Beginner Photography Tip: 4 Easy Ideas for Posing Couples

I don't know about you, but one of the things that I struggled with most when I was just starting out as a photographer was posing people for portraits.

In fact, it confused me so much that I often didn't even bother giving the subjects much direction.

Granted, I wasn't taking portraits professionally or anything, but it still would've been nice had I had a few tricks up my sleeve so my subjects actually looked good.

I eventually did the requisite studying and learned a few basic poses mainly standing poses photography. Then I started photographing couples, and I found myself once again totally confused about how to pose them for the shot.

Given my arduous experience, I figured offering a few tips to beginners for posing couples would be in order.

With that in mind, give these ideas a try the next time you have a couple to photograph.

Pose For Who They Are, Not What They "Should" Look Like

This might be the biggest lightbulb moment for me when it comes to posing couples, but it works for individuals too.

I think we can get ourselves stuck in the notion that the people we photograph should look a certain way.

That's all well and good because it shows that you have a genuine interest in your subjects looking great.

The problem, though, is that getting caught up in what they should look like might detract from who they actually are.

A prime example is this: imagine you're photographing a fun-loving couple that enjoys adventure.

Well, putting them in a static, formal pose in a photography studio doesn't exactly reflect that aspect of who they are, does it?

The point is that you need to tailor how you pose your subjects to who they are as individuals, not how they should look according to this photography rule or that photography convention. Learn more about cool poses for guys on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Make the pose - whatever it might be - personal to them. Have it reflect their personality. In other words, give them a chance to be who they are, and you'll end up with a much more genuine and impactful photograph.

It's also a lot easier to pose a couple when they feel natural and comfortable!

The question is, how do you get your couple to look natural and comfortable?

Get Them Moving

There's an old-fashioned way of taking a portrait, and that's to pose the couple, ask them not to move a muscle, and to look at the camera.

Now, there's nothing wrong with that kind of portrait.

But like I mentioned above, it doesn't render the most natural-looking poses.

To get your subjects loosened up, get them on the move.

Doing so opens up tons of possibilities for relaxed-looking photos that you don't really have to work to pose. You can also check another post about photo pose for boys.

You might ask the couple to walk or run away from (or toward) the camera to get some indicated movement in the shot.

Another great idea is to play music and ask them to dance.

Take them to the beach, the lake, or a river for some splashing in the water.

Give them some bubbles, a kite, heck, even a soccer ball to get them moving around.

Not only does this help them get into a more natural state, but it also helps them forget that you're standing there with a camera trained on them.

In my experience, the less they think about "performing" for the camera, the better off your photos will be.

Get Emotional

If you think about your favorite photo of someone you love, I'm willing to bet that it's probably an image that displays an emotion.

Love, happiness, joy...these are all emotions that we all like to feel, and they are also emotions that play perfectly into your hand for posing couples.

Eliciting an emotion like love in your subjects is as simple as asking them to hold hands, look into each other's eyes, or tell one another what they love most about the other person.

On the other hand, you can get your subjects laughing by having them do something off-the-wall like whispering sweet nothings into each other's ear. If you're a jokester, you can even crack a few jokes to get big, natural smiles.

The other key here is to keep shooting between takes.

Even if the couple looks natural during the shoot, there's a good chance that they'll let down their guard even further in between takes.

Take advantage of those natural moments by putting your camera in continuous shooting mode, worry less about the camera settings you're using, and concentrate on capturing a few frames when the couple least expects it.

Foster Intimacy

One thing that some couples struggle with in front of a camera is showing intimacy.

That doesn't mean that couples don't have the ability to express love or the other emotions as discussed above...

But when it comes to showing physical intimacy, some people hit a roadblock.

By fostering contact between the subjects, you not only make a more intimate portrait, but you also help foster the expression of emotion.

A good way to do this is to suggest that the couple always have one point of contact between them.

The easiest way to do this is to hold hands, but there are other options as well.

Kissing is another prime option, as is hugging.

You can have one partner sit on the other partner's lap.

Even just sitting close to one another will suffice.

The goal is to have their physical closeness be a representation of their emotional closeness. As long as they are touching in some way, you can usually accomplish that.

More Easy Couples Portrait Ideas

The above list certainly isn't an end-all, be-all list of couples posing tips, but it will certainly get you started!

For even more excellent couples portrait tips, check out the video below from Mango Street Lab. In it, they discuss each of the tips above and add a few more to the mix for good measure.

Follow their tips, and you're sure to start creating portraits of couples that are more natural, more intimate, and which display more emotion.

