30 Awesome Duo Poses for Besties, Partners & More

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Plus, fun duo yoga poses you can try

Co-authored by Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: February 27, 2026 Fact Checked

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For Friends

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For Couples

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For Guys

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For Girls

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Yoga Poses

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Art & Drawing Poses

Are you searching for ideas to make selfies with your best friend or partner extra-special? Stop racking your brain, because we’ve compiled 30 cool, fun duo poses you can try almost anywhere. They’re perfect for friends, couples, or any pair of girls or guys. You’ll also find unique duo yoga poses you can try that are easy to follow, and art poses you can use to sharpen your figure drawing skills.

Best Poses For Duos

An illustration that includes duo poses like legs up, loving gaze, take the plunge, and breathing yoga pose.

Legs up: Both people lie on their backs with their legs straight up against a wall.
Loving gaze: One person stares deeply into their partner’s eyes.
Take the plunge: Both people jump into a body of water for a mid-air shot.
Breathing yoga pose: Both sit cross-legged with their backs resting against each other.

Section 1 of 6:

Duo Poses for Friends

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45 Degrees Opposite Direction One person sits on a higher surface with their legs facing one side. The other person sits on the ground perpendicular to the first person with their knees up in front of them. This helps to create a unique, leveled triangle shape.^{[1]
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- When to choose: For when you have two levels to work with, like a step.
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The Hug The classic hug shot lets everyone know what great friends you are. Simply take a selfie with your pal while placing your arms around each other. It can be shot up close, so your faces are next to each other, or farther away, so you can see yourselves from head to toe.
- When to choose: Anytime you want to celebrate your friend.
- When you want to use the hug for a trio pose, try the bear hug instead!
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Legs Up Both people get on the ground and position themselves so they’re right up against a wall next to each other. Their legs can extend up at a 90-degree angle against the wall. All they need to do is look back at the camera and smile for a unique way to pose for pictures.
- When to choose: When there is a wall nearby.
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The Wheelbarrow Show your jovial side by having person 1 stand up while person 2 gets on their hands and knees in front of them. Person 1 grabs the ankles of person 2, as person 2 stands on their hands.
- When to choose: Best when you’ve got plenty of room to play.

Section 2 of 6:

Duo Poses for Couples

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Head Leaning Opposite Directions One person sits in a low chair or on a step, while the other sits on the floor next to them. The person sitting on the floor rests their hands and head on the lap of the seated person. The person in the chair leans their head down to rest on the other’s head; they can also cradle the other person’s head with their hands.^{[2]
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- When to choose: To show deep love between 2 people.
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Dual Seated/Leaning Person 1 sits in a chair or on a step. Person 2 sits on the floor between the first person’s legs. Person 1 can place their hands on their thighs or knees, while person 2 sits with their own knees up. This creates a 45-degree angle in a single direction.^{[3]
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- When to choose: Perfect when you have a step, block, or stool nearby.
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Loving Gaze Show how much you adore each other by gazing into your partner’s eyes. This can be shot from almost any angle, including an over-the-shoulder shot of one person while the other faces them, smiling. Another option includes both people looking lovingly at each other from the front.^{[4]
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- When to choose: Super-romantic moments, like your engagement or wedding photos.
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Twirling This action shot creates movement between romantic partners. Simply pretend you're in the middle of a slow dance—one couple twirls the other around. Keep the movements gentle and slow, so the camera captures the shot clearly.^{[5]
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- When to choose: To demonstrate playfulness and joy.

Section 3 of 6:

Duo Poses for Guys

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Take the Plunge Get a friend to take a photo of you both while jumping off into a body of water at the same time. It could be a pool, a pond, a lake, or a cliff. It’s more fun if those watching can see your faces, but a shot from behind is fun too.
- When to choose: To show off your group vacation fun (and when there is a body of water nearby).
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Surprise One person stands facing forward with their hands folded or at their side. The other person stands just behind them and extends their arms and/or legs excitedly, as if they’re saying, “Surprise!” The difference between the 2 types of energies will look great on camera and provide a creative way to capture 2 guy friends.
- When to choose: When you’ve got one serious friend and one goofy one.
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Hand Over Shoulder This simple pose looks cool and is easy to do. Just stand next to each other and pretend you’re posing at a photo shoot. One person places their hand on the other’s shoulder and leans slightly; it helps if the taller person is the one leaning. Plus, your ability to take a good photo of yourself just doubled!
- When to choose: A great option when you’re holding a ball for sports.
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Bromance Guys with a sense of humor will love posing while lying on their stomachs, with their head resting in their hands or on closed fists. For more fun, they can kick their feet up behind them for a little added whimsy.
- When to choose: Extra-special when you’re in a pretty environment like a field.

