Wedding Photography Poses – Everything You Need To Know

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A wedding photographer captures one of the most important moments in the lives of people and so it’s crucial to get the poses of the bride and groom just right! The best wedding poses are dynamic and manage to represent the personalities of the happy couple.

You never want to find yourself running out of suggestions during the photoshoot and this means that you need to have a good range of poses up your sleeve to suit the couple, the location and overall feeling of the wedding.

Be Adaptable and Sensitive to the Couple’s Requirements.

Wedding photography has remained a vital part of the couple’s special day and so photographer’s have been providing better and better services for their clients. There are many excellent poses that you should be aware of that are traditional and others that are more modern and creative.

When you’re deciding which to use in your photoshoot you’ll have to be cognisant of the character of the couple and try to use poses that they’ll be comfortable with. The wrong pose can ruin the photoshoot and make an otherwise attractive couple look awkward and uncomfortable together – which is the last thing you want to do!

The Top 10 Wedding Photography Poses.

The following wedding poses can be used for both weddings and engagement photoshoots. You might think that you need to memorize hundreds of different poses however the truth is that you only really need about ten. You can then make slight adjustments to the basic poses to better fit the mood of the occasion and the personalities of the couple. By making variations on the basic poses you can change the entire feeling of a photo and keep the images looking fresh and vibrant.

When you’re using these poses and making some changes you can just ask your clients to adjust the placement of the head, hands and feet as well as encouraging them to feel natural and relaxed.

• V Up Pose – A Traditional Classic: This is one of the most popular and long standing poses that is used in wedding photoshoots so you have to know it. You simply direct the couple to stand next to each with their hips touching and their hands positioned anywhere except for hanging down by their sides. The couple can hold hands while the female has her outside hand on her hip and the male has his outside hand in his pocket. This is a stylishly classic pose that, with a few adjustments, is highly versatile.

• Opened Up Pose: Another classic pose involves the couple opening up their feet to face towards the camera. This relaxed pose is a lovely one for outdoor settings such as the beach. The couple separate their bodies and stand holding hands in the center with their feet opened up slightly and their feet pointing outwards. The couple can either each look towards the camera or at each other.

• Closed Pose: Similar to the opened up pose, in this pose the couple stand together holding hands but instead of facing outwards they turn their bodies inwards to face each other. These can be lovely intimate poses in which the couple can either look at each other or turn their heads to look towards the camera. This pose works well in all situations. To make the photo more intimate you can ask the couple to kiss for the photo. The couple can either stand apart or stand together with no gap between them.

• Looking to the Future Pose: This romantic pose is a wedding photo favorite with the couple looking off into the distance. The groom usually stands behind the bride with his arms around her waist. The pose is natural and has an authentic feel to it and works well with dramatic scenery around them. To adjust this photo you can also have either one of the couple or both of them look towards the camera.

• Swinging Pose: This is a more creative, modern wedding pose that brings some movement into the frame. With his arms around her waist, the groom holds the bride’s weight as she jumps slightly up in front of him while he holds her in the air closely in front of him. The bride then puts her hands on the groom’s shoulders to balance and keep herself stable. Be careful with this pose though and don’t suggest it unless you are fairly sure that the groom can support the bride’s weight. Usually the bride will lift up one or both of her legs behind her in the pose.

• Carrying Pose: This traditional pose is great for any wedding. The groom holds the bride in his arms with her legs over one of his arms and her arms around his shoulders. The bride is almost seated in the groom’s arms. The pose is similar to the classic image of the groom carrying his bride over the threshold of their new home although it can be effectively used in any setting. This pose is a nice action shot but does require the groom to have the upper body strength to hold the bride’s weight in his arm.

• Staggered Couple Pose: In this popular pose in modern wedding photography the camera mainly focuses on one or other of the couple. The couple stand apart with one of the couple standing forward in front of the other. The couple can then either look at each other or at the camera. Another variation of this pose can be done with one of the couple looking directly into the camera. You can focus the camera on the bride for a more traditional shot. The couple can hold hands, be walking or standing still.

