Wedding Portrait Photography – Tips for Posing
Wedding Portrait
When it comes to wedding photography, simply put, it can become a large part of your business. If you manage to do a good job at a couple of weddings, you are almost certain to get referrals for other weddings, and it escalates from there. As you get more referrals, those first referrals, refer others, etc.
With this simple fact comes another fact – to succeed as a wedding photographer you need to get good at this particular type of photography. One area that we’re often asked about is posing. As with other types of portraits, the way you pose your clients can make the difference between an excellent portrait and a study in mediocrity.
To help you out, we have developed this guide with tips for posing your clients for wedding portrait photography. We will give you some general tips, and then cover a couple of situations that require special attention.
Hopefully when you’re finished this guide you’ll be ready to run out to your next wedding, and supply your clients with photographs that they will cherish for decades to come.
General Posing Tips
Whenever you pose people at an event there are some simple rules that will make the images look better.
1. Angles are better – Standing or sitting portraits that include groups of people tend to look better when people are at an angle. Have the group angle in at 20 to 45 degree. With a larger group split them into two, and then angle one side in from the left, and then other in from the right.
2. Weight Matters – For standing shots, have your subjects place their weight on the foot farthest from the camera.
3. The Leaned Head – You should have the men in the photo lean their head (slightly) to the lower (front) shoulder, and the women to the upper (back) shoulder. This helps to flatten the image, and lends an bit more grace to the females in the image.
4. Avoid Straight Limbs – When posing your subjects, try to avoid straight arms, or harshly bent arms. Have the women fold their hands in front of them below the waist, and have the men with their hands in their pockets (with thumbs out)
5. Flowing Lines – When photography groups, the couple, or just the bride, you should always try to accentuate her lines. Luckily you are given easy tools to do this with. Most brides dresses have lines that can compliment her in the photograph, as well you can use her arms and the bouquet to help pose her in such a way that it accentuates her grace and beauty.
Wedding Portrait Photography for the Heavier Bride
If you are photographing a heavier bride there are a couple of things to remember. First never shoot the bride in a sitting position; heavier people look better in standing shots. Next, the angle idea should be followed more extensively. It isn’t that you shouldn’t get any photos from the front; it’s just that a simple 20 degree angle will reduce a larger bride’s width.
Wedding Portrait Photography for the Shorter Groom
The other situation that requires some extra attention is in the case of a groom being shorter than his bride. Shooting the couple head-on will only accentuate this. Instead have him stand a few inches in front of the groom, and then give your camera a slight upward angle. This will ensure you capture the couple in all their glory, and not make a picture that glaringly states she’s taller than him.
By simply paying attention to the way your subjects pose, you are sure to take better wedding portraits. That single element should work to get you more business!
