filed in Brides, Photographers

Best Natural Engagement Photo Poses & Ideas

April

Best Engagement Photography Poses

From left to right: Walking looking at each other, facing each other. Both full body shots. Note how much taller the groom is than the bride. In the photo on the right I posed them on a step with the groom lower than the bride to even out their height differences.

I love photographing engagement sessions! An engagement photo shoot is a great way to get to know your couple before photographing the wedding day. Having an engagement session with your couple before the big day is the best way I have found to get them feeling confident and looking natural in their wedding photos. Basically, it’s great practice for the wedding day for both you, the photographer and the couple!

My couples also love having their engagement pictures to display at their wedding, post on social media, print for save the dates, or display on their wedding website. Some of my couples even say they like their engagement photos more than their wedding photos because the photos tend to be more natural and feel more like them. Engagement photographs are a great way to tell another chapter of their love story.

This post will help you as a photographer whether you are just starting out in wedding photography or if you are looking to take your photos to the next level. These engagement photo poses are easy for anyone to do!

Beginner Photographers

If you are just starting out as a professional wedding photographer, engagement shoots are a good way to get couples in front of your camera. Photographing many engagement shoots is a great opportunity to practice mastering photography basics such as lighting, shooting in manual mode and posing real couples. After a number of engagement photoshoots in various locations, you will start to build your professional photography portfolio.

Your couples do not have to be professional models to look comfortable in front of your camera. In fact, these tips will help you to create natural poses that any real couple can pull off!

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Walking pose & close up detail shot of the ring. Note how the hands are posed.

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Foundational Poses

Starting on left: Camera aware, full body pose, camera unaware walking toward camera, camera unaware, posed facing each other.

I always start with the 4 foundation poses: walking, side by side, facing each other and prom pose. Starting with simple poses and prompts helps your couples to feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. I learned these 4 basic photos from professional wedding photographer and educator, Katelyn James.

Within each of these 4 poses, I shoot them 3 different ways: full body, medium, and close up. Sometimes I do this by changing my lenses and sometimes I just move my body farther from or closer to the couple

Different Angles

Nicole & Paul- I got the photo on the left by crouching down and shooting up at them.

Next, I vary the angle of the shot: straight on, upward angle, downward angle, 45 degree angle. Basically, I start by photographing the couple straight on, then I crouch down and shoot up at them. If possible, I shoot from slightly above. If the couple is taller than you, this is difficult unless you sit them down. Finally, I rotate myself around the couple, shooting from various different angles and capturing the backdrop from different vantage points. All of this is done before I move the couple.

So, as you can see, you can create a lot of variation with 4 basic couple poses.

The next step is alternating between candid shots and posing your couple to look and smile at the camera. These are called camera aware and camera unaware shots.

This will help to create a different look in each of your shots.

Advanced Posing : Best Engagement Photo Poses

In both of these photos I have the couple facing each other. On the left, I rotated my body around to shoot them on an angle. On the right I photographed them straight on. These are both medium shots.

After you start to feel comfortable directing your couple and they have warmed up to the camera, is a good time to make small adjustments to the 4 basic poses. Here are some of my favorite ways to do that.

Walking Poses

Have your couple stand side by side, holding hands and ask them to walk toward you. I like to have a little space between them for this shot. Don’t forget to tell them where to look! I like to have them looking and smiling at the camera and looking at each other. Then I will prompt the bride to look at me, while the groom looks at her. Then we switch. The groom looks at me while the bride looks at him.

Whenever I photograph an engagement session in NYC, it’s almost all walking poses!

Next, I would have the couple walk away from me in the opposite direction. My favorite shot to capture in this pose is the couple looking at each other while walking away and then having the groom look at the bride, while she turns in toward him and looks all the way back around at the camera. This small adjustments will make turn a good pose into a great one.

Finally, I will have the couple walk sideways. First, I will ask the groom to lead. Next, they will change direction and the bride leads.

Side By Side Pose

Pro Tip: When shooting in famous places like DUMBO or Central Park, I always shoot at sunrise!