Section 4 of 6:

Duo Poses for Girls

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Kpop Pose Stand next to each other, while leaving a little space between you. Both people turn to the side, lift one leg up so their foot touches their own knee (like they're getting ready to kick). They then put one hand (on the same side as their bent leg) on their hips, as their other hand extends up high. When doing this hot selfie pose idea, don’t forget to smile!^{[6]
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- When to choose: When you love performing dance routines with your bestie.
- Tip: Both girls lift the same leg, so they’re in unison.
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Cheerleader This one’s easy—one person performs one cheerleading-inspired pose, like a side kick while standing. The other jumps into the air to do a mid-air jump. You might want to switch the camera to continuous shooting or burst shot mode so you get the perfect pic.
- When to choose: If you’re confident in your routines and have plenty of space to shoot.
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Kissy Face Show the love by having person 1 face forward, while person 2 faces them; this pose is mainly done from the waist up or in a close-up. Person 2 gently cups person 1’s face, while kissing her cheek. Person 1 is all smiles!
- When to choose: This pose is so easy and versatile that it works in nearly any situation.
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Heart Shape Both friends stand close together and face away from the camera. They wrap their inner arms around each other’s waists, while holding their outer arms up in front of them to form a heart with their hands, like this: 🫶.
- When to choose: Ideal when you have a pretty background, like a sunset.

Section 5 of 6:

Duo Yoga Poses

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Partner Breathing Sit with your legs crossed and your back resting against your partner’s. You can place your hands in a prayer pose in front of your chest or rest them on your knees. Or, try placing them in your lap while resting the back of your right hand on your left palm.^{[7]
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- When to choose: Choose this pose if you’re in a peaceful location.
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Temple Begin by standing and facing each other with your feet wide. Extend your arms and bring them together until your hands meet. Then, slowly bend forward until both you and your partner’s hands, elbows, and forearms can rest on each other’s. You should each be in a 90-degree angle, with your chest and abdomen parallel to the floor, so your arms create a “temple” shape.^{[8]
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- When to choose: Temple pose works best when posing against a beautiful background.
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Backbend with Forward Fold Stand back-to-back while facing away from each other. One person gets into a forward fold by hinging from their hips with their knees slightly bent. They bring their hands to the floor and lengthen their spine. The other person gets into a backbend by lifting their arms overhead and engaging their core and legs while gently arching backward with their hands and head. Once in the positions, join hands or arms for support.^{[9]
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- When to choose: Best for couples who are coordinated and flexible.
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Seated Forward Fold Sit facing each other on a comfortable surface (on a yoga mat, rug, or in the grass). Extend your legs straight so the soles of your feet touch. Then, hold each other’s hands or wrists as one of you leans forward and gently pulls the other into a slight stretch.^{[10]
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- When to choose: Try this pose when you have enough room to spread out.
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Twin Tree Pose Stand directly next to each other. Wrap your inner arms around the other person’s waist to help you balance. Lift your outer foot, bend your knee, and place your foot on the inner thigh or calf of your standing leg (forming a “figure 4” shape). Once you’re both balanced, bring your outer palms together in prayer in front of your chests.^{[11]
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- When to choose: Best when feeling confident about keeping balance.
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Downward Dog and Child’s Pose One of you gets into child’s pose on their hands and knees, with their arms reaching out. The other person stands facing the one doing child’s pose so that they can grasp your ankles with their arms slightly off the ground. Bend forward and place your hands onto your partner’s hips as if you’re performing downward dog.^{[12]
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- When to choose: Use when you don’t have much space.
- Try more couples yoga poses when you’ve mastered these!

Section 6 of 6:

Art & Drawing Duo Poses for Reference

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Sitting Duo A great way to practice drawing is to focus on 2 people who are sitting at a 45-degree angle to each other. Their legs can be in varying positions; one might have both knees up, while the other has one knee up and one knee on the ground. Their arm positions can also vary.
- When to choose: To practice drawing basic figures using different angles.
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Low angle A low-angle portrait allows the viewer to see the 2 people’s shapes from a different perspective than usual. They can simply stand next to each other, while one leans down and the other leans back. Their arms can vary in positions; for example, one person’s arms can be crossed in front of them while the other has one hand on their hip.
- When to choose: When you’re skilled at drawing bodies, but want a new challenge.
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Piggy Back Person 1 jumps on person 2’s back, while person 2 holds them behind their knees. Person 1 can wrap their arms around person 2 for even more of a complicated posture to recreate.
- When to choose: A good way to practice drawing when the figures are intertwined.
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Fake fighting The 2 people pretend to fight, with person 1 standing behind person 2. Person 1 wraps their arms around person 2 tightly. Person 1 can act like person 2 is attacking them, though it’s all in good fun.
- When to choose: To work on capturing movement between figures.
- To draw chibi-style duo poses, you would portray them with exaggerated, oversized heads, large eyes, and small bodies.