12 Creative Poses for Tattooed Subjects

Tattoos have come a long way.

Once seen as signs of rebellion or even criminality, they’re now much more socially accepted, with people of all ages opting to get “inked” with words and symbols that often mean something special to them.

Thanks to that, today’s photographers are more likely to encounter tattooed subjects or even carry out photo shoots specifically designed to show off a tattooist’s artistry.

But capturing the perfect pictures of tattooed people can be challenging, as you often need to find a way to highlight the ink without losing sight of the person behind it.

Fortunately, the right poses make all the difference, and in this guide, I’ll share with you some of my favorite creative poses for tattooed subjects, plus some professional tips and tricks you won’t want to miss.

1. Seated, Facing the Camera With Hands Together

This is one of my go-to poses for people with tattoos across their arms and upper bodies.

Have them sit down in a chair, rest their elbows on their knees, and bring their hands together, just below the chin. They can even rest their head on their hands, if desired, and look directly into the lens.

There are three reasons why this pose works so well:

First, it’s a great way to show off all those tattoos inked across the upper part of the subject’s body.

Second, the pose exudes intensity, thoughtfulness, and personality.

And third, it strikes that all-important balance between making sure the tattoos are visible without making the subject blend into their background.

By having them look directly into the camera, you can maintain a strong connection between the subject and the observer.

2. Standing, Side Profile

Many people choose to have sleeve tattoos, so a lot of the best poses for tattooed subjects revolve around finding ways to make their arms or other relevant body parts as visible and central as possible.

This is one of them.

For this pose, your subject simply needs to stand in one spot, side-on to the camera, ideally in a relaxed, casual kind of pose.

Their tattooed arm (or one of their tattooed arms) should be flat by their side (e.g., hand relaxed in pocket or loosely at thigh level) and the other raised up, perhaps with hand on hip or gently bent at the elbow for natural flow.

• More: How to Pose People with Glasses

3. Holding a Prop

I love mixing props into my shoots, and when used in moderation and selected with care, certain items can really elevate pictures involving tattooed individuals.

One of my go-to tricks is to use props that introduce some sort of juxtaposition or contrast with the color or style of the tattoo, or the subject themselves.

A bunch of flowers, for example, can add a sense of softness when you’re working with a subject with deep, dark ink or gruesome, Gothic-style tattoos.

Or, you can go the other direction, finding props that match your subject’s tattoos. You could have a subject with a skull tattoo hold a prop skull up in the air or close to their chest, for instance.

Whichever option you choose, playing with props is a fun and effective way to add something extra to your photos. Just make sure not to overdo it, as too many props can ruin the effect you’re trying to achieve.

4. Arms Folded

Regardless of whether it’s valid or not, many people intrinsically associate tattoos with a certain sort of strength, toughness, and a rule-breaking, rebellious kind of attitude.

This pose plays on those associations, and it’s a really simple one to work with; you just have to ask your subject to fold their arms and either face the camera or look off to the side.

While you might assume that this works best with more muscular subjects, I find it can work equally well with smaller, slimmer individuals, too, so long as you get the angles right.

It’s all about finding the right position to flatter your subject’s silhouette and capture as much of their ink as you can fit in the frame.

• More: How to Make People Look Taller in Pictures

5. Outside in Natural Light

Lighting is so important when you’re working with tattooed subjects, and I’ve often found that interior environments and artificial lights don’t always bring out the best in their ink. The obvious way to get around this is to quite simply go outside.

On a bright and sunny day, daylight works wonders at illuminating every inch of a subject’s tattoo, bringing all the individual colors and details to life in a way that interior lights sometimes struggle with.

If you’re looking to capture a high-quality picture of a person with tattoos, take them out and have them sit comfortably on a bench, chair, or even just leaning against a wall.

Or have them standing outside in nature, with a glow of golden-hour light behind them.

As long as they’re relaxed, comfortable, and bathed in light, the images you get have every chance of being spectacular.

6. Quirky Pose

Tattoos are all about individuality. They’re a way for people to express themselves and share their stories and sensibilities with the world.

That’s why, sometimes, basic copy-and-paste photo poses simply won’t suffice when you’re working with tattooed subjects.

Instead, I find it’s often worthwhile to lean into more eccentric, quirky, and unusual poses that help your subjects express themselves and show off as much of their ink as possible, all at the same time.

If they have tattoos along their arms or hands, for example, you can ask them to lift their arms up and around their head in different directions, almost framing their face with their ink.

The keys here are confidence and out-of-the-box thinking; don’t be afraid to do something different from the norm.

• More: Empowering Boudoir Poses for Women

7. Hands in Hair

Many successful poses for tattooed subjects involve people lifting their arms in one way or another so that you can capture all or much of their ink in a single shot. This is another pose in that same vein.

For this pose, have your subject put their hands through their hair or on the top or back of their head – whichever feels more comfortable or suits their style best.

The goal is to showcase their tattoos subtly, creating a casual, natural vibe like a candid moment rather than a stiff studio shot.

8. Facing Forwards, Hands Behind Back

Many poses I’ve shared so far focus on the arms, but not everyone has tattoos on their arms.

