Key Takeaways

Posing Philosophy

Direction, Not Dictation

Clients don't want to be "posed"—they want to be directed. The difference is subtle but important:

• Posing: "Put your hand on his chest, tilt your chin down, look here"
• Directing: "Walk slowly toward me, and when I say stop, turn and look at each other"

The second approach creates the same composition but feels natural to the couple.

Prompts Over Poses

A prompt is a short action or question that creates a genuine reaction. You capture the result—not a held position.

• "Tell her what you love most about her morning routine"
• "Whisper something that will make him laugh"
• "Walk together and don't look at me—just be with each other"

These prompts produce authentic expressions that posed instructions never achieve.

Foundation Posing Principles

Weight Distribution

People standing with weight evenly distributed look stiff. Shift weight to one leg:

• Creates natural hip angle
• Produces relaxed posture
• For brides, weight on back leg elongates front silhouette

Angle to Camera

Facing camera straight-on is rarely flattering. Turn bodies 45 degrees:

• Slims appearance
• Creates depth and dimension
• More visually interesting than flat-on

Chin Position

Chin slightly forward and down eliminates double chins:

• Creates jawline definition
• Extends the neck
• Say "turtle toward me" for the correct motion

Hands and Arms

Hands are the hardest part of posing. Give them purpose:

• Hands in pockets (thumbs out looks more relaxed)
• Holding flowers, jacket lapel, or each other
• Resting on hip (brides)
• Arms slightly away from body (avoids pressed-arm spread)

Space Between Arms and Body

Arms pressed against the body look wider. Small gap creates shape:

• Bend elbows slightly
• Hold bouquet at waist creates natural gap
• "Put your hand on your hip" creates triangle of negative space

Essential Couple Poses

The Walking Shot

Couple walks toward or past camera, looking at each other or ahead:

• Creates natural movement and expressions
• Works as transition between posed shots
• Easy to execute, hard to fail

The Forehead Touch

Couple faces each other, foreheads gently touching:

• Intimate without being a kiss
• Eyes closed or looking at each other
• Creates quiet, emotional moment

The Dip

Groom dips bride in dance pose:

• Dramatic and fun
• Works at the end of a sequence for energy
• Practice the motion before shooting

Under the Veil

Position both under the veil for close, intimate shots:

• Creates natural frame
• Diffused light quality
• Works only if veil length allows

The Look Back

Couple walks away, one or both looks back over shoulder:

• Works at scenic locations
• Shows dress from behind
• Connection with camera while showing environment

Prompts That Work

For Genuine Laughter

• "Tell him about that embarrassing thing that happened last week"
• "What's an inside joke only you two understand?"
• "Try to make each other laugh without speaking"
• "What's the most ridiculous thing that happened while planning the wedding?"

For Intimate Moments

• "Whisper what you love about today in her ear"
• "Tell him something you've never said out loud"
• "Close your eyes and breathe together for a moment"
• "Dance slowly even though there's no music"

For Movement

• "Walk together—when I say 'now,' stop and kiss"
• "Run toward me holding hands"
• "Spin her like you're dancing"
• "Pick her up—however feels natural"

For Interaction

• "Fix his tie/boutonniere while you talk about tonight"
• "Play with her hands while looking at each other"
• "Pretend I'm not here—just be together"

Handling Camera-Shy Couples

Normalize the Awkwardness

"Everyone feels awkward in front of a camera—you're completely normal. I'm going to give you things to do so you don't have to think about it."

Start with Movement

Walking shots let nervous couples focus on motion rather than "posing." Warm up before static poses.

Give Constant Direction

Silence makes nervous people more nervous. Keep talking:

• Affirm what's working: "That's beautiful, stay there"
• Gentle adjustments: "Just drop your shoulder slightly"
• Encouragement: "You're doing great, we're getting amazing stuff"

Focus Them on Each Other

Prompts that create interaction take the camera out of the equation. "Forget I'm here" gives permission to stop performing.

Wedding Party Posing

Vary Heights and Levels

• Use steps, stairs, slopes
• Have some sit, some stand
• Create depth with staggered positions

Avoid the Lineup

Straight lines are boring. Create visual interest:

• V-formations with couple at point
• Clustered around couple naturally
• Diagonal arrangements

Give Everyone Something to Do

• Hands in pockets
• Holding bouquets
• Arms around neighbors
• One arm behind back (groomsmen)

Body Angles

Not everyone faces straight at camera:

• Some turn toward the couple
• Some angle toward camera
• Creates depth and interaction

Common Posing Issues and Fixes

Problem	Fix
Fake smile	Give a prompt that creates real laughter
Stiff posture	Have them walk, then stop in position
Double chin	Chin forward and slightly down ("turtle")
Closed eyes in group	"Close eyes, open on 3" then shoot immediately
Unflattering arm	Create gap between arm and body
Height difference	Use stairs, have taller person lean, or sit down

Building Your Repertoire

The Phone Number Technique

You don't need 50 poses. You need 5-10 strong poses that you can vary:

• Same pose, different angle
• Same pose, horizontal and vertical
• Same pose, close and far
• Same pose, different expression

10 base poses with 5 variations each = 50 unique images.

Practice and Study

• Practice with friends before real weddings
• Study poses from photographers you admire
• Create a reference gallery on your phone
• After each wedding, note what worked and what didn't

Summary

Effective posing creates flattering images while maintaining authentic emotion:

• Direct, don't dictate: Guide into positions rather than micromanaging
• Prompts over poses: Actions and questions create genuine reactions
• Foundation principles: Weight, angle, chin, hands—these basics flatter everyone
• Build slowly: Start with movement, progress to static poses
• Handle awkwardness: Normalize it, keep talking, focus them on each other
• Master a few: Deep knowledge of 10 poses beats shallow knowledge of 50

The best compliment is when a couple says "we forgot you were there." That means your direction felt natural enough that they could be themselves—and that's when the magic happens.