POSING TIPS

When you schedule your engagement session you may be nervous or feel self-conscious about how the session will go and what you will end up looking like in the photos. When you are guided well by your photographer during a session and are given words of confirmation that everything looks great, that’s when you can really be comfortable and feel confident in photos. It’s really important to think about the reason you are having your engagement photos taken. Is it for just the sake of doing it because everyone else does or is it so you can have special moments with your fiancé to have beautiful images for your home?  

I always reassure my clients that the engagement session is to get to know what it feels like to be in front of the camera for the first time with a professional photographer, it allows you to get to know the directing style of the photographer, and it is a perfect way to create time with your fiancé to get away from the planning and business of the week and just enjoy each others company.

Posing can be very intimidating during a session and that is why I have created this posing series for you. I want an engagement session to be fun, organic and a unique time spent with your fiancé. Watch this video on directing a real couple through some poses. You will notice in the video that we set certain poses up and how we guide the couple to end up in a natural moment together. After watching the video you can scroll down to see some of the images and tips that resulted from self-confidence and well guided instruction.

Here are some images from this session that you can look at while reading the tips.

TIP # 1: Know your good side. Everyone usually has one side of their face that they feel photographs best. Look in the mirror and see what side of your face you feel that is stronger, has more defined characteristics and is more aesthetically pleasing. You can see in this image that the part in her hair naturally frames her face. This does not mean that during the session the other side of your face will not be captured but it’s nice for most of the portraits to be shot with your most photogenic side.

TIP # 2: Grooms, place your hands around the smallest part of your bride’s waist, creating a belt. Pull her in and this will give her a flattering “S” shape. Avoid placing your hands on her hips. This will cover the dress and also insinuate much wider hips. Brides, this pose will naturally force a small bend of your waist. It is also very flatering to look to the side for a small laugh to exaggerate the “S” shape in this pose.

TIP # 3: Lightly rest faces when touching them together. Brides, when resting your face on your grooms chest or side of his shoulder be careful not to hide your face but just lighlty rest your face. By doing this you will ensure your whole face is seen in the shot and your cheek is not pressed in and in an unflattering position.

TIP # 4: While walking it’s important to stand tall with good posture. Brides, walk left over right and cross legs to create lines to make you look taller aand your legs longer. Grooms, walk straight avoiding toes pointed out.

TIP # 5: Take small steps while walking. look at eachother, then into the camera. Let natural moments happen. Brides, if you feel like you need to fix your hair then gently movie it. Laughing to the side at eachother is also beautiful while walking.

TIP # 6: When standing, place all your weight on your back leg and lean onto your back leg pushing your hips away from the camera. Whatever is closest to the camera is going to appear larger so pushing your hips back makes your waist smaller. This pose gives shape to the lower part of your body and insinuate lines with your legs.

TIP # 7: Bend your arms letting light come through the sides of your waist. This will also highlight your curves and form beautiful lines in the upper body.

TIP # 8: Avoid covering jaw lines. For women this is a beautiful and feminine part of the face. Grooms, when leaning in for a kiss and using your hand to pull her in, lightly place your hand on the side of her neck with your thumb right on the base of her jaw line.

TIP # 9: Hold your hands with your pointer fingers and thumbs interlocked as if you were holding a pea. This is a great pose when you are not holding a bouquet or embracing your groom.