Your wedding day is an unforgettable experience that you'll cherish for the rest of your life, and your photos will be the tangible memories that capture the magic of the moment. But let's be honest - posing for your wedding photos can be a really daunting task. Fear not, because we've asked Ashley Joyce, a talented destination wedding photographer, to bring you six invaluable tips to remember when posing. With Ashley's insider knowledge, you can make the most of your wedding photos and achieve those picture-perfect shots you've always dreamed of.
Take In the Moment
There will be a plethora of feelings and emotions that you will experience on your wedding day and some of them may feel very strong during your portrait session. The first thing you should be mindful of during your portrait session is to take in the moment; relax, be present, and realize that you *just* married your favorite person and that the photos during this part of your wedding will illustrate this monumental moment in your lives. While emotions may be high, take a breather to live in the moment, right here, right now. This will help you to not only feel more like yourself but it will also allow your natural essence to shine through your portraits. When you feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera, your photographer will be able to capture the real, natural you, without any posing at all.
Take It Slow
If your photographer is having you walk towards or away from them, ensure your steps are made with intention and slowness. This also applies to when you’re walking down the aisle; take it slow and don’t rush through the walk. By allowing yourself to walk slowly when posing for your wedding photos, you not only allow the photographer to capture the best angles of you and your spouse, but it also allows you to continue feeling relaxed and in the moment while you’re being photographed. Unless you are literally running for your portraits, take it nice and slow.
Understand Your Angles
While your photographer isn’t asking you to be an expert on your angles, you should have a small understanding of what side you like to be photographed best. To help with this, try to imagine posing for and taking a selfie - what side do you angle your face towards? What do you try to show or reveal? This little trick will give you an idea of what your “best” side is (although, honestly, everyone is beautiful from every angle!). If you’re not a selfie person and don’t know what side you prefer, don’t worry at all - your photographer will ensure you feel comfortable being photographed from every angle.
Communicate Your Insecurities, If Any
Most of us have an insecurity or two, especially when we know we are being photographed. If there is something you know will be an insecurity for you, communicate them with your photographer with honesty and transparency. This will allow you to not only feel confident that you will be photographed in a way you feel comfortable about, but it will also teach your photographer how they can photograph you best.
Understand Your Personal Public Displays of Affection
Not everyone holds hands when they’re with their person but some people hold hands, link arms, and simply need to be touching one another, nearly at all times. Many couples display their affection in a myriad of ways so it’s important to know which public display of affection feels authentic to you. Knowing this and communicating it to your photographer allows you to be photographed in a natural fashion, providing you with romantic, authentic wedding photos of you and your spouse that you will cherish forever.
Try Not to Pose
Yes, this is an article about posing for your wedding photos but the best tip I can give is to try to *not* pose for your portraits. The most authentic and intimate wedding portraits are often captured when a couple doesn't really pose; they simply engage with their partner, ignore the camera (to the best of their abilities), and enjoy the moment. While you may need some guidance from your photographer on what position to take, the best results will come forth when you interact with your partner, move around as if nobody was there, and be your true, authentic selves, no matter what that may look like.