This blog post about "Beginner Photography Tip: 4 Easy Ideas for Posing Couples" was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/contest-articles/7454-beginner-photography-tip-4-easy-ideas-for-posing-couples

How to Photography: It’s Supposed to Be Fun!

 Maybe, the greatest pitfall for any type of photographer—beginner, hobbyist and professional—is losing the element of fun. It’s easy to become obsessive about capturing the best pictures at a family gathering or advancing your skills and results beyond the novice or spending hours for that perfect professional image that wins awards or new, high-paying clients. Learn more about poses for boys on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

Photography, like most creative pursuits, becomes much less than what it should be or what you expected when you forget to have fun for any reason. Whenever you suddenly discover that photography is no longer fun then step back and examine your approach and the process according to the following points.

It’s a learning experience.

You’re not born with the abilities to be a photographer; and there are certainly many concepts and techniques to learn that could fill a number of lifetimes. Even the most experienced pros will tell you that often the opportunity to be always learning drives them more than making a buck or receiving an award. Don’t be discouraged if you are having trouble understanding a specific concept or seem unable to make a shooting technique work correctly. Take a deep breath and maybe shelve that concept or technique and move to another one, where you can experience some success. Achieving your photography or any of life’s goals is often the key to having fun. You can also check another post about picture poses for guys here.

 Be wary of the equipment bug.

Like a virus, your enjoyment of photography can be overwhelmed by focusing too much on equipment, especially the items you’d like to buy. Purchasing new equipment is infectious and is often a mistaken substitute for learning how to have fun with the camera you already own. It’s the same for the hobbyist and the pro: the market is full of glittering and often remarkable gear, many of which are meant to compel you to spend money and not necessarily improve your photography or your fun.

Whenever the equipment bug bites you, take control of yourself and your wallet and take the time to consider if you actually need it, or simply want the latest whiz-bang item. A good method to refocus your interest is stop being emotional about you want and become objective. Study the equipment’s specifications, compare them to competitive products and ask others what they think or have experienced with that equipment. The PhotographyTalk Forum is the perfect place to do just that. Think also about the additional costs that you may incur if you buy more equipment: a larger camera bag, additional insurance, another item that may need to repaired, etc.

Too serious by half.

No doubt, photography is serious business for the professional, and even the hobbyist who is eager to produce higher quality images. That seriousness must be in balance with a feeling of enjoyment, even if the results are less than satisfactory. Do you find yourself spending your entire vacation with your eyes glued to the LCD screen on the back of your camera? As a professional, do you think you must carry every piece of equipment you own with you on assignment? Once you recognize these signs, you have likely made the photography process a burden and not an opportunity to enjoy the world around you and the people in it.

Photos are for viewing.

King Midas obsessively hoarded his wealth, unwilling to share it or even allow others to know he had it. Photography will be much more fun when you readjust your mindset and consider the photos you shoot as “community property.” Your images belong to the world, not to you. Social media makes it very easy to share your photos with not just your friends, but people living on the other side of the world. More importantly, you can’t be afraid to have your photos critiqued or receive compliments. One of the best learning opportunities for photographers of every skill level and stripe is to ask more experienced photographers to comment on their results. True professionals don’t hoard advice and guidance, either, and are eager to help beginners and hobbyists have fun with their photography, as they learn.

Stick to your guns. 

Nothing will suck the fun from photography more than relinquishing control of your creative freedom to others, or to current fads and trends. Part of being a professional, of course, is giving one’s clients what they want, and expect. The solution for the professional is to shoot both the “requirements” of the client and alternative images based on the pro’s vision. Clients will often find the professional’s approach better than what they are dictating. For non-professionals, it’s important to develop a unique vision that reveals their true level of creativity than simply shooting what appears to be popular. Also check guy poses for pictures.

Unnecessary equipment loyalty. 

Canon and Nikon, specifically, as well as other brands have purposely created separate cultures for themselves, and then convinced photographers through marketing that they must choose one or the other, and remain loyal. Some manufacturers do a better job with one type of camera, lens or other equipment, while others excel at alternatives. The fun comes from knowing how to use and achieve your best results from any camera instead of thinking that the brand of camera is responsible for your creativity.

This article about the topic "How to Photography: It’s Supposed to Be Fun!" was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/2776-how-to-photography-its-supposed-to-be-fun

Wedding Photography Posing Guide

Whether you're a brand new wedding photographer that needs some guidance on wedding poses or you've been at it awhile and just need a little inspiration, this wedding photography posing guide is for you!

