your model and establish rapport
• Know what kind of mood you wish to establish

These are only a few considerations you must take into account before beginning your shoot. Once you have gotten more experience, you work flow will go much smoother and faster.

Intent

Sometimes it is possible to capture an image that is compelling and visually interesting without having to plan or think too far in advance. This is a good thing.

However, if your intent is to make sure that you are able to consistently capture compelling and interesting images, you will have to establish a work flow and become familiar with it.

This is where intent becomes important. Once you have an idea, an intent of the image you wish to capture, you can easily reproduce and recreate situations where your intent will become reality.

In male photography, this is no exception and these are a few questions you will ask yourself:

• Do you wish to create an image to be used for business purposes?
• Do you wish to show a “softer” side of the male figure?
• Do you wish to show the angularity, the lines of the subject?
• Do you wish to highlight any particular feature?
• Do you wish to subtly emphasize certain male qualities?
• Or contrast male qualities?

If you have been hired by someone else to create a photo, your intent will be your client’s. Please keep in mind, however, that your client doesn’t want you to just take a photo. You were commissioned by your client to create an engaging image. Your creativity as a photographer is what brings out the essence of your subject.

Work on your creativity and you will be able to consistently capture quality images. By asking yourself questions similar to the above list, you can constantly improve and refine your intent. Once this have done this several times, it will become almost automatic and you will be able engage your creativity at will.

Lighting

Light, or lack of light, has a great deal to do with how your images turn out. Please read the Lighting 101 tutorial (and download the free PDF) for more information about how to utilize light for the greatest effect in your photography.

In the portrait photography tutorial, I wrote about general lighting considerations for portraiture.

It is not necessary for you to follow any of these suggestions but the more you practice with the given suggestions, the more you are able to change them to suit your purposes.

Once again, for most portraiture, it is best to use soft, evenly diffused light. This ensures that the final image will not have any harsh shadows.

You may also disregard this suggestion if you are shooting a black and white portrait of a body builder. In this case, you may want to emphasize the musculature, the lines, the harshness of what it means to be a bodybuilder. For this kind of imagery, the viewer wants to be engaged by harsh light, shadows, depth and so on.

Harsh light, straight light will create shadows and depth. It will create a chiseled look and if this is your intent then that is what is important.

The Model

The model you use for your photography is just as important as any other considerations you take into account.

I primarily work with models who are used to photographers telling them how to move, how to look, how to express themselves.

There are a number of websites such as Model Mayhem or OneModelPlace (links open in a new browser window) where you can find models. Some will require paid compensation and some will not.

It is up to you as a photographer to find a suitable model or models to create an image that satisfies your intent.

Once you have found such a model, it is best to ensure that you can establish rapport with them. Without the model’s cooperation and enthusiasm, it will be more difficult to engage your creativity.

If you are a contemporary photographer, you will want to capture spontaneous emotion and expressions from your models.

Some models are good at “loosening up” and are able to be spontaneous but some are not. Again, it is entirely up to you to create a fun and playful bond with your model so that both you and the model(s) are comfortable.

Summary

Male photography is a rich and rewarding form of photography. While most of the elements of this type of photography is the same for all portraiture, there are a few different considerations you have to make.

A lot of male photography has more to do with “straightness”, “hardness”, “business” types of ideas. But, as a creative photographer, it is all about how you want to create.

Intent is where you begin. It will either be an intent you are given by your clients or something that you wish to create for yourself. After the intent has been established, find yourself a subject with whom you can work with and then either work with or manipulate the light and environmental factors yourself.

The more you practice, the more you become comfortable with your work flow, the more you are able to articulate your intent, the more readily and easily you will work.

Love your camera. Love yourself. Love your photos.