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(This image was edited with the Film Bohemian Preset Collection)
I genuinely believe that being able to spend time photographing a couple is a privilege! In this post, I will share my TOP 10 FAVORITE COUPLE POSES that I use ALL THE TIME and PROVIDE GREAT RESULTS!
I will also include some helpful tips I have learned over the years of being a photographer that will help you next time YOU are photographing a couple.
These poses and posing tips can be used for engagement shoots, Valentine’s Day sessions, wedding photos, family sessions, or even a "just for fun" couples' session!
Let's get started:
Here are my top ten favorite couple's poses! I have always had GREAT RESULTS with these poses because they really bring out a couple's emotional connection and CLIENTS LOVE THEM!
What can I say? There is something so caring and gentle about a forehead kiss photo. This tender and simplistic act is seen and felt even more in an image.
Encourage the guy to kiss her forehead, and you are guaranteed to get a sweet expression on her face where you can tell, for a split second, that she is lost in the moment.
Make sure your couple is also connected in more ways than just the kiss on the forehead, or it won't seem authentic. First, have them hold hands or link elbows.
Another great interaction that can guarantee connection is to have the couple look into each other's eyes. Having couples lock eyes may elicit a giggle for being put on the spot, or maybe they will get caught up in the moment and produce a genuine smile and connection.
Either way, this simple tip will always give you a photo-worthy reaction!
Faces together, looking at the camera is perhaps the most basic couples pose. It checks all the boxes of a classic couple's portrait.
You can mix this pose up a bit by having the man slightly angled toward the camera with the woman behind him, laying her head on his shoulder, or having the couple embrace each other and then look towards the camera (see both images below).
While maybe not quite as classic as pose # 3, the arms around each other pose will capture connection and expression at the same time.
I like to have the man place his arms on the outside because this helps keep the woman looking smaller and the man more masculine. Having the woman join her hands to his in this pose will connect them even more. You can mix this pose up by having him kiss the top of her head or by having them look at one another.
If your couple feels uncomfortable in front of you, pull out the walking pose. It's a simple pose because almost everyone can walk.
Ask them to walk toward you and then away from you while holding hands, looking and smiling at each other. Have one of them tell a silly joke to get them laughing. Take lots of shots here, and choose the ones with the most flattering "walking legs."
You can adjust this pose by changing how they hold hands (maybe have her hold his hand with both of hers) or putting her arm through his. It is also a perfect opportunity to have them stop and then ask her to lean her head on his shoulder.
The piggyback pose will not work for every couple but will work for many newly engaged couples and is also something fun and different.
It may even get them laughing while they work this out! Having her ride piggyback works well for couples with a significant height difference as it automatically puts her face even with his.
If your couple isn't up for a piggyback pose, you can try a simple lift pose.
Have the guy wrap his arms around her waist or under her arms. Have the girl put her arms around his neck. He can lift her or spin her a bit. If her legs can be seen, have her bend them but keep them staggered so it won't look like she has one leg.
Similar to having your couple look at one another, the foreheads together pose can elicit a smile or a sweet moment between the couple. It will get them close and connected quickly and doesn't require too much additional posing.
I also love that this pose easily leads to a kiss (see the next pose)!
While not every couple will be super comfortable kissing in front of a camera, for most couples, this comes pretty naturally.
A simple kiss is a sweet expression of their relationship and connection. Even if affection doesn't come easily for them, starting with the foreheads together, this pose can easily lead to a sweet kiss that you can capture.
So far, the poses we have mentioned have only required the couple to stand. If your location has steps, a bench, or lovely grass, make good use of it by having your couple sit together. I try to have a blanket ready for my couple if the ground is the only option for seating.
Most couples can do this pretty naturally. I always have them sit so that their hips touch and then adjust from there. Ensure that their legs are bent and NOT pointing directly towards the camera (this will make their feet appear very large).
Have him place his arm around her and then experiment with hand placement and where they are looking. Just slight adjustments to their sitting can dramatically change the pose and connection.
Since your couple is already down on the ground, this is an excellent time to move them to a laying pose. You can have them lay on their stomach or back. A blanket or good grass is a MUST for this one!
To capture them posed lying on their back, you will probably need a small ladder or step stool. You can pose them side by side or get creative and have one of them lie upside down.
To capture them posed laying on their stomach, get down on their level. Be careful that nothing is showing that shouldn't! ;)
The main thing to know when photographing a couple is that your PRIMARY FOCUS should be on CAPTURING THEIR CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP in your image. So, how do you catch a couple's love, bonds, and connection through your lens?
Here are some essential tips that will help you capture their love and connection:
Before photographing your couple, spend some time getting to know them. This can happen over the phone or via email. Try to learn some things about them (i.e. their hobbies and what they like to do).
If you are photographing this couple as part of a family shoot, get to know their family at the same time. If you are photographing this couple as part of an engagement shoot, ask a little about them, their engagement story, how they met, and their future plans.
Spend time chatting with them, getting a feel for their personalities, and letting them get comfortable with being around you in the first place. These small conversations can go a long way to getting to know the couple and helping them feel comfortable in front of your camera.
Showing affection and love requires some openness in front of the camera and can be difficult for some couples.
So how do you get two strangers to let down their guard and get lost in the moment? It can be tricky, especially for men. If you have taken some time to establish a relationship with them (see above), you are well on your way to helping them show emotion.
Give them some assignments. Ask one of them to whisper in the other person's ear. Or maybe ask them to walk along a path while talking and laughing. Ask her to lean on his shoulder like they were sitting on the front porch of their house. These assignments will usually bring out emotion that you can then photograph.
Be aware of the love you are seeing. As you pose the couple, let them know you see their passion and how beautiful they look. That goes for all couples. Always let them know how beautiful they are!
When it comes to posing, look for candid moments. Begin with some basic posing and then throw in the assignments mentioned above. There will likely be some fun, candid moments for you to capture between those assignments too.
There might be laughing or snuggling that happens without your encouragement. There might be a moment when she closes her eyes while lying on his shoulder. These moments are precious, so make sure to photograph them!
Encouraging couples to chat about anything and everything along the way will also help bring about authentic moments to be captured.
When photographing couples, it is so important that they connect physically. Having physical contact is a way to show others we care for them. Our brain reacts positively when being touched.
We want our couples to feel connected during their time with us, so make sure your direction and posing involve them touching, holding hands, arms around each other, etc. This connection will spill over into the photos we capture.
I love posing and photographing and posing a couple in love!
As long as you follow these tips and FOCUS on capturing their relationship and connection, you will have no problem re-creating their love in your images -- and your clients will be VERY HAPPY!
Do you have any questions or comments about Couples Posing? Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you! And PLEASE SHARE this post using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!
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