The Ultimate Creative Bride and Groom Pose Guide (That you should practice NOW!)

Photography is both an art and a science.

The best wedding photography shows a mastery of the technology as well as a creative eye. Wedding photographers in New Jersey should be skilled in both areas to ensure you get great results.

When it comes to wedding photography and engagement photo shoots, composition is key. Composition refers to how all of the elements within the photograph work together to create a compelling image. One of the most important components of good composition is posing.

While wedding photographers in New Jersey with locations in Wayne, NJ and Red Bank, NJ are well-versed in what types of poses work best in wedding and engagement photo shoots, it doesn’t hurt to know ahead of time what you want. The following wedding posing guide provides some unique wedding photography poses, ideas, and tips to help you look awesome for an engagement photo shoot and on your wedding day:

The Basic V

This classic wedding pose (and variations of it) is a staple in wedding photography and one of the more comfortable and natural wedding photo poses. The main component is that you and your partner touch near the waist and hip area; from there, you can lean in, hold each other, or open it up by facing outward with feet pointing toward the camera. Just make sure you are both doing something with your arms and not just holding them at your sides.

Strolling Hand in Hand

Photographs of the two of you walking together are emblematic of the shared path you will be traveling in life. Try this pose facing both forward and away from the camera. This classic bride and groom wedding photgraphy pose can work well on a beach, on a nature trail or in an urban environment with the city as the backdrop.

Intimate Looks

Another classic wedding pose idea for the bride and groom is being photographed facing one another. You may gaze directly into one another’s eyes while smiling, or the bride may choose to look away demurely, eyes closed while still holding a smile. Experiment with full smiles as well as smiling less for a more peaceful, introspective look with this classic groom and bride pose.

Groom Behind Bride

Try “stacking” with the groom holding the bride from behind while both of you look off into the distance with a slight smile. This creative wedding pose works particularly well when couples are posing outdoors in nature or in a grand architectural scene.

Groom Carrying the Bride

Whether the bride is carried over the threshold, over a scenic bridge or through a lush meadow, the effect can be truly magical. Experiment with different angles and allowing the bride’s dress to flow and drape artfully in a variety of ways.

Swinging Poses

The groom can also try swinging the bride for a spontaneous action shot and one of the more unique wedding poses. This is another great bride and groom pose that works best outdoors and can highlight dramatic nature scenes such as a floral meadow or on a beach near the ocean waves.

The Dip

If the above two poses seem difficult, you can try this more subtle version: The groom gently dips the bride backward while maintaining eye contact. The groom should bend at the knees and keep his face close to hers.

The Symmetrical Pose

Photos of the two of you kissing are a must that any wedding photography posing guide would be incomplete without. It is one of the most creative wedding day poses, the most artful way to do this is to face each other and lean forward for a kiss. The photographer can help with achieving a symmetrical a look. This pose looks charming close-up and also creates an amazing look from a distance against a dramatic background.

Making Yourself More Photogenic

In addition to finding the right bride and groom poses, there are a few things you and your partner can do to ensure you’re at your most photogenic on your wedding day:

Remember Your Posture

Never slouch in bride and groom photos; stand up straight, but also relax your shoulders.

Think Happy Thoughts

This shouldn’t be hard to do on your wedding day! People who are exuding happiness are naturally more photogenic.

Smile From Your Eyes

If the rest of your face is tense, a smile won’t fool the camera. Smile with your whole being and radiate love for your partner from your eyes.

Practice

Take some time before your wedding day to practice some of these poses and techniques in front of a mirror. When your wedding day comes, being photographed will feel much more natural. You can also photograph each other (or take selfies) using different smiles and facial angles to see what works best.

Engagement photo shoots and wedding photography can be stressful, but it will flow much more smoothly if you’re prepared. We recommend scheduling an engagement shoot to get in some real pose practice so you’ll feel more confident on your wedding day. 

What If I Don’t Like Being Photographed?

This is a common issue for many couples. Whether only one of you or both of you don’t like being photographed, your wedding day is not the day to shy away from the camera. If you feel uncomfortable in front of the camera it’s a good idea not to stress too much about how the photo will come out. Your photographer has a highly trained artistic eye that understands how to pose you and your new spouse in ways to complement both of you.  One of the best things you can do if you don’t like being photographed is to pretend like you aren’t. Just enjoy the quiet moments with your new spouse and focus on the excitement of the wedding day, rather than dwelling on your discomfort. The more relaxed you are, the better your photos will come out, even if you don’t feel like you are particularly photogenic.

Use these tips, practice wedding poses and ideas to ensure you’ll love your photos!

The Bleu Studio – Professional wedding photographers in New Jersey with locations in Wayne, NJ. Sparta, NJ and Red Bank, NJ look forward to assisting you.