If you’re newly engaged, and SO thrilled to begin the celebration, but slightly terrified about being in front of the camera during your engagement session, you’re not alone! When it comes to your engagement photo poses, you may worry about it feeling foreign or plain awkward. So many couples feel this way and wonder what poses will feel most natural for them or if they should practice (the answer is: no, btw!).
There’s no need to worry or wonder! I got you! I help direct couples and have spent years behind the camera capturing the chemistry you think you won’t know how to display. The engagement photos are also perfect practice for getting comfortable in front of the camera for your wedding day! We can practice all the angles and creative poses so that it’s a breeze in your gorgeous dress!
But what happens when you have picked out your photo shoot location and your outfits, and you are still a little nervy? I’m someone who likes to know what to expect, so I get it. Familiarity can help. So, here are some of my favorite and most popular engagement photo poses:
Separated or Walking
Separated or walking photos are perfect for locations that have long paths or trails. The side link often ends up with couples separating in the location and looking longingly toward one another, waiting to be back together for some of the cozier poses.
The Nuzzle
The nuzzle is definitely one of the cozy poses. My grooms are notorious for whispering random funny phrases to their future wife, so this often leads to great laughing photos. I love when the grooms nuzzle their noses on the bride’s temple. My mind spins with the variety we can do in this pose—like letting your eyes fall to create an intimate shot or the bride looking straight into my camera smiling while the groom lets his eyes fall.
Chest-to-chest
Chest-to-chest brings sweet intimacy into your engagement photos and highlights your bond. I love this one too 🥰 Imagine holding hands down low, wrapping your arms around his neck, him holding your face and pulling you in for a slow kiss…SWOONING!
Prom-Pose and Reverse Prom-Pose
The ever classic prom-pose! But this time with no need to display the corsage when you’ve got a ring to show off! Hands wrapped around the waist, it is like high school all over again but so much better! I even love doing the reverse prom pose where the bride is behind her groom – this one is great for leaning your head against his back or showing off your ring on his chest. Every once in a while, we’ll get a great image of the groom looking back and kissing the bride’s nose! It is a sweet set of poses!
Dancing into dips, twirls, or lifts!
Speaking of prom, I love to bring some dancing into the photo shoot too! It definitely helps couples shake off the nerves, have fun, and find a very natural intimacy. Hand in hand, dancing through a beautiful field or garden, the occasional dip, twirl, or even lift…they usually all stem from the dancing phase of the engagement shoot! The lift, by the way, doesn’t have to be Dirty Dancing inspired, but if that’s you two, I say go for it! As much as I help guide and direct you, by this point couples really find their groove and I’m often surprised by where they take things!
“Disney Prince Kiss” or “Kissing with Your Teeth”
Two of my other favorite poses during engagement sessions are kissing with your teeth and hands are his neck! Sometimes they are one and the same. But kissing with your teeth?! What’s that?! Couples often think I am crazy when I ask them to go in for a teeth kiss, but this captures the intimate, can’t stop smiling and laughing, overflowing of joy type of face that happens when you go to kiss your love! It is a picture of intimacy that you don’t capture with just a closed-mouth smooch, and I love it so much! And of course, you usually can’t help yourself and naturally throw your arms around your fiancé’s neck (also a fave!). This can often lead to forehead kisses and nose kisses too. Sweet, sweet moments!
Side-link
So many options with this one! Arms linked, standing side by side. Your head on his shoulder, both looking straight at the camera, or gazing into each other’s eyes. The pose can be casual, fun, and intimate. It is such a classic and comfortable pose for couples to start in.
This preview of some of my top engagement photo poses will give you an idea of what you can expect to do during your engagement session. I happily lead the session and guide you based on my experience and your chemistry and comfort! You will often be surprised at how natural posing is once the shutter first clicks! So, if you’re in the market, please reach out!
Most of all, just have FUN!
