My 5 Favorite Poses to Help Couples Relax
Having trouble figuring out how to help your couples relax??
My goal is to never have my couples 100% just POSING during their photos and not getting comfortable. This, however, is much easier said than done.
After doing several couples sessions, I began to notice a pattern: the more I had my couples moving and interacting (no matter how strange the “pose” was), the more comfortable and natural they looked in their photos.
I came up with a TON of prompts and interactions that have totally helped both in the outcome of the photos as well as the experience in my sessions - and here are my top 5 favorite poses below!
Snuggle Close
This one is pretty easy to get most couples to do, and it’s also the easiest to understand. Have your couple stand close - you can either direct them in a pose or let them naturally fall into place together. Then literally just ask them to close their eyes and snuggle close. Immediately, most couples’ entire demeanor changes in that moment, becoming much more connected with each other and less aware of getting their picture taken. I always try to start using this pose in the beginning and throughout the entire session, to continue helping my couples relax and remember each other.
The Drunken Walk
I feel like this is generally pretty popular among photographers, but it’s still one of my favorites! Have your couple hold hands and walk away/towards you, while explaining that they should look at each other and bump along the way like they are basically drunk. Although it sounds silly, it usually ends up making your couple laugh and interact with each other, instead of stiffly walking without ease. You can also change it up and have your couple jog together as well - just make sure they have the shoes for it!
Pick Her Up
Now, with this pose, I usually just say a generic “pick her up” to the guy, and see what happens. Sometimes, it’s a beautiful lift, a silly toss over the shoulder, or even a piggyback ride. Letting the couple have some interpretation on their end with the poses also helps you understand and capture their relationship better than you just posing them the entire time.
Dancing Around
Throughout the session, I will often have lots of different poses with my couple dancing with each other. It may be her twirling around, him spinning her in and out of his arms, slowly swaying together, or even him wildly swinging her back and forth. These are always so fun because the couple will generally understand what you are asking for (giving them confidence), and also you will be getting constant movement and interaction between the couple - MAJOR bonus!
THE SURPRISE HUG
This is MY FAVORITE - and I really mean it - pose of ALL TIME. Literally any couple can do it, and it ALWAYS ends in giggles and complete loss of any existing nerves. I will have one person stand in front of me (guy or girl), while placing the other a ways off behind and to the side of them. I make sure I’m set, then tell the person that is far off that WHENEVER they want, they can sneak up behind their signifcant other and give them a HUGE hug from the side/behind. Once they make contact, I make sure to have them both look at each other instead of the camera. This ALWAYS results in such huge smiles and snuggles, as the person in the front is often totally surprised - getting that real reaction is AMAZING. Plus, you can then have them switch positions - letting the other get their revenge and even more smiles. Seriously, if you haven’t tried this one out, YOU SHOULD.
And those are my favorite poses! If I could give you ANY advice from these, it’s to always have your couple moving and interacting with each other. Even if they are talking to each other and you have to leave out some photos, those truly intimate shots you get of them only focused on each other will be TOTALLY worth it!