Your subject might have them on their chest or neck, for example, and if so, this is an excellent pose to try.

Simply ask your subject to stand facing forward, with their hands and arms behind their back.

Removing the arms from the equation draws the observer’s gaze towards the subject’s face and torso, helping you create a photo that is entirely focused on the person’s tattoos and facial expression.

• More: Best Jumping Poses for Dynamic Photos

9. Shot From Behind

Subjects with back tattoos warrant their own special poses.

You can get creative with wardrobe choices here, especially for females – use tops with cutouts, simple drapes of fabric, or even a jacket worn backwards with the buttons undone!

Even though they’re not entirely necessary given that we’re shooting from behind, clothes can add interest to the shot.

Either way, you can get your subject to pose with their hands up (e.g., tying up their hair) or with arms forward or hands on hips.

A strong pose is having them look over their shoulder at you while you keep both their back tattoos and their face in focus.

• More: 21 Fashion Poses for Photographing Models

10. Hands on Hips

This is another playful pose I like to use now and then to capture that rebellious spirit or strong inner character that exists in many people who decide to get tattoos.

All you have to do is have your subject stand with their arms exposed or hands on their hips, or one hand on the hip and the other raised in the air or to the side of the head.

It’s a pose that’s dynamic and engaging, and I find it works really well if you snap your subject from the side or even slightly from behind, having them look intensely into the lens the entire time for pictures packed with personality.

11. Flexing

Plenty of people with tattoos like to take good care of their bodies so they can confidently show off their ink any chance they get.

If you happen to be working with an athletic, toned, or muscular subject with tattoos on their upper body, this is a super pose to consider.

Flexing muscles can help to bring even more definition and detail to certain tattoos, as well as drawing more attention to them.

• More: 48 Best Poses for Couples

12. Fetal Position

Finally, I’ll finish with something a little different, at the opposite end of the spectrum to massive muscle flexing: the fetal position.

For this pose, your subject can lie or sit, tucking their legs and arms close to their body and possibly resting their head on their knees, as well.

Then, you’ll want to capture them from the side or at a slight angle, ensuring they entirely fit into the frame.

It’s a great pose for showing off tattoos all over the body, on the arms, legs, and other areas, and it’s one that brings a gentle element of innocence to the final photo, which can provide a thoughtful contrast to darker and grittier kinds of tattoos.

Expert Tips to Take Better Photos of Tattooed Subjects

You’ve seen some of the most creative poses for tattooed subjects. Now, I’ll share some of my personal top tips for capturing tattoos in all their glory.

1. Use Contrast to Your Advantage

As discussed earlier on, one of the tricks of the trade when it comes to photographing tattooed subjects is to make the most of contrast.

And that can mean different things, depending on how you interpret it.

I’ve enjoyed snapping pictures of muscular, tough-looking tattooed guys in soft, playful settings, holding flowers or bunnies in their arms, for example.

I’ve also found success in taking people with dense, dark tattoos and setting them against bright and airy backdrops, contrasting the colors on their skin with their surroundings.

Don’t be afraid of contrast. Use it to your advantage, whether that’s in terms of colors, props, angles, or the theming of your shoots.

2. Get the Lighting Right

When you take pictures of people with tattoos, the ink, in many ways, is the star of the show. So you have to frame it in its best possible light.

As I mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to do this can be to go outside, using the natural glow of the sun to bring out the hues and shades of your subject’s tattoos, but interior lights can also work well; it’s simply a question of positioning your subject in the right place to illuminate their ink.

When indoors, use soft, diffused lighting from multiple angles at 4000-5000K color temperature to enhance depth, reduce skin glare, and avoid harsh shadows on the ink.

Additionally, try to avoid direct flash and consider a polarizing filter.

3. Be Conservative With Props and Background Elements

There’s nothing wrong with adding the odd prop to your tattoo photo sessions or mixing things up with more dynamic backgrounds, now and then.

Just don’t overdo it.

In my experience, adding too many props or bursts of color to a shoot involving someone with tattoos can leave you with the opposite of the intended result. The items and backdrops steal attention away from the subject, and that’s not usually what either you or they want.

So, feel free to use props, but do so sparingly.

4. Experiment With Your Angles

This is one of my golden rules for photography in general, but it’s particularly pertinent for this specific topic.

When capturing subjects with tattoos, angles can make all the difference. You can capture the same subject in the same pose from two different angles and get two completely different results, because of the way their tattoos look from a certain side or elevation.

With that in mind, I encourage you to regularly try to capture the same pose from multiple angles, keeping your subject still but moving yourself and your camera up, down, and around to find that golden angle where every piece of the photographic puzzle just seems to slot perfectly into place.

Final Words

More and more people are getting “inked up” – for example, 32% of all Americans have at least one tattoo. That’s why learning how to capture top-tier photos of subjects with tattoos is a super move for budding amateurs and professional photographers, too.

The poses and tips listed above should get you off to a good start, and remember: as with so many other aspects of photography, it’s all about trial and error.

Keep practicing, keep repeating, and keep experimenting to find the poses, tricks, and techniques that work best for you.