What to Do With Your Hands in Pictures, Guys: 9 Easy Poses
The easiest answer to what to do with your hands in pictures, guys: give them a job. Put one or both in your pockets, hook your thumbs in your belt loops, cross your arms loosely, or hold something real like a drink, your jacket or your sunglasses. Hands only look weird when they're hanging with nothing to do.
If your hands look awkward and you're not sure whether it's them or your whole posture, Glowmaxx scores your posture and angle in one selfie a day and gives you three moves to try. Start my glow-up
Why hands feel weird in photos
In normal life, your hands are always busy: holding your phone, gesturing while you talk, resting on a table. The moment someone says "okay, smile," they suddenly have no task. So they hang straight down, clench into fists or hover in front of your body.
That's why "what do I do with my hands in pictures?" is one of the most common posing questions men ask. The fix isn't to find a perfect "male model" pose. It's to borrow what your hands already do when you're relaxed.
A good hand pose does three things:
- Gives the hands a place to be so they don't dangle
- Opens a little space between your arms and body, so you don't look wider or stiff
- Looks like something you'd actually do when no one is watching
Here are 9 hand poses for guys that tick all three.
Pockets and thumbs
1. One hand in a front pocket
The go-to. Slide one hand into a front pocket up to about the knuckles, not all the way to the wrist. Let the other arm hang loose with a slight bend at the elbow. Relaxed, easy, works for almost every photo.
2. Both hands in pockets
Good for a casual, confident look. Keep your elbows slightly out from your body so there's a gap between arm and torso. That gap keeps you from looking boxy.
3. Thumbs hooked in pockets or belt loops
Hook your thumbs into your front pockets and let the fingers rest outside. It's slightly more laid-back than the full pocket and shows your hands, which looks good in outfit photos.
4. Hands in jacket pockets
If you're wearing a jacket or hoodie, use its pockets instead. It looks natural in cold-weather or outdoor photos.
Crossed arms done right
5. Loose crossed arms
Crossed arms can look defensive if they're tight and high. Do it this way:
- Cross your arms low, around your lower chest, not up by your collarbones.
- Rest your hands on your upper arms instead of tucking them in.
- Drop your shoulders and relax your face.
Done right, it reads as confident and friendly. Done tight, it reads as annoyed. If your face tends to look serious too, why do I look angry in pictures has a quick fix.
Hold something
6. Hold a real object
This is the most natural of all hand poses for men. A coffee cup, a drink, sunglasses, a basketball, a skateboard, a book, a jacket slung over your shoulder. Your hands know exactly what to do because they're doing it.
7. Adjust something
Photographers use this all the time. Adjust your watch, fix your cuff, touch your collar or pull on your jacket. Move, then pause for the photo. The motion makes the pose look candid. It's the same "move, then stop" trick from how to stop looking awkward in photos.
One hand up
8. Hand near your face or hair
Run one hand through your hair and pause halfway. Or rest your fingers lightly along your jaw or chin, like you're thinking. Keep the touch light. If your hand is pushing on your face, it'll squash your skin and look tense.
This one works best for headshots and close-up photos where your hands would otherwise be out of frame.
Hand poses fix the edges of a photo, but the thing people notice first is your overall posture and angle. That's hard to judge from inside your own head. Glowmaxx scores one selfie a day on five levers, including posture and angle, with a 1-10 and a one-line note, so you can see if the fix is working instead of just hoping. Start my glow-up
Group photo hands
9. Arm around a shoulder or hand on a back
In group pictures, the simplest option is to use the people next to you. Rest your hand lightly on a friend's shoulder or back, or put an arm around them if you know them well. It closes gaps, makes the group look connected and solves the hand problem at once.
Other group options:
- One hand in a pocket, the other arm relaxed, if you're on the end.
- Hands clasped loosely in front at belt height for formal photos. Keep the fingers relaxed, not gripped.
- Arms behind your back for team or school photos where everyone does the same.
For where to stand and how to angle yourself in the group, see how to look good in group photos.
Hands to avoid
Some hand positions almost always look awkward. Quick reference:
| Avoid | Why | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| Arms hanging straight | Looks stiff and makes you look wider | One hand in pocket, elbow bent |
| Tight fists | Looks tense | Loose fingers, or hold something |
| Hands clasped over your crotch | The classic awkward "footballer" stance | Hands in pockets or clasped at belt |
| Arms pressed to your sides | Widens your arms and torso | Leave a gap between arm and body |
| Hand gripping your chin | Squashes your face | Light fingertip touch, or skip it |
| Hands hidden completely | Looks like you're hiding something | Show at least part of one hand |
| Random peace sign in every photo | Fine sometimes, but repetitive | Mix it up with a real pose |
Better photos start with one selfie today
Now you know what to do with your hands in pictures, guys. Want to see the rest of your photo scored? In the next minute Glowmaxx can score one selfie on skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, give you a glow score out of 100 and three moves for today aimed at your lowest lever. It never rates your bone structure or features.
FAQ
What do guys do with their hands in pictures?
The most common options are one hand in a front pocket, thumbs hooked in belt loops, loosely crossed arms, or holding something like a drink or sunglasses. The key is giving your hands a job so they don't dangle.
Is it okay to cross your arms in photos?
Yes, if you keep it loose. Cross your arms low on your chest with your hands resting on your upper arms and your shoulders dropped. Tight, high crossed arms can look defensive.
What should I do with my hands in group pictures?
Put a hand lightly on a friend's shoulder or back, or keep one hand in your pocket. For formal photos, clasp your hands loosely in front at belt height or behind your back.
Should you put your hands in your pockets for photos?
Yes, it's one of the most natural hand poses for guys. Slide them in up to the knuckles rather than the whole hand, and leave a small gap between your arms and your body.
What to do with your hands when taking a selfie?
One hand is holding the phone, so give the other a light task: run it through your hair, rest it on your collar, or leave it out of frame. Keep any touch on your face gentle so it doesn't push your skin.