When I was a new photographer, my biggest fear at the beginning of every session was posing-i would panic, and, was always scrolling through Pinterest before my clients walked up. The reason that I think posing is so hard for photographers, is that there is a level of trust involved. Your clients are trusting you to make them look amazing on camera. 

This brings us to this question, how do you make clients look and feel amazing while taking the images? Most clients envision an engagement session as a stressful time, where a photographer poses them like a Sear’s Portrait Session. One pose after the other, full of stiffness and fake smiles. 

It has been a challenge sometimes; but, the main takeaway after shooting forty engagement sessions this past year is this: movement changes everything. Using posing that requires movement, makes clients feel relaxed and brings about laughter and genuine smiles. 

Because of how critical movement is when talking about posing, I thought I would share my top three poses that require movement from clients.

1) Walking…Lots of Walking

Have them start out at the opposite end and tell them to walk toward you, acting like they are on a tight rope, making them walk straight. Tell them to: look at their tight rope, each other’s tight rope, have the bride look at the groom, then, look at each other. That’s right! Four different shots with one pose! 

Extra: You can also add variety by having them run towards you. Yeah, we get that Beyonce wind going around here;)

2) The Fake Twirl 

I am obsessed when my brides wear long maxi dresses or gowns to their engagement session. Why? Because, I can have them fake twirl. The reason I have my clients fake twirl, is that it is easier to get them to do exactly what I am envisioning in my mind for the portrait. The groom acts like he is twirling his bride, while the bride is creating movement with her long gown. 

3) The Scare Tactic

This my friends is probably my favorite pose of the whole engagement session; it creates genuine laughs, and, clients have so much fun doing it. I have the bride or groom get five steps directly behind the other, then, run up to scare them. When it happens, there is normally a mix of laughter and hugs, which is always a great capture. 

xoxo, rebecca