From here, this is the perfect time to jump into the Side by Side Pose. I prompt the couple to stand next to each other still holding hands with a little space between them. Typically, I like the bride to stand on the right and the groom on (my) left. This way the bride’s left arm will be on the outside and I can pose her to see her engagement ring. Next, I bring them closer together and have them angle slightly toward each other. I have the couple wrap their back hands around each other’s waists. I ask the groom to put his outside hand in his pant pocket. I have the bride put her left hand on the groom’s chest and ask them to smile and look at the camera. Hand placement is key for this photo. Make sure you can see the ring! After I shoot this in full body and medium, I come in for a close up. Then I begin to change the direction of where they are looking. I ask the bride to look down and the groom to look at her. I have them look at each other. I prompt them to both look down. I bring their noses together and ask them to kiss. All these little prompts and poses look like truly candid moments but start out from classic poses.

Engagement Photo Poses: Facing Each Other

From here, I have the couples turn completely to face each other. Using these natural and appropriate transitions really helps the engagement pose flow from one to the next. Again I shoot this pose in full body, medium and close up. I rotate myself around the couple, shooting from various angles (low, high, and then I move my body around them in a circle).

Prom Pose

Next is prom pose. I will say, this pose does not work for every couple. This pose will not work unless the groom is taller than the bride because you need to put the taller person behind the shorter person in order to see them. Start by positioning the groom behind the bride and having him wrap his hands around her. I like to have the bride put her hands on top of his. This pose can look a little stiff so I like to play with it, varying the angle and the direction the couple is looking.

Get Them Moving

Caitlin & Jason Practicing their first dance on the Hoboken Waterfront.

If all else fails- get the couple moving. Getting the couple walking is a great place to start, but here are some more ideas in case you get stuck! Truly the best poses are when the couple looks comfortable and having them move can be so helpful in getting them to loosen up bit!

Groom Picks up Bride

This is a fun pose, but again- it does not work for everyone! If you are working with a plus size bride, please do not ask the groom to pick her up! It is important to remember that all of your couples will come in different shapes and sizes and you do not want to put them in a pose that will not work or not be flattering to them. Start by having the groom lift up the bride from underneath her butt. Then I have them bring their noses together. Finally, I ask the groom to move around in a circle. I like to pose the feet for this, having the bride point her toes and lift one up.I prefer this pose to be non-camera aware. Its best if captured as a more intimate moment than having them looking and smiling at the camera.

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First Dance Pose

Ask the couple to sway to their first dance for you. I take this opportunity to ask them what their first dance song is and sometimes have the groom sing or hum it to his bride.

The In Between Moments

My favorite engagement photos capture the moments between poses where the bride lets out a giggle or the groom whispers in her ear. Sometimes I use the awkwardness to my advantage because they feel so silly staring into each others eyes that they finally laugh and you get that real authentic smile. Its always such a cute pose and one of my favorite shots!

Engagement Photo Poses: Individual Shots

Don’t forget to get some individual shots of just the bride and groom alone!

The Details

Photo of the engagement ring on the beach during golden hour.

The best engagement photos also focus on the details. First, I get my couple in the perfect pose and shoot it from all the different angles and positions I talked about above. The next step is to zoom in on the details. One of my favorite ways to to this is to photograph the engagement ring.

The Location

Take your engagement photo session to the next level by choosing the perfect location. Choosing the right place to shoot is so important! A good way to encourage your clients to choose a great location is to send them a list of your favorites.

When to Shoot

I almost always schedule my couple’s engagement photoshoot during golden hour. This is the hour before sunset and is the prettiest time of day to take photos because of the soft, glowy light. It is also important to consider the month you are shooting in. Here in New Jersey, from November-April the trees may not have leaves on them. I tend to schedule park and garden sessions in the warmer months so things don’t look so dead.

Best Engagement Photo Poses

Upward angle, couple facing each other

I hope these engagement photo poses help you to pose your clients naturally! These are truly my best engagement photo ideas. Every great photographer started some where and every talented photographer practices their craft. So don’t be afraid to try different poses and learn new techniques! Engagement portraits can be fun and my couples and I always have a great time getting to know each other while we shoot. As much as I love wedding photography, the engagement shoot is also so much fun for me and I hope you learn to love it too! The important thing to remember is to have fun! If you are having fun, your couples will too!