When you’re photographing senior guys, football sessions can feel intimidating if you don’t have a simple posing plan.

The good news?

You don’t need dozens of creative poses.

You just need a handful of go-to ideas that you can repeat with small variations to build an entire gallery.

Let’s keep this simple.

Start with movement

One of our favorite ways to begin a football senior session is with walking poses.

Have your senior casually walk across the field holding the football. Then have them toss the football while walking, look at the camera, look away, or give a serious expression.

Those small changes create a surprising amount of variety without changing the pose.

Use the football field to your advantage

The football field already gives you plenty of props.

Use the bleachers, fences, and goalposts to create different looks throughout the session.

Have your senior sit on the bleachers looking toward the field, lean against the fence, or casually rest against the goalpost.

Simple locations help tell their story without making the session feel complicated.

Mix standing and sitting poses

Once you’ve captured the walking shots, slow things down with standing and sitting poses.

Have your senior sit while holding the football, lean forward with one leg stretched out, or hug the football for a close-up portrait.

One of our favorite shots is photographing from above while they hold the football close to their chest.

It creates a completely different perspective with very little effort.

Don’t forget the helmet

If your senior brought their helmet, use it.

A close-up portrait with the helmet on is almost always a favorite.

Sometimes we’ll even have them hold the football close to the camera to create a blurred foreground that adds extra depth to the image.

We usually save helmet photos for the end of the session so their hair stays looking great for the rest of the gallery.

Show more than just football

Many seniors play multiple sports, so don’t be afraid to showcase all of their interests.

Bring along jerseys, equipment, or even a suit jacket to create a few completely different looks.

Some of our favorite senior galleries combine football portraits with personality, giving families a collection that feels unique instead of repetitive.

Keep your posing simple

The best football senior sessions aren’t about memorizing dozens of poses.

They’re about creating small variations.

Change where they’re looking.

Move closer.

Shoot from above.

Try a different angle.

Repeat your favorite poses around the field.

Your senior gets more variety, and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every five minutes.

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