A Posing Guide for Couples on Their Wedding Day
Weddings... the most joyful day of your life, but probably one that stresses you out a little bit to think about. But you’re entering the stress free zone. Hi, I’m Sydney Rose, your timeless, emotion-driven wedding photographer in Greenville, SC. I focus on presence over perfection, so welcome back to another episode of “I’m Here to Help You Take Deep Breaths This Wedding Season.”
Today we’re gonna be talking about poses. The best ones, how to feel comfy while posing, all that good stuff. For a lot of people, their wedding day is only the second or third time they’ve been in front of a professional camera. The fact that that can be daunting is not lost on me, so allow me to walk you through this posing guide for your wedding day.
A Stress Free Experience
It may sound easier said than done, but the best way to keep your wedding stress free is to make it what you want. It’s your day, and if you lean into what feels best and natural for your partner, good things will follow. It’s your day, don’t be afraid to act like it and set boundaries. Family pressures suck and we don’t stand for that here at SRP.
I’ll be your advocate from behind the camera, and whether I’m posing you or not, I’ll always have your back. To learn more about the experience I provide my clients, and to hear what they had to say, head on over to my “Experiences” page.
A Guide to Poses on Your Wedding Day, by Timeline
Details/Getting Ready
For brides:
Last Looks With Mom
These shots are great because they emphasize the emotion tied into this day, while also highlighting the beauty of the wardrobe pieces you’ve chosen to represent you and your style. Mom helping you get into your dress, buttoning it up, slipping your shoes on, clasping your necklace... you name it.
These moments are so special and are little bits of girlhood to document and savor forever. Candid shots like these really make a wedding album, and are just you going about your day on a very special day in your life. They’re things that you’ll love to hold and remember later, but may not be thinking about in the moment, because that’s my job! Now is also a good time to talk about candid photos, so I’ll turn it over to me in the paragraph below.
*A note on candid photos: “Candid” is a term that’s thrown around a lot these days, but there’s a difference between true candid photos, and ones that look candid. And there’s nothing wrong with that! Part of making sure you get the scrapbook shots of your dreams is making time and space for those moments to happen.
As photographers, we’ll put our clients in great lighting with time and loved ones, and allow love to unfold. Giving yourself room to do this means tearful hugs and documented laughter, and it also means you have time to breathe throughout your busy day of getting married. Just another free, stress free tip for ya.
A Little Self Love:
You’ve gotten your makeup done and you feel *bonita*. So soak it in. Go over to a mirror and check yourself out, it’s your day. Give me a little cheese while you’re getting your lipstick touched up. Admire your dress before you slip it on. This glam is special, so don’t be afraid to act like it!
For Grooms
Whatever Suits You
Similar to brides and their dresses, your wedding suit is an important part of your wedding day. How you’ve chosen to accessorize it reflects your personality, and we want to capture that! And sometimes, grooms do have more fun — the gender gap at venues is real, because tell me why the boys are always in a room with a pool table or something way cooler than where my brides are?! That being said, we’re gonna lean into that, and make use of whatever props you and your groomsmen have around.
For Both Partners
Grab the people you’ve chosen to have by your side on your wedding day, and show them some love. Gather your bridesmaids and do a little sit together (we’ll find somewhere cute). Look at the camera, look at the bride or groom, or just look around — I promise to make you look good. A group photo moment with all the people supporting you is a memory you’re going to cherish forever.
First Looks
Whether it’s with mom, dad, your partner, or whoever you’ve chosen to have by your side on this special day, first looks are an important moment to capture. I’ll put you somewhere with perfect lighting, and you just have to worry about taking each other in.
Give a little twirl and show off your wedding day wear, and hold each other close. If you’re unsure of what to do with your hands, I always stress two points of contact — holding onto someone or something. This is a moment where you won’t receive any prompting from me, so just focus on talking to your special person or significant other, and being in the moment.
Family Photos
Continuing with our golden rule of two points of contact, family photos are a great time to show some love to one another. Lean in and get cozy with whoever you’re next to, cause we’ve probably got a lot of wonderful faces to squeeze
Wedding Party Photos
Move Your Feet
Motion is a great way to add a dynamic element to a photo, and get more emotion out of a moment! Line up with your wedding party and walk towards the camera, looking at each other as you do and taking everything in.
Surrounded By Love (and Flowers)
You know those bouquets you’ve been holding all day? Time to really get your money’s worth out of them. With the bride and groom in the middle, the rest of the wedding party should hold up their bouquets so that they frame the happy couple’s faces.
Last Looks
Admire the bride's dress! I promise, even though she’s rocking it effortlessly, this dress took hours to tailor and steam out to lay perfectly, and it deserves some love, and so does the bride. Bridesmaids (and groomsmen who want to!) can pick up her train, help her carry it, or simply gaze lovingly at her (because we love our brides here) and pose for some staged candids.
Couples Portraits
Admittedly, this is one of my favorite moments of every wedding day because I get to frolic a bit with my couple.
The Bug Net of Love
TRULY A SRP STAPLE and for damn good reason. Get under the veil. Get under the veil and be in love. Need I say more.
The Dip
Men. Women. Dip your wife! She’s in a beautiful, flowing dress, and she deserves to be dipped to show that off. It’s also a great opportunity for you to steal a little kiss, which you now have forever to do whenever you want.
Have a Sit
Another way to make photos more fun and dynamic is posing one partner sitting, one partner standing, or both of you sitting. It switches things up, adds in a more fun element like a funky couch, and makes sure your wedding album includes more than just the two of you holding hands (even though we’ll do plenty of that too).
The Ground is Your Friend
And let’s take it a step further and maybe lay down... because we can! This continues our theme of taking photos that don’t all look the same, and adding some personality to your gallery.
A Wee Frolic
It’s pretty simple, take the hand of the person you just married (yeah, you’re married now), and frolic, whatever your interpretation of that is.
Bonus Round: Let’s Get Spicy
Because you’re married and you can really do whatever you want now
This is really something up to you and your partner’s comfort level. I love to be there for those more intimate moments post ceremony. Some favorite poses in the past include helping each other undress, unbuttoning the bride’s dress, garter time (!!!), and just a steamy little makeout, the photos of which will be FYEO.
Some final notes
Every wedding day looks different, and every gallery looks different. Which is a beautiful thing! All these poses and prompts will look different for every couple from every angle, but these are great starting points, and on your wedding day we can make them your own.
Do these sound like fun? Well, they work in and out of wedding attire. I’m here for grad photos, engagements, you name it. Let’s get to know each other!. Head on over to my inquire page and we can get to know each other a little bit.
