How to Help Your Couples Relax When Posing
Feel like you are having a hard time posing your couples for their engagement session, or even on their wedding day?
I’ve totally been in your shoes. I know how HARD it can be sometimes to help your couples relax in a session - some people are so intimidated by getting their photos taken (which I 100% understand). Posing can feel rushed, stiff, and not natural AT ALL. And it can be really disappointing when that nervousness affects the outcome of the photos - both for you and your clients.
Instead of rushing through your next session without thinking about helping your couple feel comfortable, here are some ideas you can try to incorporate to help your couples relax when posing and ultimately get the pictures that look natural and beautiful!
Start Off Slow. Don’t just go jumping into your “extreme poses” at the beginning of a session. Make sure to take some time to explain to the couple that you are going to start off with “easier” poses, so they can get used to following your direction and shake some of those nerves in the first few shots. Once you have helped build their confidence and trust that you aren’t some crazy person with a camera, you can start moving into more interactive posing and experimenting with them!
Evaluate Your Couple’s “Posing Type.” Now, let’s clear something up first - every single couple will have a different experience and level of comfort when taking photos together. Some couples have a sweeter, more gentle approach to each other, others are crazy passionate and full of laughter, and some sincerely don’t know what to do and are TERRIFIED of posing “wrong.” Make sure to take time at the beginning of your session to test out the “relationship personality” your couple has. You should be able to tell right away by how they interact with each other and you how to begin posing them. DON’T try force them into a “posing box” that doesn’t fit them - they will probably end up feeling uncomfortable, and the photos won’t truly capture their relationship in the best way possible.
Keep Them Moving. One thing I tell my couples throughout their session, no matter what, is to keep moving. I usually try facilitating this (cause people tend to forget) by asking him to brush her hair back, giving each other small kisses, or just swaying together. This breaks the tension of having to “hold” a pose and also helps them interact more naturally together and forget they are even getting their photos taken.
Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New. As a seasoned wedding photographer, it’s easy for me to fall into the trap of doing the same exact list of poses for every single couple. Although it’s really helpful to have a shot list so you don’t completely blank on how to pose your couples, just sticking to that list can result in sessions that start looking identical and photos that don’t truly represent the couples and their personalities. I would definitely recommend starting with a shot list to build your confidence at the beginning of a shoot, and then moving into more of experimenting/trying new things based on your couple’s relationship, the location you are at, and maybe some new techniques or poses you’ve researched recently!
Don’t Rush. It’s really easy to want to make your couples feel “comfortable” by never making them stay in a spot too long or creating too many “awkward silences.” The truth is, if you take a breath, step back, and work slowly, you are going to have so many benefits. You’ll be able to take the time to frame shots, adjust posing, and capture interactions between the two of them that wouldn’t occur if you are just moving from pose to pose to pose. Also, this helps bring an environment of peace to your session - it gives your couple permission to breathe, relax, and enjoy themselves without having to rush between your instructions.
My challenge to you is to try to incorporate these tips in your next session - and don’t overthink it! Just focus on navigating with a calm attitude and really getting to understand your couple and their relationship, and you’ve got it!