• Meeting in the Middle Pose: In this cute pose the couple stand apart from one another. They face inwards and leaning forwards they kiss in the middle. This pose is sometimes called a ‘penguin kiss’ due to the fact that as the couple leans forwards to meet in the middle they have to stick out their backsides! The pose has an excellent symmetrical element to it and can be used to good effect with a background that is also symmetrical. You can adjust this pose by having the couple hold hands or they can keep their hands by their side. You can also create more natural versions of this pose by having the couple standing closer together, side by side, and kissing in the middle as before.

• Walking Pose: This is one of the most common poses that is used in wedding photography and has plenty of scope for adjustments to suit the scene. Simply have the couple walk side by side, either holding hands or with their arms around each other’s waists. The couple can look away from the camera or directly at it. They can also look at one another. In another variation of this pose the couple can link arms or talk and laugh together to create a more natural look. You may need to take multiple shots of the couple to get the perfect expressions on their faces.

• The Backwards Dip Pose: The dipping backwards pose is similar to the swing pose except the bride leans backwards while the groom holds her up with his arm around her back – think of a Romantic movie! The bride can put her arm around the groom’s shoulder and kiss for a nice intimate shot. To get the best results with this pose the groom should lean forward in a type of lunge to achieve a romantic dynamic. The groom should be slightly faced towards the camera while the bride leans backwards into the frame.

Does The Right Pose Depend On The Location?

In the modern world destination weddings have become more popular than ever and so if you’re taking photos at these events then you should try to include the best of the location in your work.

Depending on the location specifics you’re going to have to be adaptable and think on your feet. For instance, if you’re shooting at the beach then you should try to encapsulate the natural beauty of the environment but if you’re working in a stately house then try to include the details of the architecture that make it special!

Ultimately, you’re going to have to use your knowledge of poses to find the best fit which suits the occasion. location and the personalities of the couple themselves.

How Do You Coach The Bride and Groom?

When you’re working with the bride and groom as a wedding photographer you need to remember that they’re probably not experienced models and might be feeling a little awkward in front of the camera. Ideally, you want to break the ice with them as soon as possible; and a good way of doing this is to start out with some casual chat.

• Strike Up A Friendly Relationship with Your Clients: Once the couple start to feel more at ease with you and the camera you can start to shoot photos. You’ll want to maintain friendly communication throughout the photoshoot so they understand what you’re looking for in a pose.

• Be Patient: During the photoshoot you will need to be patient and wait for those spontaneous moments to happen of their own accord. Always be on the lookout for close ups and natural expressions in between poses as well because sometimes these shots can be amazing.

• Encourage Positivity: Try not to be too overbearing while you are coaching the couple between different poses. Always be positive and encouraging while you are directing the bride and groom and intersperse your guidance with compliments. The way that you talk to the couple can have one of two effects – you can either demoralise them or boost their confidence; and so always go for the later!

• Start with the Easiest Poses: When you start the shoot you should usually begin with the easiest poses that come the most naturally to the couple. You can then build up to more complex or demanding poses as the couple relax and become more comfortable with you.

• Keep Your Instructions Clear and To The Point: Keep your instructions as clear and simple as possible. When you’re explaining a pose it’s a good idea to break it down into steps. If you want one of the couple to look right, for example, then give them something in the distance to look at rather than just issuing a command. You can also demonstrate the poses yourself so that they can more easily understand what you’re trying to explain.

Wedding Photography is the Bread and Butter of Many Freelancers.

Wedding photography is one of the best genres to be working in as a freelancer and given that people will keep on getting married you’ll rarely find yourself at a loss to find work! Capturing the happiness of a couple’s special day is highly rewarding for you, as a photographer, and once you master the basics of the poses you can start to get more creative.

It’s always worth having a good selection of poses memorized, or at least written down, that you can fall back on so you don’t find yourself at a loss for suggestions. Remember, that good communication and positivity is key so that the couple feel relaxed and comfortable which will make the photos look authentic and natural.