Top 10 Posing ideas for your Couples
When you’re just starting out as a photographer, it’s hard not to get caught up in feeling overwhelmed. These 10 posing ideas will help you not get panicked about getting THE shot. But instead of allowing nerves to take over, you just need a little confidence boost and that’s where this guide comes in!
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Unlike posing an individual, posing a couple is about creating a connection. It’s likely the bride and groom you’re shooting are not professional models (and if they are, lucky you!) So they’ll be relying on you to tell them how to pose in a way that makes them look the best.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
1. ENCOURAGE YOUR COUPLE
It’s no secret that when people are in front of the camera they feel awkward and are unsure what to do. Be sure to give your couple a pep talk before you get started and set the tone for the shoot. Let them know that you are there to guide them and encourage them all throughout the shoot.
2. CHECK THEIR HANDS AND FINGERS
Awkward hands can be the biggest giveaway to a bride and groom feeling uncomfortable during their shoot. While telling them to “act natural” isn’t all that helpful, direct them to touch each other’s hands, face, arms or clothing to give their hands something to do. When you think you’ve got the shot, make sure you double-check what the hands are doing!
3. INSPIRE EFFORTLESS INTERACTION
A bride and groom on their wedding day are likely to be feeling a mixed bag of emotions from stress and nerves to joy and love. Some of the best wedding photos are the ones where you capture a natural moment between the couple. Maybe a wink or a laugh or an intimate moment shared between just the two of them.
4. POSTURE IS KEY
Even if you’ve posed your couple perfectly, their slouching back or awkward lean can potentially ruin your shot. If you find posture to be a big problem with your couple, encourage them to take a deep breath in and out which should naturally have them stand straighter.
The 10 posing ideas for your next session
1. WALKING AWAY
To get your session started and break the ice have your couple hold hands and walk away from you. Let them know they can talk for a little bit and look at each other while they walk. Then direct them to turn around and walk back towards you but to keep looking at each other and smiling.
2. GET THEM TALKING
Unless you know your couple really well, it’s likely they’ll feel a little awkward and shy in front of the camera. Ask them to tell you about the first time they met, or their first date or their proposal. These stories will spark genuine emotions and hopefully a few laughs so be sure to have your camera ready!
3. ALMOST KISS
While kisses can look great, they can look a little icky. Instead, create a buildup of emotion by telling the groom to go in for the kiss but don’t actually follow through and make them work for the kiss. Tell the bride not to give it to him right away.
4. WORK WITH THE VEIL
There’s only one time in a woman’s life that she’ll ever get to wear a veil and that’s on her wedding day! Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the veil by using it to create motion and flow in your shots. Have it drape behind her as she walks away from you or have it blow in the wind while your couple stand in an embrace.
5. GET UP CLOSE
Create greater intimacy by coming in for a close-up shot. You can have the couple hold each other’s face and lean forehead to forehead or have the bride pull lightly on your groom’s tie while looking directly into his eyes. Don’t forget to tell your groom to whisper something into your bride’s ear that makes her smile.
6. SIDE BY SIDE
It’s the backdrop that really takes this simple shot to the next level. Use this pose when you have a picturesque landscape, an old building or a quirky wall to play with. Have your bride and groom stand side by side and hold hands and either look at you or at each other or in opposite directions.
7. SHOW OF THE DRESS
One classic pose is having the bride and groom face one another with her back facing you while showing the side profile of their faces. If your bride has a train, have them do a twirl or play with the skirt to get a shot of the dress from behind. You can even have the groom carrying the train as they walk to your next shooting location.
8. THE DRUNK WALK
A fun way to break the seriousness and get your couple to laugh and interact with each other is to have them walk side by side holding hands. But to keep things interesting tell your couple to give you their best drunk walk but they have to stay holding hands. This is a guaranteed killer photo opportunity to capture some laughs.
9. FOREHEAD KISSES
Have the groom kiss the bride on the forehead for a sweet shot. To fully show off the bride’s rings, have him hold her head and have her reach up for his shoulders. For a variation on this shot, you could have your groom rest his forehead on the bride’s and have them both close their eyes.
10. SIT DOWN & GET COZY
Allow your couple the opportunity to sit down and get cozy with each other. Sometimes if you tell the couple to sit however they feel comfortable they will naturally fall into place. Tell them to wrap their arms around each other and layback to relax like they were watching Netflix.
ALOHA
Aloha! I’m Bea, aka TheWanderingB! I am a traveling adventure photographer based on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. So if you are a couple seeking an adventure photographer and desiring someone to capture your raw and intimate love story, click HERE to access my booking request form!
ALOHA!
I’m Bea, aka TheWanderingB! I am a traveling wedding photographer based in beautiful Colorado Springs, COLORADO.