Given that weddings are such an important subject, you certainly want to go into it as prepared as possible, with plenty of ideas for wedding poses for photography.

In the video above, Jessica Kobeissi gives an overview of some crucial tips and tricks that will result in improved results.

Her tips specifically address natural light wedding photography, though if you use artificial lighting, many of her tips still apply.

Have a look at the video above, and for a refresher of some of her best tips, check out the recap below.

Editor's Tip: Already have awesome photos? See what they look like as fine art.

Pay Attention to the Details

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

Wedding poses should be all about enhancing the quality of the photos you take.

Not only does that mean putting the couple in the best photo position to highlight their love for one another, but it also means utilizing the lighting that's available to show off some of the finer details in the image.

That often means putting the sun behind the couple, that way its light can act as a rim light, highlighting the bride's hair, for example, or catching reflections off of items like decorative hair clips or brooches.

In the screenshot above, notice the warm glow of the light on the bride's hair and how it illuminates her dress for a little more drama in the shot.

Pose the Couple for Close-Ups

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

When thinking about wedding poses, you need to mix it up a bit and have a variety of images that show different points of view.

That means full-body, half-body, and close-up photos as well.

When getting in close, it's often a good idea to have the couple get physically closer to one another as well.

In the image above, you can see how the couple has moved from having their cheeks near one another in the previous shot to having their foreheads touching in this shot.

The act of bringing the couple closer together for a close-up shot makes for a much more intimate image, particularly if you have them engage in eye contact.

Find Different Types of Light

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

When working with natural light, it's important to add variety to your wedding photo poses by shooting in various types of lighting.

In the previous two images, the lighting was very bright and harsh, which created some beautiful overexposed backgrounds that gave the photos a light and airy feel.

In the image above, though, you can see how moving the couple to the shade offers much more even, flat lighting that gives the image a much different mood.

The mood of this shot is also different because of the posing. Notice how this photo is a little more casual, with the bride holding her bouquet loosely at arm's length.

To give your portfolio of images the most impact, try mixing and matching formal and informal poses like this one.

Wedding Photography Posing Guide: Get the Best Shots by Moving Around

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

One of the challenges of posing couples for wedding photos is that they aren't exactly dressed to move around a lot.

That means that to get the most variety, you need to be the one that moves around to get pictures from different perspectives.

Once you pose the couple, as was done in the image above, move to the right and left. Kneel down and shoot up towards them. If possible, get a higher vantage point, too.

YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi

The point is that if you move around, you can get four, five or more different looking photos, all without having to repose the couple.

It's a time-saving trick that will positively impact the quality and quantity of the photos you take.

Editor's Tip: How you present the images you take matters just as much as the images themselves. Order gorgeous prints right here.

Show Off Wedding Poses With a Gorgeous Print

I had some friends get married a couple of years ago, and their photographer was extremely talented.

The problem wasn't with the quality of the photos - it was with the quality of the products she provided to them. Learn more about photography poses for boys on our website PhotographyTalk.com.

There's nothing worse than a beautiful wedding portrait that's ruined by being printed poorly. After all, what's the point of spending all that time posing the couple and perfecting the image if it's then presented in a low-quality print?

Instead, make a statement with your work by presenting your clients with a large-format canvas print.

As you can see in the image above, canvas can be a beautiful vessel for showing off the love the couple has for one another (and all the effort you put into highlighting that love!).

Our large canvas print far exceeds our expectations! Spectacular! - Kamal M., Atascadero, CA

Prints from companies like CanvasHQ give you the best results because they're dedicated to perfecting the image from getting the colors just right to selecting the best finish for the image to constructing a frame that will hold straight and true for generations to come.

On top of that, these guys are committed to getting your prints to you and your clients fast. But don't think that fast equals poor quality, because that couldn't be further from the truth.

LOVELY work & incredibly quick. LOVE CanvasHQ! - Meredith I., Westbrook, ME

I have quite a few canvases from CanvasHQ, and I can tell you first-hand that they are the best canvas prints I've ever gotten.

If only I'd known about these guys when I got married, I'd have a huge canvas of my wife and I on the mantel!

With a variety of finish options, different frame depths, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, there's really no better experience in getting fine art prints than CanvasHQ.

So, don't put in all your time and effort to posing couples for your photos. Instead, save a little time and energy to get them the best quality print possible as well!

This blog post about the topic "Wedding Photography Posing Guide" was first published on our website here https://www.photographytalk.com/contest-articles/8368-wedding-photography-posing-guide